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9 Ways to Store a Bike Indoors

As I’ve noted before, not everyone has a garage or similar place to store a bicycle; sometimes bikes need to be sorted in apartments, offices or studios. And designers keep developing new ways for end users to do just that.

The industrial bike rack from BLR Design comes with either one or two hooks; the two-hook version allows the bike to be stored either horizontally (if it’s a top-tube bike) or vertically. Both approaches keep the bike close to the wall, which is good for end users hanging the bikes in narrow spaces such as hallways. The industrial black gas pipe is wrapped in leather to protect the bike. 

Ensuring proper clearance for handlebars is always a design concern for any wall-mounted bike rack where the bike hans parallel to the wall. BLR Design allows purchasers to note the width of their handlebars and adjusts the distance the hook extends from the wall as needed.

End users with limited wall space will appreciate designs like the Rack from Artifox. The hook is made from powder coated steel; again, there’s a leather wrap to protect the bike from scratches. 

As someone who isn’t that handy with tools, I was also impressed with how easy the installation seemed to be; the only tool needed is screwdriver. There’s no need to worry about leveling, as the rack has a self-leveling mechanism.

Ergo Bike Racks takes a different design approach, using a cradle for the bike rather than a hook. There’s a Retention Safety Strap to ensure the bike stays in place. 

An end user who’s concerned about lifting a bike into a bike rack (as most designs require) due to physical limitations might find this rack easier to use; you just gently roll the front wheel over the crossbar. (That still requires more coordination and effort than a floor stand would, though.)

Designs that hold the bike horizontally often provide some additional storage  space. The bike clip from Modus Studio has just enough space for a helmet.

The wood bike storage from CB2 has an enclosed storage space, which is nice for keeping things from falling off. However, it might not be big enough for something like a helmet. 

The Urban Wardrobe from Emform, designed by Steffen Schellenberger, provides two types of storage. There’s the enclosed felt-lined powder coated steel tray for smaller items. Emform also provides three magnets for attaching notes.

And there are hooks to hold jackets, bags, helmets, etc. Getting to those items will be a bit difficult with the bike in place, but if they are things that are only used along with the bike, that’s not a problem—and it makes great use of some space that might otherwise go to waste.

The bike rack from Jung Dynamisch Sylt, designed by Henning Thomas and Thomas Erven, leans against the wall. That means there’s no installation to worry about (and no holes in the walls for landlords to complain about), but such a design also raises concerns for those with small children or rambunctious pets—or those who live in earthquake territory.

There’s a small amount of additional storage space on the top and the interior of the rack, as well as along the side—those straps are a clever way of adding a bit more storage.

Other designers have incorporated bike storage into other furniture pieces. The resulting products will work for a smaller number of end users, since they are less flexible and take more space. The Velodromo coat rack from Formabilio, designed by Bastian Höges, could be a good entryway piece for those with the floor space for it. The only thing it doesn’t have a place for are the small items that other racks accommodate. 

Chol1 combines bike storage with a number of other furniture pieces, such as a sofa and a shelving unit. I’d be a bit concerned about end users knocking things off the shelf as they took the bike up and down. And having a bicycle towering over you while sitting on the sofa won’t appeal to everyone.

For those who don’t want to lift the bike up into such pieces, Chol1 also has items that don’t require as much lifting. But as intriguing as these pieces are, they aren’t as practical as some other designs. But they do accommodate