It's May and you're all set to start riding a bicycle in honor of National Bike Month. But then you wonder, where the heck am I going to put this thing?

"Any new hobby or activity comes with stuff, and that means finding storage," says Organizing Professional Janice Russell of Minding Your Matters.

While many Triangle-area homes have garages, very often people use those for the intended purpose — to store cars. In some cases, garages may be too full of other things. Russell offers these ideas for storing a bicycle:

Hang It — If you have room to park bikes in the garage, that's great. But wall space — either in the garage or house — offers plenty of room to hang a bicycle. Look for wall mounted bike racks or bike shelves. Many are made of wood and other aesthetically pleasing materials. They have a hole or a spot to hang the bike by it's main bar and some offer space for helmets.

Think Vertical - Considering hanging your bicycle vertically. In some spaces, it will fit better either with the seat facing toward you, or with the entire frame and wheels against the wall. (In that case, be sure there is room for the pedals.)

Bike Stand - Whether you're looking for something small or want to hold multiple bikes, a bike stand can be useful. Many are constructed so that you roll the front tire in between metal bars. These can be great for a family set of bikes in a garage or shed.

Under Stairs - In some homes and apartments, the space under the staircase is open. That may make a good place for a bike to fit.

If you're not thrilled to keep a bike in the house, maybe it's time to revisit the garage or storage shed, Russell says.

"I've worked with a lot of people who use the garage for storage to the point where they don't even have room for a car," she said. "Why not reorganize that space so you can keep a car and bicycle in there, out of the elements?"

If you're not up for a full garage reorganization, start with three basics:

1. What can you eliminate? There's probably something in the garage that you no longer use. Donate it to someone who will find it useful.

2. What can you relocate? Clear up space for your bicycle by moving some things around or relocating them to the attic or basement.

3. What can you rearrange? Putting things into containers will make it easier to stack items, and adding shelves will make the space more efficient.

Russell also offers these final thoughts on bicycling:

If you're not using your bicycle, donate it to someone who will. You'll get rid of clutter and make someone else happy.

Don't forget to schedule regular maintenance for your bike, just as you would for your car. Raleigh has many bike repair shops. If you want to DIY, some stores offer bicycle repair classes.