Best Practices and Best Solutions for Hanging Bikes in Garages
12-13-20, 11:49 AM
#1
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Best Practices and Best Solutions for Hanging Bikes in Garages
My five bike floor rack is fine but takes up too much space so I'm looking for best practices when hanging bikes.
Best Practices
1. Is it better to hang a bike from its front wheel back wheel for frame?
2. Does it differ based on frame type (CF vs Steel vs ALU)?
3. What are the pros/cons of roof mounted vs wall mounted? (its a newer home so lots of studs exist in both floor and roof)
Best Solutions
1. What products do people recommend?
2. Pros and Cons?
Best Practices
1. Is it better to hang a bike from its front wheel back wheel for frame?
2. Does it differ based on frame type (CF vs Steel vs ALU)?
3. What are the pros/cons of roof mounted vs wall mounted? (its a newer home so lots of studs exist in both floor and roof)
Best Solutions
1. What products do people recommend?
2. Pros and Cons?
12-13-20, 12:12 PM
#2
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1) Doesn’t matter, although it’s a little easier for me to hang by the front by using the handlebars. If you hang by the rear, you have to lift by the saddle or top tube.
2) Doesn’t matter. Although if you hang CF wheels, you’ll want to make sure the hooks are well wrapped.
3) The less you have to lift, the better. For me, that means wall hooks positioned so the rear wheel is still on the ground or just a bit off: just roll up, lift the front, rotate bike to vertical, hang the wheel. Easy.
Re products, there are lots of fancy ones but they all work the same as the $2 hooks you can get at your local hardware store.
2) Doesn’t matter. Although if you hang CF wheels, you’ll want to make sure the hooks are well wrapped.
3) The less you have to lift, the better. For me, that means wall hooks positioned so the rear wheel is still on the ground or just a bit off: just roll up, lift the front, rotate bike to vertical, hang the wheel. Easy.
Re products, there are lots of fancy ones but they all work the same as the $2 hooks you can get at your local hardware store.
Last edited by caloso; 12-13-20 at 05:45 PM.
12-13-20, 12:23 PM
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If you have hydro brakes, hanging them upside-down can be problematic, but other than that and taking measures to not unnecessarily scuff your frame/wheels, you can pretty much do what you want.
12-13-20, 01:34 PM
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Here is my solution. The Gladiator wall tracks were used for storage of other things initially, but repurposed for bikes earlier this year.
All bikes are carbon frames. All brakes are hydraulic. The bike on the left has carbon wheels. Have not had any problems with this method. I do try to keep the hooks centered between spokes so there is no tension on the dpokes.
All bikes are carbon frames. All brakes are hydraulic. The bike on the left has carbon wheels. Have not had any problems with this method. I do try to keep the hooks centered between spokes so there is no tension on the dpokes.
12-13-20, 01:47 PM
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Here is my solution. The Gladiator wall tracks were used for storage of other things initially, but repurposed for bikes earlier this year.
All bikes are carbon frames. All brakes are hydraulic. The bike on the left has carbon wheels. Have not had any problems with this method. I do try to keep the hooks centered between spokes so there is no tension on the dpokes.
All bikes are carbon frames. All brakes are hydraulic. The bike on the left has carbon wheels. Have not had any problems with this method. I do try to keep the hooks centered between spokes so there is no tension on the dpokes.
12-13-20, 05:11 PM
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Interesting
Is there any way to store.them so that they are flush to the wall or does hanging them the way that you do minimize the amount of floor space used.
Here is my solution. The Gladiator wall tracks were used for storage of other things initially, but repurposed for bikes earlier this year.
All bikes are carbon frames. All brakes are hydraulic. The bike on the left has carbon wheels. Have not had any problems with this method. I do try to keep the hooks centered between spokes so there is no tension on the dpokes.
All bikes are carbon frames. All brakes are hydraulic. The bike on the left has carbon wheels. Have not had any problems with this method. I do try to keep the hooks centered between spokes so there is no tension on the dpokes.
12-14-20, 03:13 PM
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The brake system is designed so that air will collect in the reservoir in the hoods. Inverting them, as with the pink bike, will mean that any air in there can migrate beyond the cylinder and in to the lines, resulting in squishy or downright ineffective brakes; finding this out at just before rolling out is always a fun delay. The further down the line they get, the more difficult it'll be to get the bubbles back up out of the lines (this is particularly problematic with the rear brakes because of the length brake line and routing/orientation). You may not have had any issues with this thus far, but this isn't something that I'd continue to do.
