Keeping a bicycle in a small apartment does not have to be an anguish for the householder at all. Even a small space can be arranged in such a way as to find a place to comfortably park our two wheels – all it takes are clever accessories. We’re tossing around some inspiration and tips for storing a bicycle in a small apartment. No more perpetual tripping over equipment, dinging the walls and disgruntled household members!
What will you learn from this post?
- How to conveniently store a bicycle in a small apartment?
- What kind of bicycle rack for an apartment to choose?
- How to arrange the space for the bicycle to blend in with the decor of the apartment?
At a glance
The best place to store a bicycle is in an apartment. With functional, cleverly designed wall hangers, even in a studio apartment you can find space for a unicycle. The key to arranging the space properly is precisely the wall mounts – suspending the bike is much more convenient than keeping it on the floor. With a little creativity, the space can be further arranged to make the unicycle a design element of the decor.
Biking in the block doesn’t have to be a problem! Tips for storing a bicycle in a small apartment
In every block you can find at least a few places to store a bicycle. The most common option is the basement – but it will not always be the safest choice. As police statistics show, it is from basements that bicycles are most often lost. In many blocks, the entrances are poorly secured. Thieves can effortlessly get inside at night, for example, and prowl the tenant cells without arousing anyone’s suspicion.
Cyclists who are aware of this risk and prefer to have their two wheels under greater control park them in the stairwell next to the apartment, attaching them to a railing or pipe. This is an acceptable solution, but under 2 conditions. First of all, such a bike left on the staircase should be well secured, preferably with a decent U-lock. Second – obvious to many, but still worth pointing out – the unicycle must not obstruct the aisle or otherwise impede passage. The stairwell must be 100% unobstructed, as it is an escape route for all residents.
A third option is to keep the bike on the balcony. However, we strongly advise against it – parking a unicycle outside is the worst possible idea. The equipment is then exposed to harmful weather conditions. Low temperatures, frost, humidity, rain, snow, in summer the blazing sun – all of these can shorten the life of important components. At the same time, it is worth adding that it is not at all safe to store a bicycle on a balcony. There have been known cases of ingenious thieves who have climbed to higher floors and lowered bicycles down ropes to their waiting companions below.
If you are really serious about taking care of your two wheels, often the only right place to store them is in your apartment. Check out how to develop space for your bike in the hallway or living room!
Bike in the apartment – on the floor or on the wall?
The bicycle in the apartment can, of course, stand on the floor. However, this is not the most convenient solution. First of all, this wastes space that we could use for anything else, such as putting up a shoe cabinet. Secondly, a bicycle leaning against a wall, especially in a place where one often passes through, is exposed to damage – it is not difficult to snag it while carrying shopping, for example. You can put it on a special bike rack that will prevent such a risk, but a much better solution would be a special wall rack.
Hanging a unicycle on the wall is the best way to store it in a small apartment. As a result, the bike does not take up unnecessary space (and in a small apartment, after all, every free meter is worth its weight in gold!), does not disturb the household members and is not exposed to accidental scratches.
What kind of bicycle wall rack to choose?
On the market you will find plenty of different types of brackets for hanging a bicycle on the wall. They are available in home improvement stores, and seasonally even appear in popular discount stores. Their undoubted advantage is their low price. However, the quality sometimes varies, and sometimes it is far from high or even acceptable. If you’re looking for a durable solution that will last for years, bet on products from brands that have been in the bicycle industry for years and guarantee workmanship with solid materials.
You can adjust the bicycle rack for your apartment both to the design of the unicycle and to your needs. If the most important feature for you is convenience of use, choose a holder for storing the bike vertically (this is the Kranked Twist model, for example). To hang the equipment, just put it on the rear wheel, and with the front wheel drive over a specially shaped piece. Thanks to this hanger design, you don’t have to carry the bike – this will certainly be appreciated by owners of heavy electric or enduro or DH machines.
The second option is horizontal holders, such as Crank Pro, which allows you to hang your bike by the pedal. Its undoubted advantage is the minimalist design – exposed on it the unicycle can become a fantastic decoration of the interior. If from the entrance you want to signal to guests that the apartment belongs to a lover of two-wheeled rides, this solution will certainly appeal to you. You can place such a hanger in the hallway, but also in a more prominent place, such as above the sofa in the living room. A horizontal bike rack, however, requires more force to hang and retrieve equipment, which can be cumbersome for heavier machines.
Storing a bicycle in a small apartment – arranging space for a bicycle
The bicycle hanger should be hung in such a place that the unicycle can be comfortably hung on it and comfortably removed from it. But don’t put it in a random place – make it a designer decoration! For example, you can “frame” the bicycle hanging in the living room with a large wooden frame – hang it so that the unicycle is in its focal point. The saddle or wheels may protrude beyond the outline. This will make the bike look like a three-dimensional painting.
The unicycle will also look original against a wall of contrasting color. If you have an artistic flair, you can outline its contour, for example, with brush strokes, and paint the rider’s shadow over it. You can also hang a horizontal hanger above a shelf or dresser, so as to give the illusion that the bicycle is standing right on it.
Don’t take risks and leave your bike in the basement or stairwell – it will be safer in an apartment. Even in a studio apartment you can find a bit of space to store it, all it takes is clever solutions. You can find wall hangers to help you arrange your bicycle space at rtrbikes.com.
Photo source: rtrbikes.com, shutterstock.com