Owning bikes is a great thing, but where you will store them so they are safe and not exposed to the hungry eyes of potential thieves? Bike sheds are a popular choice for many people who have enough backyard space. A cycle storage shed varies in size and can be made of various materials such as wood, plastic or metal. Before you get your shed, make sure to determine how many bikes you want to store in it, and of course where you'll locate it in your backyard (it’s best to be visible from your house, so you can always have an eye on it).

Size of The Shed

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How Many Bikes You'll Store

The size of the shed is proportional to the number of bicycles you'll store in it. For instance, two large bikes are going to take much more space, than two kid bikes and a large one. No matter how many bikes you'll store in the shed, be sure there is enough room to walk inside even with the bikes being stored in there. If you want to have some more space, then a larger shed is a better choice (you’ll be able to store other things besides your bikes).

A regular bike is about 1 meter tall, and about 175cm long; if you only own one bike, then a shed with dimensions 180 x 60 cm is a good option. This is quite a small shed suitable for one bike only, but you should be able to get inside without any problems. If you own more than one bike goes for sheds with larger dimensions such as 180 x 90cm (for two bikes), 180 x 120 cm (for three bikes), 180 x 150 cm (for four bikes) etc. However, don't take the numbers and dimensions too literally, especially if you have mountain bikes, that are much larger than any regular bike.

What About Materials?

Cycle storage sheds are mainly made of three types of materials - metal, wood and plastic. Each of them has good and bad sides, so here is what you need to know. How to choose the right material? It depends on your preferences, but also your budget, and the climate you live. If the climate in your area is mostly rainy, then wood might not be the best option (it will demand constant maintenance in order not to rot). For extra hot climates, on the other hand, wood would be a good choice, as well as metal. Here are the three main materials in detail.

Wood

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Wood is a traditional material used for sheds. Today wood is a common and affordable choice, easy to work with and has a natural finish that matches well in gardens. If it's properly made and protected, it will keep your bikes safe from the elements and potential thieves. Wood comes in various sizes and shapes and it's easy for customizing, so you can make the exact shed you want. It's eco-friendly, but demands maintenance, to prevent it from rodents, pests and damage from the elements.

Metal

Metal is another good choice for making sheds. This material will protect your bikes from theft much better (compared to wood or other materials). It's water-resistant, and won't fade, bend or crack. Insects or rodents cannot really damage it. If the climate in your area changes regularly (hot summers, cold and rainy/snowy winters) this material might be the best option; it will endure anything from heavy rains and snows to long and hot summer days. Metal needs to be properly galvanised, so it won't rust; it doesn't need any special maintenance, besides a quick washing with soapy water. Aesthetically might not be the best thing you've seen, but you can always paint it and make it look better.

Plastic

You can also find plastic bike sheds; they are known as Resin and are new on the market. Popular, easy to transport, and lightweight, plastic sheds are easy to assemble and the great thing is that they won't rust or rot, and can't be damaged by rodents or insects. The weather can't affect them, but it's always a good idea to place the plastic shed in the shadow.

Accessing Your Bikes

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This is an important thing to consider. In the best condition, you should be able to take out every bike without interfering with the others. The bikes will go forward and backward, instead of sideways (most sheds won't let you move your bikes sideways). Make sure to position the shed in a place where you can easily approach it and enter inside.

Location and Security

Where will you place the shed is an equally important question. You want your bikes to be safe, so it's best to place the shed in your backyard, where only you have access. Also, it's always a good idea to place the shed close to the house (especially if you have limited backyard space). Make sure to place the shed with the door facing your house windows, so you can always have an eye on it. Avoid having the entrance in a way where you can't see it (visible entrances aren't quite attractive for thieves).