Bike storage vs. Studio apartment

[gnat23]

So, right now I get home and put the bike on the trainer. I use the trainer in the winter, so it makes sense to point it at the tv, but for right now, it takes up some valuable carpet real-estate, if you know what I mean.

Plus, I'm looking to buy another bike, and I'll not have the heart to sell the old one, further complicating where to put them.

I could go vertical, tho. Anyone have any opinions on the various options or brands of indoor racks? It's looking like a decision between:

Gravity racks
http://tinyurl.com/2kq6yj

Floor-to-ceiling racks
http://tinyurl.com/2nx485

or drilling holes in the wall and hanging by the tire
http://tinyurl.com/3a7j3w

Please note that I've got carpet, and I'd like to get/put away a bike about every day, so sturdy and non-fussy is very important. THANKS!

-- gnat!

[Zen]

I choose the Topeak ,it looks sturdy.

That last one has the bikes sticking out in the room.

Look around some more.

[Thorn]

Eons ago when I lived in a tiny walkup, I bought a rack similar to the Topeak in that it was an expansion pole (although it was wood). It worked great through 5 moves and I still use it in the basement. It was always a conversation piece when people would walk into my apartment and see the bikes displayed. In one apartment, I used the rack as a room divider.

That said, a couple of words of warning....if you get an expansion bolt-type system, pay attention to the wording that says something to the effect of initially tightening the bolts every couple of days. I didn't and the rack came down. I learned my lesson. Never had a problem again.

Second word of warning, the first apartment was built in the 1800's and had a solid plaster ceiling. Sturdy. The second apartment was new construction. I didn't even think about it being drywall and put up the rack, tightened down the bolts--right up through the drywall celing. If you have a drywall ceiling, look for the stud before placing the rack.

Happy shopping.

[Tri Girl]

Ooooooo- another bike, eh??

We finally made the decision to move the bikes out of the living room and into our enclosed patio. We have 5 bikes (for 2 people ) and they were getting cumbersome. We went to Lowe's, bought giant hooks that screw into the wall, and hung them up by the tire. The hooks were $.60 each (for a grand total of $3.00) and we got a great solution.
Mind you, they do stick out a little, but not any more than having 5 bikes in a living room.
Of course, you do have to find the stud, but patching when you move is an EASY (and cheap) fix.

[equus123]

Gnat - I have this in my apartment that we bought several months ago and we like it. ...went with it because it doesn't attach or screw into the walls or ceiling - it just leans up against the wall and uses gravity to keep it there.


http://www.amazon.com/Graber-Bike-Bu...724643&sr=1-64

My bike goes on the bottom and my girlfriend's goes on the top. We usually have one bike on it a lot of the time (either on the top or the bottom) and there's no worry at all about the stability of it. We've also found that everything fits very nicely and neatly by taking the front wheel off, putting the bike up on it's holders but pushing it back towards the poll a little and the front wheel then gets hung up on the holders as well. With both bikes on the rack, we have them facing different ways...at least because of the spot we have ours in.

Good luck!

[equus123]

Ooooooo- another bike, eh??

We finally made the decision to move the bikes out of the living room and into our enclosed patio. We have 5 bikes (for 2 people ) and they were getting cumbersome. We went to Lowe's, bought giant hooks that screw into the wall, and hung them up by the tire. The hooks were $.60 each (for a grand total of $3.00) and we got a great solution.
Mind you, they do stick out a little, but not any more than having 5 bikes in a living room.
Of course, you do have to find the stud, but patching when you move is an EASY (and cheap) fix.

whooooo there's a lot of money hanging from that wall! a cervelo, eh?

[Tri Girl]

whooooo there's a lot of money hanging from that wall! a cervelo, eh?

Really, I wasn't trying to show off the bikes- just how they're hung. I have bike envy of almost everyone's bikes here on the forum- they're all so pretty... and everytime someone posts a picture of their bike I go through "wantsville" and want another one.

Unfortunately, the combined value of our bikes exceeds the combined value of our two cars(granted- the cars are 6 and 14 years old, but still). What can you do, tho? We lova the bikes-uh! (that's my best italian accent- followed with a kiss of the fingers).

The Cervelo is being borrowed this season. For now, the woman who I'm borrowing it from never uses it and I wanted a tri bike for the season- so voila! Perfect for both of us! Maybe she'll let me buy it from her at the end of the season... it's a sweeeeet ride.


And equus- that's a COOL bike rack. Perfect for an apartment where you don't want to damage the ceiling/walls. I've never seen one that works on gravity before.

[SouthernBelle]

I have a big hook that can screw into a ceiling or wall that I got at Big Lots of all places. I thing it was a dollar and is coated. Im actually using it for big extension cords right now as I also have a nifty little rack on the wall of my garage that hangs 2 bikes by the wheels with a shelf between. It came from Big Lots too. If you need me to, I'll take a pic or look for a name on it as the box is long gone. I gave $10 for it.

[Velobambina]

My "girl cave" is my bike room (stable). I have my bikes propped against the wall--not very tidy, but then again, it's my girl cave. I need to get a rack but I have to admit that I'm worried that hanging the bikes will damage them. How do you ensure that you aren't messing up the cable, wheels, paint?

[SouthernBelle]

Mine are hung by the front wheels with both wheels against the wall. So it's nowhere near the cables and hasn't affected the trueness of wheels even on my heavy bike.

[equus123]

Really, I wasn't trying to show off the bikes- just how they're hung. I have bike envy of almost everyone's bikes here on the forum- they're all so pretty... and everytime someone posts a picture of their bike I go through "wantsville" and want another one.

Unfortunately, the combined value of our bikes exceeds the combined value of our two cars(granted- the cars are 6 and 14 years old, but still). What can you do, tho? We lova the bikes-uh! (that's my best italian accent- followed with a kiss of the fingers).

The Cervelo is being borrowed this season. For now, the woman who I'm borrowing it from never uses it and I wanted a tri bike for the season- so voila! Perfect for both of us! Maybe she'll let me buy it from her at the end of the season... it's a sweeeeet ride.


And equus- that's a COOL bike rack. Perfect for an apartment where you don't want to damage the ceiling/walls. I've never seen one that works on gravity before.

the italian accent was perfect. i heard it

[Grog]

I've had one of those gravity stands, it was just WONDERFUL. Holds 75 lbs without a problem (we had a sturdy mountain bike and a flimsy road bike on it). And NO HOLES, which was really important to us.