How to Hang a Bike on a Wall

How to hang a bike on a wall

You enjoy cycling in the summer. You’ve also been meaning to burn those extra calories and stay fit. So, after having put it off for quite some time, you finally go ahead and buy a bicycle. Now you’re faced with the actual problem – where do you keep it?

With no place in your tiny apartment for this newest addition, your bike stands in the hallway, leaning precariously against the wall. You’ve knocked it down several times. Tripped over it even more. It has become an eyesore in your living room and you are desperate to put in place.

Condo and apartment dwellers do not have the luxury of extra space for bike storage that having a yard or garage affords one. Keeping the bike outdoors exposed to natural elements is not a viable option too as it speeds up wear and tear.

The solution is safe and practical indoor bike storage that makes the best use of the available space. However, it should also be easily accessible and one that blends with the rest of your décor.

If this sounds like you, you may want to consider mounting a bike on a wall or hanging it from the ceiling. It is not only meant for smaller apartments and condos but doable in a garage as well. It saves space.

To add, hanging a bike allows one to accommodate multiple bikes. This detailed guide walks you through your options for indoor bike storage. We discuss the steps and tips to hang a bike on a wall. Read on to know more.

Hanging a Bike: Factors to Consider

There are multiple things you need to know before you get down to drilling those holes and screwing in mounts.

Bike weight

The weight of the bike determines the type of mount you will need. Bicycle frames made of aluminum alloys weigh much more than those with titanium and carbon frames. Hence, before you go shopping for bike racks and mounts, it helps to know how much your bike weighs.

Load capacity of the hook/mount

The mount should be able to take the weight of the bike. Check the maximum load capacity of the mount before installation. It is usually listed with the other specifications. Hanging a heavy bike on a hook or mount with a lower weight capacity will cause it to crash. It will destroy your wall and can be dangerous.

Number of bikes

Will you be hanging a single bike in your living room or need a mount to support multiple bikes in your garage? The number of bikes you intend to hang influences the wall mount load capacity you should choose. You can opt for a single mount capable of hoisting multiple bikes or may have to settle for separate hooks for individual bikes.

Space

Bicycles are asymmetric in shape and design. With handles and pedals jutting out, you need to decide the amount of space you can allow to accommodate the bicycle comfortably. There should be enough space to take it down or to move around it. It should not be an obstacle and neither a hazard.

If you want to hang multiple bikes, space consideration becomes more important. The arrangement should be space-saving and should avoid problems such as clashing handlebars and poor access.

Type of wall

Take a moment to check what type of wall you are mounting the bike to. Walls are made of different materials – drywall, plaster, wood, stone. Different materials have different weight holding capacities. They also determine the best installation methods.

For instance, drywalls, though easy to work with, cannot support too much weight. Fitting hooks directly will cause your bike to come crashing. The screws must be mounted into the studs to ensure the fixture is fitted firmly.

Location

Consider the location. Speaking of hanging a bike indoors, you can mount it on a wall or suspend it from a ceiling. You can also hang your bike in a living room, in a shed or a garage. Hanging it in a shed or a garage is easier given that these places do not see too much traffic, unlike living rooms and bedrooms.

Placement

There are different ways to hang a bike. You can position the bicycle, horizontally, flat against the wall (or parallel to the wall). It definitely takes up more wall space, but being plastered to the wall, it appears more compact and sleeker. It also does not stick out inconveniently.

Bicycles suspended from a wall can also be hung vertically. They are secured in place by means of both the wheels or hooked by a single wheel. Hanging a bike vertically will occupy more space in the room as it aligns the bike perpendicular to the wall.

They are ideal if you want to store multiple bikes. A lot of bikers worry that suspending a bike vertically puts excess pressure on a rim and could damage it.

Hanging a bike vertically does not do much damage to the rim if the weight is evenly distributed. However, for bikers who still have their concerns, the horizontal hang is a good alternative to it.

Wall protection

Mounting a bike on a wall often leads to tire marks and scratches. Many fixtures include a plate or tire tray to protect your wall not only from scratches but dirt too. A few also add in plastic housings for the tires.

Wheel size

Every bike rack, whether wall mount, floor racks, or freestanding, supports specific tire sizes. Check the wheel size, in terms of its diameter and thickness when shopping for a wall mount.

Mounting a Bike: What are Your Options?

There are different types of bike racks such as kickstands, floor stands, freestanding racks, gravity racks, and wall mount racks for indoor storage. To hang a bike from a wall or ceiling, you will require a wall mounting rack.

