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SuperWookie

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hey everyone, just have a few questions about garage bike racks. I'm looking to get a good rack that's nothing crazy or too expensive, but also not a POJ. I see a lot of these vertical racks that look very simple and easy to use and can hold 2-6 backs, which would be nice. But I feel like I've heard or read somewhere that hanging your bike vertical can possibly cause problems? But not sure, that's why I'm asking. So the two things I'm worried about hanging the bike vertically is the wheel/spokes and any of the hydraulic parts like the: brakes, fork, shock or seat post?

This is the type of rack I'm looking to get
1911572


So does hanging your bike vertically cause problems with the wheels or spokes by having the hook or device hold the wheel and being pinned against the spoke? The bike will only be hanging up for long extended periods of no use from Nov-ish till March/Apri-ish. The rest of the year, I will be riding often and it won't be hanging for more than 3-5 days max at a time.

And same question but for the brakes, fork, shock and dropper seatpost. Will hanging the bike vertically cause any issues with those pieces of equipment on the bike?

And if there are any issues caused by hanging the bike vertically, how do you remedy that? Or is there a better way to hang my bike in my garage?

Thanks
 
#3 ·
For options on racks, I recently asked a similar question here: Garage Multiple Bike Rack I ended up ordering SteadyRack for space saving. I saw my LBS had them and and the ability to save space with them is significant and worth the cost.

I have heard of zero consequences from hanging bikes vertically and have for the past 3 years. As long as you are careful when you put them on and aren't slamming the hook onto the wheel I think you are fine.
 
#5 ·
Obviously this one's not vertical, but it was cheap & easy to build. Total DIY.
Personally I prefer to keep my wheels on the floor, tho there's probably nothing wrong with hanging a bike.
1911575

=sParty
 
#6 ·
SuperWookie said:
Hey everyone, just have a few questions about garage bike racks. I'm looking to get a good rack that's nothing crazy or too expensive, but also not a POJ. I see a lot of these vertical racks that look very simple and easy to use and can hold 2-6 backs, which would be nice. But I feel like I've heard or read somewhere that hanging your bike vertical can possibly cause problems? But not sure, that's why I'm asking. So the two things I'm worried about hanging the bike vertically is the wheel/spokes and any of the hydraulic parts like the: brakes, fork, shock or seat post?

This is the type of rack I'm looking to get
View attachment 1911572

So does hanging your bike vertically cause problems with the wheels or spokes by having the hook or device hold the wheel and being pinned against the spoke? The bike will only be hanging up for long extended periods of no use from Nov-ish till March/Apri-ish. The rest of the year, I will be riding often and it won't be hanging for more than 3-5 days max at a time.

And same question but for the brakes, fork, shock and dropper seatpost. Will hanging the bike vertically cause any issues with those pieces of equipment on the bike?

And if there are any issues caused by hanging the bike vertically, how do you remedy that? Or is there a better way to hang my bike in my garage?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Hanging bikes vertically won't cause any new problems. Changing the bike's orientation can cause air bubbles in your brake lines to migrate, which can make them mushy. But be clear, this isn't a new problem. If it happens, this problem was already there. You already needed to bleed your brakes. Hanging the bike just made it obvious that you needed to do it. So take care of your stuff.

As for suspension, inverting the fork can actually be good for it. If the bike sits on its wheels for an extended period of time, the fluids in the fork will settle to the bottoms of the lowers, and the foam wipers and seals will dry out. This will let them get sticky and it will take a bunch of cycling to move things around and lube it all up again. Inverting the fork keeps the main seals (and the foam rings that help hold fluid up there) lubricated. This is actually good for them.

Same basic things apply for dropper posts.

Count me as another person who thinks the basic hooks do a great job. Gotta match hook size to your tire/rim size, but that's not too hard.

