Bicycles are a pretty dope invention. I mean, not only are they a great vehicle for travelling short distances, but it also multitasks as an excellent tool for exercising.
Unfortunately, they are quite hard to store. You can’t just have a bicycle sitting around in your living or backyard. I mean you can, but it looks really sloppy.
The solution? Store it where you store your other vehicles. That’s right, the bedroom. I mean the garage.
But you can’t just have it laying around, so our suggestion is you hang it. This raises the question: How to hang bicycles in garage?
Well, have no fear! That is why we are here. This article is going to instruct you through the most efficient ways to hang your bicycle in your garage.
So without further ado, here is the first method to hang a bicycle in your garage.
How To Hang Bicycles In Garage Using A Pulley Lift
We start with one of the more difficult methods but it is one that it is sure to work and a low-budget option but it does require a lot of labor. That labor is paid off by a clean set up, however.
You can always just set up a pulley and let your bikes hang in the air but that does not nearly look as organized as our set-up.
Note: This is a manual version. If you buy a motorized version, this process is much easier but the set-up is different for each system. Don’t worry though, the set-up process is almost identical.
You’ll need:
- A rope
- A platform with stand
- Fixed pulley
- Cordless impact driver
- Ladder
Step 1: Arrange the best material
- Purchase some high-quality rope of reasonable length (15m, you can always cut off the excess). It has to be strong enough to support the weight of your bicycle. If it snaps, your bicycle is as good as gone
- Get a wooden or metal platform on a stand that can carry your bike easily (at least 18 lbs)
- Get a strong fixed pulley that won’t collapse when trying to set up your bike
- Find a reliable impact driver and ladder.
Step 2: Make space
- Designate a large area for your make-shift lift: remove all cars and boxes from that area
- Place it in a corner to avoid accidents.
Step 3: Set up the pulley
- Choose a suitable position on your ceiling
- Climb up to that spot with your impact, rope, and fixed pulley.
- Attach the pulley to the ceiling using your impact driver (follow the instructions given by the producers of your fixed pulley)
- Run the rope through the pulley and tie it securely.
Step 4: Finishing touches
- Tie the rope tightly to the platform
- Double-check to see every knot is secure and the pulley strongly attached to the ceiling.
And there you have it! A lift for your bicycle. Simply, place your bike on the platform and pull the rope on the other of the pulley, and watch it ascend.
We started with this set-up as it looks the cleanest, in our opinion. It also saves plenty of space on the floor.
It is important to note that this set up only works for one light bicycle. If you are not using a motorized pulley, it can be very hard to lift heavy bikes.
How To Hang Bicycles In Garage Using Hooks
This is perhaps the easiest method of hanging your bicycle in your garage as it requires the fewest materials and very little time and effort.
But that doesn’t mean it looks unruly or displeasing in any way. It all depends on how you arrange your bikes and garage.
You’ll need:
- Heavy-Duty hooks
- Drill
Step 1: Getting the right materials
- Get a good hook. This is the only step where you can mess up. It has to be able to support the weight of your bike
- Get a high-quality drill.
Step 2: Set up the system
- Drill the hook onto the wall and double-check its integrity.
- Hang your bicycle by the wheel onto the hook.
Done, in just two steps! This is a very easy and sharp contrast to the first method. However, if you haven’t noticed, this set-up does not save nearly as much space and look as clean. This depends on how much effort you want to put in.
How To Hang Bicycles In Garage Using A Wall Rack
Believe it or not, this is even easier than using a hook because you can hang multiple bicycles from a single set-up, which takes an equal amount of effort and time.
Again, this doesn’t look bad in any way. It could be better, but for a makeshift solution, it looks pretty neat.
You’ll need:
- A wall rack
- A drill
Step 1: Getting the right materials
- Get a sturdy wall rack. One that can securely hold on to your bike
- Get a high-quality drill.
Step 2: Set up the system
- Drill some holes in the wall, and secure the wall rack into place.
- Hang your bicycles onto the wall rack.
Again, this is pretty much the exact same system as the hooks but it can carry more bicycles. To be fair, the rack doesn’t look as neat as individual hooks, but that’s down to preference and whether or not you think the extra effort is worth it.
How To Hang Bicycles In Garage Using A Bike Shelf
This may be the most difficult method we will be showing you today. That pulley lift method was insanely hard compared to the last two but this one isn’t a piece of cake either.
We suggest doing this one yourself as the ready-made versions are much more expensive and hard to find.
A thorough guideline with exact measurements is available at liv-cycling. This is just an idea of how to do it.
You’ll need:
- Wooden Planks
- Sandpaper
- Screws
- Bolts
- Cordless Drill
- Jig Saw
- Ruler
- Pencil
Step 1: Getting the right materials
- Get strong wooden planks that can carry the weight of your bike
- The same goes for your bolts and screws, as they are holding the setup together
- Use high-quality tools (Drill and jigsaw).
Step 2: Plan it out
- Use a ruler to measure the space you want your shelf to be placed in and mark it with a pencil
- Cut the wood according to those measurements using the jigsaw.
Step 3: Building the shelf
- Drill holes in the appropriate areas so you can screw two planks perpendicularly
- Use the drill again to make precise holes to add the cabinet wall
- Draw a hole that can fit in the seat of your bike on the lower plank and cut it out
- Use sandpaper to smooth out the rough edges.
Step 4: Hang the shelf
- Drill in the bolts into the wall
- Attach the shelf to the wall using those bolts and screws
- Double-check its integrity
- Hang your bike from the seat using the hole you drilled out.
And that’s a wrap. Phew! Just writing that made me work up a sweat. Again, these instructions may be unclear so please check out the detailed guide on liv-cycling.
It’s a very tough set-up and it’s easy to mess up so take caution while doing it. But we assure you, it is worth the effort. Not only does it look beautiful, but you can also use the shelf for other purposes such as keeping books or showpieces.
And there you have it. The four best answers to how to hang bicycles in garage. Now, let’s move to a few frequently asked questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does hanging my bicycle from the wheel damage it?
Yes. Unfortunately, it causes considerable damage to the rim. That is the main downside of methods 2 and 3. They may be easy to set up, but they harm your bike in the long run.
Why do I have to keep my bicycle in the garage?
The garage is the perfect room of the house to keep a bicycle. Think about it: It’s where you keep your car, motorbike or any other vehicle you own. Why wouldn’t you keep your bike there?
Why do I have to hang my bicycle?
Aside from the fact that it looks sloppy and disorganized, keeping cycles without support not only takes up a lot of room but it is also dangerous as it may fall or you may trip over it.
Is it expensive to hang a bicycle in my garage?
Depends on how much of it you are doing yourself. Ready-made components are obviously much more expensive. However, don’t be too cheap though. You need strong parts for the setups to hold.
Conclusion
Overall, you need to remember that setting up an efficient system that doesn’t look tacky is no walk in park. It might run up a tab but the finished product is worth every penny you invest in it, and all the sweat (hold the blood and tears, fingers crossed) that went into the project.
We hope this article was properly able to guide you on how to hang bicycles in garage.
