Libsta

I use a lovely Hybrid as my main mode of transportation to work every day. I just moved into a third floor apartment with no bike storage. I do have a back porch, however.

I had a thought of possibly installing a pulley system to lower my bike from the third floor porch down to ground level each day. Most of the bike pulleys on the market are designed for indoor use, to lower bikes from your apartment ceiling down to the floor. I am not an engineer and I know very little about the physics of my scheme so I am looking for advice.

Does anyone know if these commercially available products can be used to lower a bike 3 stories? How do I prevent the bike from banging against the building on the way down? My bike probably weighs 20 pounds. My sister has an old, beater mountain bike that weighs at least 35 pounds. I would want to be able to lower both of these bikes safely.

I welcome any advice.

sggoodri

Assuming you want to raise the bike yourself, you'll need to make two trips up the stairs - once to lower the line to the ground, and a second time to go up and raise the bike. If you had a remote controlled electrically operated winch you could eliminate a trip, but then you are looking at a larger expense. Also, it's likely that the landlord won't want you installing a substantial winch and boom on your balcony. And anything not substantial might pose a safety hazard.

Minimizing the number of stairs between my apartment and the ground was always a priority for me when selecting an apartment. I understand that women feel more secure with an upper story apartment. Perhaps you can find an alternative storage location at ground level, or pad your shoulder and treat the stair climb like a workout.

alan s 

A rod and reel for deep sea fishing immediately came to mind. Just replace the hook with something not so sharp.

threecarjam

That definitely seems like more trouble than it's worth - though if you do figure out a solution, I'm sure there are apartment dwellers in big cities across the country who would like to see it. My advice isn't really advice, just HTFU and carry the bike up the stairs. Many thousands do that every day, just think of it as adding weight training to your commute.

monsterpile

I liek your idea, but i don't know if you would be able to execute it and have the landlord be happy.

A trick I use is going down stirs I usually wheel the bike up on the back wheel and thats alot easier to navigate than carrying it. Sometimes this doesn't work if you have a rear fender because it drags on the steps.

fietsbob

there are storage pulley hoist kits for the same floor ,
to lift the bike to the ceiling or off the floor a ways .

a life boat Davit with a hoist motor winch may be along the lines of what you seek..

3 floors is not far on a 30 meter long [90 foot] ship .. from the deck to the drink.

exile

Unless your Hybrid is worth a lot of money it might be best to just invest in some good locks and lock it on the street. Take off the front wheel and saddle and bring those up to the apartment.

Seattle Forrest

At least when you're carrying your bikes up the stairs, you can tell your sister how great it is to have an ultra-light frame.

fietsbob

Plan B a Folding bike, Bromptons are pretty decent to carry..
compact to store in an Apartment,
leave it folded up until you bring it back down to the street.

KD5NRH

And then the apartment complex cuts the lock to dispose of the "abandoned junk bike."

tanguy frame

off-site storage.

tsl

I'm in a third-floor walk-up. All four of my bikes live in my apartment.

Every ride begins by carrying it down the stairs, and ends with carrying it back up again. It's no big thing, even with a commuting load in the panniers. (Think of it as upper-body cross-training.) Shopping is another matter. The grocery panniers wait downstairs for a second trip.



At my old apartment, I carried my old hybrid up and down the fire escape.

no1mad 

Or even a minivelo would be easier to navigate interior stairs with.

idc

In my last abode I also stored my 30lb+ mountain bike on the porch. It was two sets of stairs (and one annoying entry door), but no real biggie.

CJ C

I like your style my friend, if there is enough will you will find a way.

I live in a third floor apartment, and drag a 41 pound bike (without any bags) up and down the stairs everyday and sometimes more than once. my other bike is 30lbs and yes i hate having to do this and after a hard weekend ride the walk up the stairs is dreaded. I am waiting for the fall/winter when i got a cold, layers of clothes and cant wait till i can crash in bed but first i have to carry the bike up to the third floor. i think then i may buy a winter beater to lock outside.

goagain

Realistically, I doubt the landlord would allow that because of liability issues.

bhop

20lbs? Just carry it up..