There are not many states in this country where you can say cycling is expected, but Oregon is one of them. I won’t go so far as to say every home has a person that cycles, but it sure does seem that way. If you are going to build a custom home in Oregon and love cycling, take advantage of the blank canvas to integrate some bike-friendly features into the home. This would include a workshop, exercise area, and bike storage.
Dedicated Bike Storage
The best way to store bikes is off the ground so the tires and rims do not get ruined, especially during times of inactivity. Be it a tree, wall-mounted system, or ceiling hooks, we recommend designing this particular room to be large enough for not only that storage area but also a workshop and possibly even your exercise studio.
Maintenance and Repair Station
Even if you are not a bike mechanic, there are going to be some basic repairs that you will handle on your own. If you are an avid cyclist, you will also need to clean your bike fairly regularly, including stripping it down to give it a good scrub. For this reason, in addition to space for the bike stand and tools, consider adding a water source and a floor drain so you can keep all the repair work in this area. Something you may not have considered for this area is a refrigerator, but for refreshments while working on the bikes as well as storing recovery drinks and fruit for when you return from the ride.
Easy Access
When you design your storage and workshop area, remember that many times, you will be coming from a long ride, so you will be dirty and sweaty, so where you enter the home will play a key role in where this area is created. You want easy access from the outside, but you are probably also going to want an entrance from the home as well, just be careful where you place it so you are tracking dirt and debris through the home.
Shower and Laundry Facilities
For me, this was a key addition to my bike storage area. We incorporated both an indoor and outdoor shower into the area so we never had to go into the home with all the road dirt on us. We also added a laundry room to the bike storage room with a moderately priced washer and hanging station for the clothes to dry. Anyone who has ever been on a longer ride knows how gnarly these clothes can get, so, believe me, this is a decision you will never regret. If you choose to integrate this into your “cycling” area, I would also recommend an area for clothes storage so you have shorts or sweats and t-shirts to get into after you are doing showering.
Health and Fitness Space
If cycling is your primary source of exercise, it would make sense to integrate your training space into the storage area. However, if you want to do a home gym setup, you would probably be better served to set up the fitness space near but not inside the bike storage area. In our home, we have a small studio attached to the bike storage and workshop area where we do all our workouts, including a Peloton and rollers for the bike.
Aesthetic Integration
While this is a storage and workspace area, it does not have to be an eyesore. Fill the room with bike-themed artwork and design the storage area to be a conversation piece. Have fun with the design to reflect your enthusiasm for the sport.
Thinking about building a custom-designed home in Oregon? Better Build Now offers numerous managed residential construction services, including residential construction project manager and consulting services. For more information, give us a call at 888-402-4180.