So you're forgoing cars and cabs for a good ol' eco-friendly bicycle to get you place to place. You're saving money, you're getting fit, and Mother Nature loves you! But then there's your entryway, which is . . . crowded. Who knew a bike could seem so lightweight and easy to maneuver on the road and yet so massive and clunky in your hallway? Maneuvering around it in the middle of the night to get to the bathroom ends now. Whether you live in a 500-square-foot studio or a single-family home that's strapped for space, we did the research for you. Here, we've found the best bike storage ideas, both outside your house entirely and somewhere inside that doesn't take up valuable floor space. (Psst: We ran them by Andrew Crooks, owner of bike shop NYC Velo, so you know they're solid.)

Near your apartment . . .
Put it in the garage

Because you're also dealing with miscellaneous snow shovels, hammers, and extra bags of dog food, you'll want something flexible. Crooks likes the Dali bike hinge hook and tray by Delta Cycle or Topeak's Swing-Up Ex bike holder for this very reason. "Both brands make hinged hooks that store the bike vertically but allow it to be easily moved out of the way."

Dali bike hinge hook and tray, available at Delta Cycle; $30.

Photo: Courtesy of Delta Cycle
Lock it up outside in the yard

A simple floor stand like this Racor PBS-2R from Amazon will suffice. Just invest in a cover of some sort (even a tarp would work) to protect it from the sun and rain. However, Crooks says you could also get fancy and set up a mini-house for your wheels to keep them secure and sheltered from the elements.

Rent a storage unit in the neighborhood

Manhattan Mini Storage, for example, offers "closet"-sized, climate-controlled units all over the city where you can store your bike. It requires a walk to retrieve it, but what's a quick stroll in the grand scheme of your commute?

In your apartment . . .
Hang it on the wall

Knife & Saw's Bike Shelf, crafted of solid black walnut or white oak, hangs on the wall like any floating shelf—in fact, it's wide enough that you could stack a few books or lean a piece of art on top. It's bike storage that's, dare we say it, chic. But if all you care about is getting it off the floor stat, basic hooks like these from Park Tool are another option.

The Bike Shelf by Knife & Saw; $325.

Photo: Courtesy of Knife & Saw
Store it in the basement

You're already keeping a bunch of other stuff in the basement (hello, dusty toys from your childhood), so vertical storage is probably best there, too. Crooks recommends Gear Up's floor-to-ceiling storage rack, made of handsome American red oak. "It's a no-drill option that expands between the floor and ceiling and can be set up to hold multiple bikes horizontally off the floor," he explains. P.S.: If you call a rental apartment home, it's worth asking your landlord for permission to keep your bike in your building's lobby or basement.

Gearup Oak floor-to-ceiling storage rack, available on Amazon; $140.

Photo: Courtesy of Amazon