General Cycling Discussion - Need help designing the dream bike shed

I have hired a general contractor to build a bike garage and work area on the side of my house, which needless to say is very exciting. I have the basic layout finalized, see below. It's going to be a discreet shed with a deck in front, suitable for cleaning and working on the bike. And I guess a table and chairs, for those non-cycling hours. I'm happy with this layout, and don't want to vary from the basic design unless someone find a huge flaw with it.

I do need help on the shed itself, though. I don't know the exact dimensions yet (it will depend on the height of the deck since it will align with features on the house) but let's assume it's 8' wide, 4.5' deep, and a height of at least 6' in the front, 7' in the back.

My vision to devote most of the space to hanging bikes. i think the simplest and most effective way to do this is old-fashioned hooks on a 2x4 but I'm open to more elaborate solutions. I expect to have 3-4 bikes in there. So how should I compartmentalize the space? Perhaps a bin or drawer below the bikes? do I have room? Shelves on one side? What kinds of odd-shaped things should I allow space for? A work stand, obviously. A work stool that can roll out? An air compressor? (The shed will have power.) I'm open to all suggestions and considerations as I think about how to lay that out, and if there are size constraints I should think about up front.


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I've also thought about the ultimate bike shed. I would likely incorporate a bike hanging rack system that can be pulled out like a drawer. That would allow more bikes to be stored in the shed. More importantly, I would focus on a very good security system / lock.

Have you checked with your local zoning / building license office? In our city, we have maximum restrictions on placement and size of shed that can be built. We also need to follow some minimum guidelines on base preparation.

Rubbermaid has a track system where the bike hooks slide sideways,
so you can pack in more bikes , move them aside to get one out.

Places with stairs that see a lot of bike traffic have a ramp
on the last 10" of either end of the stairs , since most people walk their bikes on the left.

Could even be made to move sideways , so it will be either on the up or down side path, (though with only 3 steps , Up side Yes,...
less needed on the down side.)

I'm +1 on the good locking scheme, security chain and a rubber sleeve
over it, say from old MTB tubes is good.

Maybe screw eyes with a nut on the other side of the wall..

Bosch has a hand drill sized tire inflater,

but a tank type Compressor will be handy
for a post washing blow down, or blowing off Grips too

compressor can be at the long end of a hose
so it won't need shed space..

Looks like a good start. Just what do you plan to do with it?

I currently use a 40' shipping container that has an 8'x12' "shop" on one end. I have outgrown it.

If you plan to build any bikes make sure you have somewhere to store wheels, I swear they reproduce in the dark when you aren't looking. I use a piece of 3/4" water pipe suspended between two J hooks. I hang bikes on the wall using flip down brackets, park the rest on the floor. Make sure things can be easily secured.

I like fietsbob's idea of a roll/ramp up one side of the stairs, I put one in for my sister at her townhouse, makes getting the bikes up and down off the deck much easier.

Aaron :)

Incorporate one of these,.. it will fit right in the side there.

http://www.kegworks.com/brew-cave-walk-in-beer-cooler-kegerator-1472-p175669

fire resistant Paint lockers?

a few years ago we built a shed for our bikes and stuff, it is just a little under 8x12, about 9' at the peak roof is sort of a salt box shape - but steeper roof slope so the snow slides off easily.. when i built it used the materials that i had, wish i had thought more about bike size & shape and shed dimensions. our largest bike is about 45" tall, handlebars are 46 cm - hanging they hang out more than anticipated. also most bikes are in the area of six ft long - could have made the bike hanging side taller. used a 30" door, should have gotten a 32" or wider. staggered the hangers to help reduce handle bar conflicts. .

You will need a work bench with a vice. The vice will need to be one wheel radius away from the wall - you will find the vice useful for removing freewheels (you clamp the freewheel tool in the vice, mount the wheel on it and then turn the wheel to unscrew the freewheel).

The walls will need to be insulated for sound. There will be cursing. ; )

Thanks for the Rubbermaid tip, fietsbob. Having sliding hooks will make a huge difference, and now I might as well standardize on Rubbermaid for the shelving, all things being equal. I'm also thinking of getting this to keep my tools/lubes in, to be wheeled out for work and tucked back in afterwards. Thoughts?

http://www.eastwood.com/collapsible-rolling-tool-box.html

Bike shed? Think of the minimum size you think you want----And double it.

I have a 16' x 10' shed and that is about right. Bikes stored at the far end and the 8 x 8 near the door for working on the bikes. I say 8 x 8 as the workbench is that this end.

Shed for the car and the 2 car garage for the Bikes and wetbar.

Shed for the car and the 2 car garage for the Bikes and wetbar.


lol, yeah that's getting the right priorities. Although the walk in beer cooler looks like a winner as well. What about the music system? Get something that will stream music wirelessly and then you can listen to pandora, spotify, or mog.

Subscribing to this thread cuz I plan on building a workshop in the garage of a new house later this summer.