Hanging your bike by the wheel
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Hanging your bike by the wheel
I'm thinking of hanging a few of my rides on simple hooks screwed into ceiling joists as pictured below. I recall hearing this was not good practice and could elongate the wheel. My assumption is this is cyclist myth but figured I'd check with this group to see what y'all think. Any issue hanging 23lb road bikes this way?
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Bike shops do it all the time. The wheels support a rider of 200+lbs and more so they can certainly support the bike. I don't think it works so well for those flashy nuovo "deep dish" plastic wheels though.
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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feros ferio
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The upper spokes are in tension when you hang your bike from a wheel, and these will protect you from elongation. Also, as pointed out above, the weight of the unloaded bike is trivial compared to its weight under a full load, including rider. I hang all of my bikes from the garage ceiling on ... bicycle storage hooks.
Looking through the Bianchi at the 1959 Capo, the Schwinn, and an old MTB frame. The Capo Siegers are behind me.
Looking through the Bianchi at the 1959 Capo, the Schwinn, and an old MTB frame. The Capo Siegers are behind me.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
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Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
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I didn't do an official count, but it would seem you have a shot glass to go with each bike. Post-ride nipper!
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I'm not sure they were actually my daughters. There are 11 bikes on the rack but sadly 7 have moved on for various reasons. I miss a few of them
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
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I'm thinking of hanging a few of my rides on simple hooks screwed into ceiling joists as pictured below. I recall hearing this was not good practice and could elongate the wheel. My assumption is this is cyclist myth but figured I'd check with this group to see what y'all think. Any issue hanging 23lb road bikes this way?
Last edited by mechanicmatt; 01-31-22 at 08:25 PM.
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I'm also a front wheel hanger from the ceiling joists (I alternative front and rear to fit more in). Don't forget to remove your water bottle!
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Not a problem.
This should be a "sticky;" seems to come up pretty often.
This should be a "sticky;" seems to come up pretty often.
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To the OP: I've been doing this for thirty years. Yet to see an issue.
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And from time to time someone certified by the ASFE* will say they've done/seen some analysis and claim otherwise.
*American Society of Fraudulent Engineers
@BoltBreaker
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I've also had an issue with hydraulic brakes. Any air in the reservoir moves into the brake line and the brakes get squishy. My solution? I sold that bike.
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My bikes are mostly hung off both wheels. I let a little OCD sneak in and avoid hanging on the hooks close to the tube stem or the rim joint.
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No excuses for my 1/3 of the discombobulated garage.
I Partially hang my most ridden bikes from the handle bars using a ceiling cord leaving the rear wheel in contact with the floor. This allows me the most easy access for a grab and go. I also have a tree made of 2x4s to hang four bikes off the ground. I put my less frequently used bikes there. Then off of the side of that 2x4 hanger I mounted a wall hook suspender. That hanger appears to be the best so far. Also note that I have positioned it just high enough to keep the rear wheel in light contact with the floor. That way if I have the bike loaded up with its rack, pack, and other implements of destruction there is not to much stress on the wall or the rest of the bike.
As to the OP: I too feel uncomfortable suspending the full weight of my bikes by the rims. It would appear the this is a common and safe method of storage. But I still don't do it... Yet...
I Partially hang my most ridden bikes from the handle bars using a ceiling cord leaving the rear wheel in contact with the floor. This allows me the most easy access for a grab and go. I also have a tree made of 2x4s to hang four bikes off the ground. I put my less frequently used bikes there. Then off of the side of that 2x4 hanger I mounted a wall hook suspender. That hanger appears to be the best so far. Also note that I have positioned it just high enough to keep the rear wheel in light contact with the floor. That way if I have the bike loaded up with its rack, pack, and other implements of destruction there is not to much stress on the wall or the rest of the bike.
As to the OP: I too feel uncomfortable suspending the full weight of my bikes by the rims. It would appear the this is a common and safe method of storage. But I still don't do it... Yet...
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A stinky?
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I've seen this question pop up a couple times a year and always smile a wry smile. A bike's wheels go through some crazy stresses during use while supporting riders across a variable weight spectrum, yet we worry about them hanging from the ceiling on a hook
DD
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What I don't like about these bike hooks and hanging them either vertically by one wheel or upside down by two wheels, is it looks better IMHO to hang them horizontally with the drive side out. But I understand some people are blessed with more bikes than wall space.
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Maybe part of a larger mythbusting sticky?
Be glad you didn't post the question in the General forum. Guaranteed to go 15 pages of mind-numbing "arguments" before being locked.
Be glad you didn't post the question in the General forum. Guaranteed to go 15 pages of mind-numbing "arguments" before being locked.
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I would not hang a bike by a Scheeren Weltmeister rim, but others... old mechanics tales to mess with your mind.
Scheeren rims are of soft aluminum.
but oh so high polished bling.
Scheeren rims are of soft aluminum.
but oh so high polished bling.
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And posters on BF who say that they always shift to the smallest sprocket and chainwheel to preserve derailleur spring life. (If anyone has mentioned opening the cam-operated quick release on Campy Record and equivalent brakes, too, I've missed it, sadly.)