General Cycling Discussion - newbie question: ok to store bike hanging by wheel?

hey all,

I've been lurking around here for a while, soaking it all in, and I've just gotten myself an entry level type bike. searching around in these forums, I've seen a lot of different types of storage methods, but nothing specifically addressing whether it's alright to hang a bike by the wheel. you know, with one of those plastic coated hooks you drive into the ceiling. seems it might be bad for the wheel, but then again, they ought to be pretty strong.

from long experience in other hobbies, I know that just because a product is made doesn't mean it's a good idea to use it.

thanks to everyone in advance; I've learned a lot here!

-alex.

Don't see why not. That's how most bike shops store bikes. Besides, even though the stress is in the wrong direction, I can't see how 10-15 kg of stress would be too much for a wheel designed to support a grown adult AND road shock.

Go right ahead, no problems at all, oh BTW welcome to the forums ,have a great time here:)

Yep, thats how we store them in our shop. The only thing I would recommend though is to ensure the hook is well padded so you don't scratch your rims.

It's kind of hard to ride your bike if it's hanging from your ceiling, isn't it?

Good luck with your pursuit.
;)

thanks to everyone for the replies!

I'll probably end up getting some nifty wall device thing eventually, but in the meantime the bike's going on a hook. I've got this oddly built foyer with a little alcove (once meant for an umbrella stand? dunno) that'll work nicely.

-alex.

I don't know as much about this, but one thing worries me. A bike store will hang it by the wheel for usually no more than a few hours. How much strain will it put on the spokes if one hangs it like that perpetually?

The only thing I can offer is anecdotal evidence. I have 6 bikes hanging from hooks in the garage ceiling. Some from the front, some from the rear. I've never had a problem doing it.

Come on Chris!!

Hanging a 22 lb bike by a wheel designed to support 1/2 of about 230 pounds of weight (or more) plus the tremendous extra pressure developed by road objects such as curbs and potholes. Of course you can hang a bike by the wheels - and if you hang it by 2 wheels it is only about 11-12 pounds per wheel. :p

Anyway, I have several bikes hanging by wheels and they seem to do fine. I do find it best to take them off of the hook before riding them, though!!

My dad used to hang my first MTB that I bought with my own money on a hook like you are speaking of. He only did it when I wouldn't come inside and do my work. He said if I couldn't stay off my bike he would take it away. Of course, it wasn't very long a'fore I figured out how to get it down. By the by, I was 8 and shrimpy.

Originally posted by DnvrFox
Come on Chris!!

Hanging a 22 lb bike by a wheel designed to support 1/2 of about 230 pounds of weight (or more) plus the tremendous extra pressure developed by road objects such as curbs and potholes. Of course you can hang a bike by the wheels - and if you hang it by 2 wheels it is only about 11-12 pounds per wheel. :p

Anyway, I have several bikes hanging by wheels and they seem to do fine. I do find it best to take them off of the hook before riding them, though!!

Well, I did say I didn't know much about it! Of course, my bike never has to carry 230 pounds of weight :p Mind you, I don't hang my bikes by the wheel and I still break spokes :cry:

Hi Chris, loved the Warick Capper joke.:D

But do you break spokes on the front or back? and on any particular side?

A handy thing to do also ,is to place a large rubber band around the front wheels valve stem, then around the down tube,then back around the valve stem..this will keep the front wheel straight when trying to hook it up there.....:thumbup:

Originally posted by fubar5
My dad used to hang my first MTB that I bought with my own money on a hook like you are speaking of. He only did it when I wouldn't come inside and do my work. He said if I couldn't stay off my bike he would take it away. Of course, it wasn't very long a'fore I figured out how to get it down. By the by, I was 8 and shrimpy.


Fubar, Biker Rowdy...

Bad to the bone!

:D

Originally posted by RainmanP



Fubar, Biker Rowdy...

Bad to the bone!

:D


And lovin' every second of it.:D

Bike shop mechanic here! Hooks o.k., but not too elegant. At home, I've taken a piece of 1-1/2" Schedule 80 PVC Pipe about a foot long and suspended it about 6" below the ceiling with two pieces of all thread (wrapped in padding). I then hang my bikes from the seat! I hook the pipe with the front of the saddle and the bike settles into a nice position. This way I don't hang my bikes vertically (wheel wise).

The worst thing you can do for your bike is to store it on the ground without air in the tires. The sidewalls will crack and disintegrate in a short time.

Also, with many suspension bikes, storing bikes up-side-down causes the oil to leak past the upper seals in the forks. If disc brake equipped, the oil can also leak past the lever. IMO, I store the bikes in the same relative position that I ride. That is why I use the seat hooking method. Please note that the bike hanging from the seat will hang with the front tire lower than the back. This is the same relative position that I like to ride! Downhill!
L8R G8R:cool:

I hadn't thought of hanging a bike from a wheel - it might solve storage problems if I can find a solid enough joist... I don't know how heavy my bike is (it seems pretty heavy going uphill :)).

Richard

Originally posted by a2psyklnut

...IMO, I store the bikes in the same relative position that I ride. That is why I use the seat hooking method. Please note that the bike hanging from the seat will hang with the front tire lower than the back. This is the same relative position that I like to ride! Downhill!