I've worked in shops that extensively hung bikes from their wheels. The ONLY bikes we would not hang this way were bikes that simply didn't fit on the hooks (super deep aero rims, fatbikes, trikes, handcycles, recumbents) or bikes with non-structural carbon aero fairings on them (HED made/makes some). We had a couple electric hoists, and we'd always save those for lighter bikes because of the motors, but we had lots of hooks on solid structural walls we'd use for those bikes instead. Even massively heavy porkers like early ebikes and comfort bikes and stuff.
 
#8 ·
SoDakSooner said:
I've never had any issues. I just went to a big box store and picked up the rubbermaid system. I think I have $50 in and it holds 3 easily on just one section of track. Of course you could go longer as well.
View attachment 1911573
Click to expand...
+1 vote for the rubbermaid track system. A little more expensive than using 2x4 and some threaded hooks, but looks much nicer and you can also get a bunch of different accessories for the track.
 
#9 ·
I built a similar bike rack to the picture that the OP posted using 2x4s and hooks (like the one above). It was pretty easy to build (I am not the most handy at house projects). I used 2 2x4s (one high one low) so I could offset the hooks and hang bikes a bit closer to each other. Home depot had all the parts I needed and I had them cut the wood. This way I could customize it to the size of my garage. I hung 10 bikes and it didn't cost much.
 
#14 ·
They're fine vertically. Just screw a 2x4 horizontally across the studs then screw in the cheap rubber coated hooks. Better to do this so you can move or stagger them with no issues. Personally during the riding season, I have mine on the work stand and my son's just leaned against the wall. We ride a lot so don't want to "store" them. In ski season, mine stays on the stand (and gets whatever winter overhaul it needs) and the other bikes get hung upside down from the garage ceiling out of the way. Oh and the Lady's huge and heavy Rad Wagon stays on the center stand like a motorcycle!
 
#15 ·
#17 ·
mohrgan said:
I know! I just checked out their website as well...!
Click to expand...
This reminds me of seeing a single bike on a $750 hitch rack mounted to a pickup when you could just ugh............. put the bike in the bed for $0! Lol

Guy buys a pickup for $50k that's made for putting things in the bed, then pays extra money to put the bike outside of the bed.
 
#19 ·
sfr4dr said:
This reminds me of seeing a single bike on a $750 hitch rack mounted to a pickup when you could just ugh............. put the bike in the bed for $0! Lol

Guy buys a pickup for $50k that's made for putting things in the bed, then pays extra money to put the bike outside of the bed.
Click to expand...
Hey! some of us pickup truck guys like to carry stuff in the bed and bikes on the hitch at the same time. I just laid my bike in the bed for years until I found a deal on a hitch rack and I have to say it's way way way better. Plus with the rack and the bed I can shuttle 6 bikes if needed. (I would need 5 friends though.... :cry:)

On a more relevant note, I've been looking for a rack similar to the OP and have found that a lot of folks are recommending the "Mossy Cog" bike rack Mossy Cog Designs | Bike Racks for up to 6 bikes mounted on a wall, and the ability to turn them diagonally to save space. I don't like the idea of spending this much to store bikes but my current 2 bikes take up too much of my already small garage space and with kids and such that number isn't going to decrease.

-DS
 
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#20 ·
dsciulli19 said:
Hey! some of us pickup truck guys like to carry stuff in the bed and bikes on the hitch at the same time. I just laid my bike in the bed for years until I found a deal on a hitch rack and I have to say it's way way way better. Plus with the rack and the bed I can shuttle 6 bikes if needed. (I would need 5 friends though.... :cry:)

On a more relevant note, I've been looking for a rack similar to the OP and have found that a lot of folks are recommending the "Mossy Cog" bike rack Mossy Cog Designs | Bike Racks for up to 6 bikes mounted on a wall, and the ability to turn them diagonally to save space. I don't like the idea of spending this much to store bikes but my current 2 bikes take up too much of my already small garage space and with kids and such that number isn't going to decrease.

-DS
Click to expand...
Haha. I'm just messing around. Hitch racks have their place at times, even on pickups. I use a tailgate pad but if I ever end up with a camper shell or bed drawer system (for camping & gear) then I'll have to move to a hitch rack.
 
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