Wall mounted bike hook systems differ in the way they work. While some hooks support the wheel (one or both) others are hoisted by the frame of the bike. A vertical hang usually has the bike hooked by means of its wheels.

There are several options to choose from including simple screw-in hooks, bike hangers, brackets and trendy moldings. Screw-in hooks are very versatile.

They can be fitted to a ceiling or a wall. They hold up a bike by clasping the frame of the wheel. Hooks are among the easiest to install to hang a bike. Some fixtures feature more than one hook that lets you hang multiple bikes.

The hardware used to hang a bike on a wall need not only be a boring hook or an aggressively angled metal bracket. Wall mount bike racks are also designed as shelves, wooden, or metal. They are mounted to a sidewall and not usually the ceiling.

They suspend a bike by its top tube. The shelf also has hidden storage for accessories. These are generally perfect for gent’s bikes and those with sleeker, lighter frames. The advantage of a shelf-like bike hanger is that it keeps your bike further away from the wall, ensuring the dust and grease stays away.

Another benefit is the ability to customize the design of these bike mounts to match the décor in the room. Designer mounts can make your bike look like a neat piece of artwork.

Select wall mount bike racks also integrate additional features such as swivels. These ergonomic designs ease accessibility. Foldable designs are space-saving too. They can be collapsed and stowed away when not in use.

You should browse through the available hardware options online or at your local hardware store to get a better idea of their respective features.

After you finalize a few options, make it a point to check the product reviews online. Fellow bikers usually mention the features, pros, and downsides of products helping you make the right choice. You can also get tips on installation and maintenance.

Hanging a Bike to a Wall: How to?

Here are some simple steps and tips to hang your bike from a wall.

Decide the section of the room (ceiling or wall) where you would like to hang your bike.
Make sure you have the following measurements on hand before you start. Measure the height from the floor at which you would like to fix the rack. For a vertical hang, measure the length of the bike. The distance between the floor and the hook bracket should be more than the length of the bike. For a horizontal hang, measure the height of the bike. The distance between the floor and the rack fixture should be more than the height of the bike.
With the bike rack bracket or hook in the correct position, mark all relevant points where you would likely drill holes. Make sure it is level.
Use the right size drill bit to drill the wall at the marked points. Drilling holes larger than the screw will affect the sturdiness of the fixture. Drill into the brick and not mortar for a brick wall. Drill into studs for drywall.
Push in wall plugs or spaghetti wall anchors into the holes. The wall plugs and anchors secure the screws in place and keep them from coming loose. Most fixture come with screws and fixtures in the package. If not, you can buy some at your local hardware store.
Now mount the bracket onto the wall by the tightening the screws. After you have finished, test the hook or bracket by pulling it. It should feel tight and firm. If it shakes, the screws haven’t been tightened well enough.

Indoor Bike Storage: Ceiling Storage

The ceiling is often unused as storage space. You can really make optimum use of the ceiling for indoor bike storage as it does not occupy any floor space nor the wall. Bikes can be hanged by means of hooks, horizontally or vertically.

A few ceiling storage options for bikes also utilize lifts and forks for better accessibility. However, suspending a bike from the ceiling is suitable only in apartments and condos that have a high ceiling.

When hanging the bike from the ceiling, it is advised to dangle it upside down by the wheels. It can get difficult to take the bike down by the rims if you secure the frame with hooks.

A Few Handy Tips …

Evaluate your home carefully to decide what would be the best option for you.
Choose a mechanism that is affordable, easy to setup, and use.
If you want to store your bike in an apartment, you should first seek permission from your landlord. Not all are comfortable about tenants making changes or repairs to their property. Also, remember you will have to make good any damage when leaving the house.
When using a single hook to hang a bike vertically, it is better to secure the hook to the front tire.
Some bikers prefer to use a double hook instead of a single one. In this case, the bike is secured upside down. The double hook uses two hooks, one for each wheel. The distance between the hooks is the same as that of the wheels. The benefit of a double hook hang is that it distributes the weight evenly between the two wheels.
Purchase good quality supplies from your hardware store even if they mean spending a little more. After all, they impact the sturdiness of the installation.
The hooks should be solid and capable of bearing heavy weights. Rubberized or plastic-coated hooks will prevent scratches on your bike.
Make sure the fittings are properly installed. If you do not know how to hang a bike, hire a professional to ensure it is done correctly.

Having a small house does not mean that you shouldn’t own a bike. With the right bicycle mounts, you can still own a couple of bikes that make exercising fun. Just choose the right rack and store your bike in the smallest of indoor spaces. Now, that you know your storage options you should be good to go.