L8R G8R:cool:

I guess that means I should just hang my bike by the front wheel, then... :D

Someone once told me that if you ride in winter (in places where they have winter, i.e. snow) you should store your bike upside down so all the slush can drain from the places where it might accumulate. I would assume this doesn't apply to those who actually wash their bikes after a winter ride.

Originally posted by sillystorm
But do you break spokes on the front or back? and on any particular side?

Usually on the back, but I've broken them on the front too. Oh well, I guess it was time I spoke up.

Originally posted by Chris L




Usually on the back, but I've broken them on the front too. Oh well, I guess it was time I spoke up.

Yeah, chris -- you've been wheeling around the issue too much; good to see you've got the hub-ris to speak up. :D

I don't know as much about this, but one thing worries me. A bike store will hang it by the wheel for usually no more than a few hours. How much strain will it put on the spokes if one hangs it like that perpetually?

If it can up to hold my fat a$$ dropping off of 3 ft dropoffs, it should be able to hold its own weight for years with no adverse effects :)

I have had heavy old bikes (40+ pounds each) hang from one wheel on a hood for several years without any apparent damage to the wheel or bike.

Originally posted by Matadon

Yeah, chris -- you've been wheeling around the issue too much; good to see you've got the hub-ris to speak up. :D

Now that was wheely bad! :D

Originally posted by Chris L


Now that was wheely bad! :D

Ughh! These puns are getting tire-some! Give me a brake!

Originally posted by Bubba


Ughh! These puns are getting tire-some! Give me a brake!

They're just going around in circles. :cry:

I don't want to seem cranky, and I certainly don't want to puntificate, but you need to frame this topic in a better way, or you will all end up in the punitentiary.

Cheers...Gary

Originally posted by gmason
I don't want to seem cranky, and I certainly don't want to puntificate, but you need to frame this topic in a better way, or you will all end up in the punitentiary.

Cheers...Gary

What does that mean?

Sorry... would it have been better if I had italicized the puns? I thought I would make it more of a challenge. :o

Cheers...Gary

Originally posted by gmason
Sorry... would it have been better if I had italicized the puns? I thought I would make it more of a challenge. :o

Cheers...Gary

I'm just not following you I guess. Do you not like the topic? Do you not like the way we have digressed from the original subject? Or is it something I haven't figured out yet?

The latter.

You see, the words frame, cranky, puntificate, and punitentiary are puns. Get it? :)

Cheers...Gary

Originally posted by gmason
The latter.

You see, the words frame, cranky, puntificate, and punitentiary are puns. Get it? :)

Cheers...Gary

Let me go get the dictionary.

I'm sorry, neither of these (puntificate, and punitentiary) are in my dictionary, what do they mean?

Well, pontificate, the pun on which puntificate was made means to preach or lecture (essentially). You can probably figure out the other one from that. If not, just ask. ;)

Cheers...Gary

Put in a place to be punished for puns?

On the nosie!

Cheers...Gary

So is that it? Or is there more?

I'm afraid that's it. Puns are not rocket science.

You had read the replies leading up to my post, hadn't you? It was Chris L who started all this punning - go beat him up. ;)

Cheers...Gary

Cool. I actuall had not read all the posts, I just clicked on that little arrow button that takes you to the latest post and tada, there I was.

Quite a chain of posts! Now that you're up to speed, we can give you the gears for not catching on right away.

Just as long as we don't start puns about pens. I hear them at university often and they make me pensive. They're so predictable they could often be said to be pending. Personally, I think they should incur a penalty.

Betcha never had an inkling that was coming :D

Has nobody tried to get their spoke in? Or get geared up for an argument?Tired of puns...

Heck, I'm not tyred of any of this. In fact, I feel like I should have spoken up sooner. Whoever started this chain, stay put for more.

Originally posted by Chris L
Just as long as we don't start puns about pens. I hear them at university often and they make me pensive. They're so predictable they could often be said to be pending. Personally, I think they should incur a penalty.

Betcha never had an inkling that was coming :D

I have a penchant for puns, they are the penicle of penache.

I know that it is spelled panache but that wouldn't work now would it? :-)

Originally posted by Harry
Has nobody tried to get their spoke in? Or get geared up for an argument?Tired of puns...

Guess we need punitative measures!

Originally posted by Chris L




Guess we need punitative measures!

Not really; just because someone has a single-track mind and can't shift gears quickly enough to get into punning is no reason to chain them to the rack. :)

As I tread on common decency and saddle you with more riveting wordplay, I think the clincher might be to devise a drummer smilie that can deliver a rim-shot after every bad pun. I certainly disagree with folks who think puns belong in the bottom bracket of humor. In my mind they hold a more inflated position, and I have enjoyed these rapid-fire posts. I think it is recumbent upon all of us to take pleasure in the quick release they provide. And although I may be just a small cog here at BF, I hope my words carry a big ring of truth.

WOW!!! I'm shocked!!! Nothing lefty to say. My mind is flat out of ideas. My mind is spinning! Perhaps we should camber back to the original tread, all this punning is getting me into a rut, but I don't seem to get tired of it! You know the old saying, "what goes around, comes around"

L8R G8R

So what was it that derail(leured) this thread anyway?

Yeah I know it was bad, but I hit my head today. :cry: