Commuting - Bike Repair in Small Apartment

-- This is to solicit ideas for storing and servicing a commuter bicycle for those living in small apartments.
I will begin by offering two ideas of my own:

1. An instant bike stand can be improvised by using the pull-out cutting board in the kitchen counter. I pull out the board halfway, lift the bike and hang it on the board by the top tube. A regular drawer of suitable height and size works too.

2. A hook in the ceiling allows me to hang the bike by a wheel to free up floor space. An unexpected benefit to having it suspended up is that the wheels, brakes and drive line components are easily accessable for inspection and service. A piece of scrap carpet underneath keeps the floor clean.

-- Any other ideas?

Barrage of questions alert!

Do you hang the bike by one wheel or two? I have heard that hanging by a single wheel is more likely to deform the wheel, but I don't know how trustworthy that information is. Have you had any trouble with your wheel going out of true? What kind of hook are you using? Does it have any kind of coating?

Barrage of questions alert!

Do you hang the bike by one wheel or two? I have heard that hanging by a single wheel is more likely to deform the wheel, but I don't know how trustworthy that information is. Have you had any trouble with your wheel going out of true? What kind of hook are you using? Does it have any kind of coating?


There was a discussion in the bike mechanics forum a couple months ago on this subject. Here was one (I thought) insightful comment: 1) how much does your bike weigh, relative to the rider and 2) the bike actually hangs in tension from the top of the rim, rather than compressing on the bottom of the rim.

Therefore, hanging a bicycle by one wheel is unlikely to pull wheels out of true.

I use rubber coated hooks to hang several bikes in the garage. 2 older step-through 3 speeds are hanging by the front tire. I store my fuji on an old bike rack, which is mounted to the wall (it was designed for mounting on a spare tire).

Barrage of questions alert!

Do you hang the bike by one wheel or two? I have heard that hanging by a single wheel is more likely to deform the wheel, but I don't know how trustworthy that information is. Have you had any trouble with your wheel going out of true? What kind of hook are you using? Does it have any kind of coating?

-- Thank you for your excellent questions.
I hang it by one wheel; many bike stores display their new bicycles this way. Anyway, I make a point to always rehang the bike by a different section of the wheel just in case. I made a hook with a piece of 3/4" wide steel strap (uncoated). The width of the hook prevents creating a dink in the rim.

I would just work on the bike upside down. I had a two wooden blocks. One had some wood to create a slot for putting the stem between. The other block straped the saddle down. Each had about a 2 foot 2x4 nailed to the bottom for lateral support. They worked fine, that is, til my fiance threw them away. I have to hand it to her she didn't know what they were for, but that is what she said about my handlebar mount for my cygolite.

I'm lucky enough to have an in-wall ironing board that folds out and can be adjusted to various heights. Works really slick. Like here: http://www.zweknu.org/pics/gal.rhtml?alb=bike1&start=0&show=bike001.jpg

I bought a Supergo bike storage rack that holds two bikes ( one above the other ) and sits next to a wall. It makes a handsome accessory that nicely complements my living room decor !

My bedroom is a multi-use room. The bed is a futon that easily folds up into a couch, converting the room into a den and project room. I have a folding stand that I use to work on whichever bike needs attention.

I could easily fit another storage rack in my bedroom for a grand total of 4 bikes in my 680 sq. ft. apartment. But I keep only the two expensive ones in the apartment. Down in the basement there is a locked bike parking room where my three other bikes reside. And if I get any more, there is a Bikestation a few blocks away where you can store your prized possesions for free.

Why don't you just buy a folding mechanic stand? Then, when you're done with it, just fold it and put it underneath a bed or a couch. Have a good night.

I wrench in the kitchen, just flip the bike upside down. Not ideal, but better than nothing. I repack my hubs and such on top of my stove, with a little newspaper underneath. And I store the bike in the bike storage room; if it wasn't puke orange/rust and covered in mud there's no doubt it'd be stolen within a week, but as it is it does fine unless some ass decides to let the air out of my tires.

Buy a Brompton they require absolotuely minimum repair - get this done by LBS. These things are a commuters workhorse

Buy a Brompton they require absolotuely minimum repair - get this done by LBS. These things are a commuters workhorse

-- Replies from overseas are always EXTRA welcome. Feel free to post commuting experiences in Ireland.

Do you hang the bike by one wheel or two? I have heard that hanging by a single wheel is more likely to deform the wheel

One wouldn't expect a twenty pound bike to deform one wheel anymore more than a +100 lb rider deforming two.

Make sure the hooks have good rubber coatings. Cutting and slipping sections of rubber hosing over em or wrapping them in electrical tape if the coating is flimsy or starts to degrade.

I have two of the wall mounts that screw into the wall and hold bikes by the crossbar. One, single and one two-banger. As said previously they put the BB at a nice height for inspection, which is how I noticed I had cracked an aluminum Allez. Also having them upright keeps the handlebars out of the way (near the ceiling) so to have a slimmer profile down low. My girl bought me a gorgeous repair stand, before I would work with the bike flipped. It is easier (upside down), to true wheels that way for sure. I would like to throw in one fantastic tool in keeping the bike scuff marks off walls and doors, Mr Clean Magic Eraser. I am not sure whether it is covering up or picking up pedal and shifter marks, but the wall is white again. Fantastic stuff!