Here's what SRAM, Shimano and TRP say on the topic:
https://www.cxmagazine.com/hydraulic...sram-shimano/6
6. Is there a recommended way of storing a bike with hydraulic road levers? (Is it better to store the bike on the ground, or is hanging a bike from a wheel acceptable?)
6. Is there a recommended way of storing a bike with hydraulic road levers? (Is it better to store the bike on the ground, or is hanging a bike from a wheel acceptable?)
SRAM: Hydraulic brake levers can be stored any way that’s convenient to you. Hanging from a wheel is totally acceptable. A brake will not fail or need service any faster or slower because of its storage position. One thing to keep in mind is that putting the bike up on the rear wheel, or hanging it from the front wheel is good way to check for air in the system. If excessive air is present in the brake and it is time for a bleed, and the bike is hung from the front wheel, any air in the system will travel up to the master cylinder and impair brake function. If you put a bike up on the rear wheel and the brakes pull to the handlebar, this is not the position causing an issue, but rather the bike position calling attention to an already present situation.
Shimano: Conventional wisdom suggests hanging a bike from the front wheel, but a properly maintained hydraulic system can be stored both ways. The pre-ride habit of pumping the breaks before riding is recommended regardless of how you store the bike.
TRP: Storing a bike level to the ground or by the front wheel is perfectly fine. These positions encourage any air bubbles that may be in the system to flow towards the fluid reservoir. We do not recommend hanging a bike with hydraulic brakes by the rear wheel or upside down.
Shimano: Conventional wisdom suggests hanging a bike from the front wheel, but a properly maintained hydraulic system can be stored both ways. The pre-ride habit of pumping the breaks before riding is recommended regardless of how you store the bike.
TRP: Storing a bike level to the ground or by the front wheel is perfectly fine. These positions encourage any air bubbles that may be in the system to flow towards the fluid reservoir. We do not recommend hanging a bike with hydraulic brakes by the rear wheel or upside down.
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12-14-20, 04:14 PM
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The brake system is designed to be sealed, and shouldn't have any air in it. Hanging a bike upside down doesn't cause air to enter the system, but it can help identify if there is air in the system (which should be bled out).
Here's what SRAM, Shimano and TRP say on the topic:
https://www.cxmagazine.com/hydraulic...sram-shimano/6
It's also worth noting that all 3 recommend hydro brakes to have fluid flushed, replaced and bled annually, which I doubt most owners are doing.
Here's what SRAM, Shimano and TRP say on the topic:
https://www.cxmagazine.com/hydraulic...sram-shimano/6
It's also worth noting that all 3 recommend hydro brakes to have fluid flushed, replaced and bled annually, which I doubt most owners are doing.
Per Shimano's manual -
When turning the bicycle upside down or on its side, the brake system may have some air bubbles inside the reservoir tank which are still there when
the bleed nipple is closed, or which accumulate in various parts of the brake system when it is used for long periods. This disc brake system is not
designed to work with the bicycle upside down. If the bicycle is turned upside down or on its side, the air bubbles inside the reservoir tank may move
in the direction of the calipers. If the bicycle has been turned upside down or on its side, be sure to operate the brake lever a few times to check that
the brakes operate normally before riding the bicycle. If the brakes do not operate normally, adjust them according to the following procedure.
the bleed nipple is closed, or which accumulate in various parts of the brake system when it is used for long periods. This disc brake system is not
designed to work with the bicycle upside down. If the bicycle is turned upside down or on its side, the air bubbles inside the reservoir tank may move
in the direction of the calipers. If the bicycle has been turned upside down or on its side, be sure to operate the brake lever a few times to check that
the brakes operate normally before riding the bicycle. If the brakes do not operate normally, adjust them according to the following procedure.
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12-14-20, 05:35 PM
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12-14-20, 05:39 PM
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My garage
My son's garage
My son's garage
12-14-20, 07:15 PM
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It just depends on what type of space you have available. I have more wall space then air space so I went with a flat against the wall type.
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12-17-20, 08:24 AM
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Bikes are easier to store than pinball machines.
