| First, Start Small | | | | They're definitely sturdier than a hook, and an average |
| With urban growth seeming to have no real brakes on | | | | model will hold at least two bikes, as opposed to |
| it, finding a place to store your bike can be the hardest | | | | hooks where you'll need to most likely buy one hook |
| part of owning one. However, if you bother to look | | | | for each bike. A bike in a rack is also less trouble to |
| around, you'll find that there are products suitable for | | | | get out and put back in than a hooked bike would be. |
| the needs of even cramped apartment-dwelling | | | | This can be an optimal solution for you if you have |
| cyclists. | | | | some garage or storage shed space, but expect to |
| If a fullblown bike rake is too bulky for your needs, try | | | | spend at least fifty dollars, potentially even up to the |
| bike hooks. Besides being cheap with average prices | | | | triple digits, for a good model of rack. If All Else Fails, |
| well under forty dollars, they can be lifesavers for | | | | there's always your van. |
| when you need to make the most of what little space | | | | Don't have any room at your place whatsoever? |
| you have. These hooks allow you to store your bike | | | | There are wheel-only racks designed specifically for |
| upright or to one side, instead of jutting out from a | | | | vehicular use, if that's what you need. Then you can |
| rack. More expensive models will even let you store | | | | simply drive around with your bike on the back, |
| your bike on your ceiling! Think of all that space up | | | | knowing you'll have it whenever you need it, and not |
| there you're not using! Most varieties of these hooks | | | | have to waste any space at home! However, these |
| are forearm-sized mechanisms of steel, easy to clean | | | | kinds of racks are even pricier than regular bike racks. |
| and easier to move around if you want your bike in a | | | | That's the price you pay for specialty engineering. And |
| different place. | | | | regardless of what kind of rack or hook you settle on, |
| If Small Isn't Best, Go for Tradition | | | | of course, you need to make sure to get enough |
| On the other hand, bike racks are very popular and | | | | storage capacity for all your bikes, and no more. Don't |
| classical means of storing bicycles because of how | | | | get extra unless you really think you'll need it, otherwise |
| effective and useful they are, space issues aside. | | | | you'll be wasting quite a bit of money. |