| Too many bikes? Build a simple rack. Article |
| Too many bikes? Build a simple rack.   | 
| Page Type: Article | Page By: Koolbreez Created/Edited: Nov 26, 2007 / Nov 30, 2007 Object ID: 264746 Hits: 644  Loading... Page Score: 87.98% - 10 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
A good problemI used to have only one bike, a mountain bike.
Then I bought a road bike and realized how it could complement my mountain biking and allowed me to ride when the trails were unridable, and then I had two bikes.
I then started hearing a lot about how great singlespeeding was, so I thought that I'd like to try that, and then I had three.
I soon realized that I didn't want to lock up any of these bikes at work or the bar or the grocery store, so a commuter/grocery bike made four.
My problem is small compared to some who feel that four bikes is a good starting point and I could probably ditch the singlespeed, but I keep thinking that this winter I'll ride it more.
So along with the rest of the bikes of my family, it was becoming a holy mess of jumbled bars, pedals in spokes and on deraillers, and chipped paint. And inevitably the bike I wanted to ride today was under the rest of the leaning bikes, and by now I'm beginning to think that I might as well just drive, for as long as it will take to dig the one I want out.
The "before rack" stack |
Something needed to be done. I'm no handyman and have a limited number of tools, but with careful planning this simple rack was an ease to build and install.The Rack
This is a simple bike rack/shelf made with 2 x 4s and plywood, costing around $40 in materials and a couple of hours of assembly and hanging (less for most, probably). I chose a length of 8 feet, since those were a readily available length of lumber and I had the hardware store make all the cuts since I don't have a radial saw. An 8 foot length allows me to hang 6 bikes (or 5 bikes and one unicycle) and gives a good amount of storage space above.
I first nailed the shelf together with the 2 lengths and 3 crossbeams on the floor. Next nailing the plywood top on.
I measured the height based on the length of the longest bike and was able to balance the rack on a ladder plus a cooler that placed it at approximately the right height (it was a little sketchy, but worked.)
I then drilled pilot holes and screwed the rack to the wall in the studs with lag screws, while maintaining support with the ladder/cooler combo.
The next step was attaching the diagonal supports which I screwed to the wall and under the rack with 3 inch wood screws.
I added braces at the wall that I found at the hardware store that may not be necessary but give me peace of mind when I hang my bikes up.
Hooks were added to the front to hang the bikes from and a couple on the sides for spare tires or wheels.
Just needs hooks |
Other notes:
It would be helpful to have a second set of hands while drilling and attaching the rack to the wall, but could be accomplished solo.
The diagonal supports can be undercut a bit and still will be able to snug in, but if they are too long will stick out and not look as neat.
Nice Rack |
Conclusion:
If your sick of stacked bikes and have the room on a wall for this rack, it's an easy solution that gets your bikes up off the ground and easily accessible. Images |
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