__________________
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
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12-17-20, 01:24 PM
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Seriously though, is this a homemade solution? Intrigued by it.
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12-17-20, 08:51 PM
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Yes, the higher you hang the bike the shorter the right lever gets. It actually took me a second or two to figure out what you were talking about.
And yes again, it's a homemade hanger. When I saw the price for some of the manufactured pedal hangers way back when ($40+) I said I could make one on the cheap. Originally just plywood scraps to test the theory. It's worked so well that I haven't improved the design yet, but will for the next house.
And yes again, it's a homemade hanger. When I saw the price for some of the manufactured pedal hangers way back when ($40+) I said I could make one on the cheap. Originally just plywood scraps to test the theory. It's worked so well that I haven't improved the design yet, but will for the next house.
12-18-20, 01:19 PM
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I've never liked the looks of anything but horizontal storage to display my wheels. Downsized to one car and have room to keep all 2-wheelers in garage now. Preparing for and trying Ibera horizontal wall hangers next.
12-18-20, 04:10 PM
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Yes, the higher you hang the bike the shorter the right lever gets. It actually took me a second or two to figure out what you were talking about.
And yes again, it's a homemade hanger. When I saw the price for some of the manufactured pedal hangers way back when ($40+) I said I could make one on the cheap. Originally just plywood scraps to test the theory. It's worked so well that I haven't improved the design yet, but will for the next house.
And yes again, it's a homemade hanger. When I saw the price for some of the manufactured pedal hangers way back when ($40+) I said I could make one on the cheap. Originally just plywood scraps to test the theory. It's worked so well that I haven't improved the design yet, but will for the next house.
12-18-20, 06:32 PM
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Yes, the higher you hang the bike the shorter the right lever gets. It actually took me a second or two to figure out what you were talking about.
And yes again, it's a homemade hanger. When I saw the price for some of the manufactured pedal hangers way back when ($40+) I said I could make one on the cheap. Originally just plywood scraps to test the theory. It's worked so well that I haven't improved the design yet, but will for the next house.
And yes again, it's a homemade hanger. When I saw the price for some of the manufactured pedal hangers way back when ($40+) I said I could make one on the cheap. Originally just plywood scraps to test the theory. It's worked so well that I haven't improved the design yet, but will for the next house.
Fixie fan to boot
Last edited by vane171; 12-18-20 at 06:39 PM.
12-18-20, 10:11 PM
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The horizontal board is just to keep things level. The board can support the weight or not depending on how long the crank is or the overall size of the bike. There is a big difference between my bikes and my wife's bikes but it works for both sizes.
The lever comment is just pointing out the fact that on the fixed gear bikes I have a dummy or stubby lever instead of a rear brake lever. It took me a second or two to catch on too.
The lever comment is just pointing out the fact that on the fixed gear bikes I have a dummy or stubby lever instead of a rear brake lever. It took me a second or two to catch on too.
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12-18-20, 10:45 PM
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Thanks, now I got it, I thought it is something to do with the hanger system. The middle bike is perfect fixie, I like that chainring (same 'aluminum' overall look as the spider with the arm and clean lines), that's class.
Last edited by vane171; 12-18-20 at 11:44 PM.
12-19-20, 01:38 PM
#22
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Me too. I use the hanging system from Harken - around 10 bikes hanging from the ceiling and it works great. Been doing it for more than a decade.
01-04-21, 09:51 AM
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Me too. I use the hanging system from Harken - around 10 bikes hanging from the ceiling and it works great. Been doing it for more than a decade.
Thanks
01-04-21, 11:59 AM
#24
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The bike hangs from a 2:1 pulley so there are two lengths of rope that go through a pulley that connects to the straps. As long as that is not twisted the bike will hang straight. If you twist that, the twist will want to straighten the bike out. The bike will not spin randomly when hanging.
we’ve used these for more than 10 years to hang 7 bikes some of which are used daily. Zero issues and they’re quick and easy to use.
we also use a different version of these to hold two ski cargo boxes to the ceiling in the off season. They have to hold tight to the ceiling because they only have about 1.5” clearance to the garage door when it opens. They have never slipped even a fraction of an inch in all the years we’ve had them stores there.
So we’re big fans of the Harken stuff.
j.
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01-04-21, 06:58 PM
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Thanks. This allays my worry that multiple hanging bikes would be bumping into each other.
