As fuel prices rise, the ability to travel without stopping at a gas station becomes more attractive. Many people are turning to bicycles, especially secondhand bikes, to save money and experience more of the city. This means many people are now realizing what so many long-time bike owners have known for years: storing a bike in an apartment isn't that easy. Or so it seems at first.  

Apartment residents who need apartment bike storage actually have a good number of options, from renter-friendly stands to freestanding racks. If you're looking for a way to store your bike so it doesn't leave dirt and scuff marks, consider these options. You can also look for rental townhomes with garages, which makes storage that much easier.  

Bike Storage Options in the Home  

A lot of people store a bike by leaning it against a wall or propping it up on a kickstand with the front wheel turned. This creates two problems. One is that if you bump into the bike, the tires can leave scuff marks on the floor (or the wall, if the front tire rolls into it). The other problem is that a bike stored that way takes up a lot of room. It's visually bulky and doesn't make the room look that well-organized.  

Some complexes offer bike storage rooms. However, these aren't always conveniently located. For many apartment dwellers, a better solution is to provide bike storage in the apartment, using one of these methods.  

Bike Stand  

For renters who can't or don't want to install anything with screws into the wall or ceiling, a portable bike stand is a very good choice. These stands keep the bike upright and steady, so you don't have that rotated front wheel to deal with. They also keep the bike wheels away from the wall. The downside to using a stand is that stands typically hold only one bike, so you'll need multiple stands for more bicycles. The stands also take up floor space.  

Vertical Freestanding Rack  

Another renter-friendly solution is a rack that holds the bike vertically, with the front wheel in the air. These racks often have casters, so you can move the rack whenever you need to. Vertical storage reduces the floor space the bike occupies.  While there are other storage solutions, they require more screws, drywall anchors, and other hardware that make them less friendly for apartments.  

Remember to Keep Your Bike Tuned Up  

Storing your bike properly is only one part of keeping it ready to ride. You also need to get regular bike tune-ups. These are maintenance appointments that include brake cleaning and adjustment, gear inspection and repair, and other general maintenance to keep the bike safe to ride, such as ensuring the tires are properly inflated. Ideally, you'd have your bike tuned up twice a year. At a minimum, you want to do it once a year and then do it again any time you're putting your bike through stress, such as before a race.  

If you're not that knowledgeable about bike maintenance, take it to one of the Topeka bike shops that offer the service. Three of the more popular shops in the area are Jerry's Bike Shop, Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop, and Capp's Bike Shop & Fitness.  

Try These Topeka Bike Trails After a Tune-Up  

Once your bike is tuned up, take it out on one of the many trails that wind through Topeka. Riders have rated the Lake Shawnee Trail as the best in the region on AllTrails, with the Shunga Trail and Clarion Woods Trail rounding out the top three. If you're new to the region, Bike Topeka has links to maps of trails around the city and county, as well as a map of the state of Kansas. The site offers an interactive map showing a network of bike shops and KDOT rest areas, as well as the Kansas section of U.S. Bicycle Route 76, a.k.a. the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail. Additional U.S. Bicycle Routes in Kansas include:   

• U.S.B.R. 50, which runs from Irving to Atchison in the northeast corner of the state. This route is fully paved.  
• U.S.B.R. 55, which crosses the state from Irving in the north to Caney in the south, near the eastern edge of the state. Most of the route is paved. However, about 47 miles follow the bike-friendly Prairie Spirit Trail, a rail-trail that uses crushed limestone.  
• U.S.B.R. 66, which runs from Galena to Baxter Springs in the extreme southeast corner of Kansas, following a portion of the fabled Route 66. This section of the route is paved.  

Come See Mariposa Townhomes for Spacious Garage Storage  

Racks and stands may make apartment bike storage more convenient and tidy, but the truly renter-friendly option involves neither. Take a look at Mariposa Townhomes, where each unit has an attached garage that's ideal for storing bikes. Contact us now to arrange a tour of our townhomes and to apply!