Mountain Biking general thread

[V8Granite]

Hey collective. Am now (with redundancy no longer looming) looking at shed options. Ideally a large door and three bikes on their back wheels or similarly neatly stowed away.

Does anyone have any cunning bike storage or tips? Space is not a huge issue, in the we don't use our garden anyway so the plan is to put the shed in, then a summer house type thing and have it tidy for next Scottish summer.

Pics of bikes stored appreciated. (tried google but went cross-eyed)


Also, more on topic, went up the black run, or one of them, at Glentress yesterday and on the way down with a friend on a full sus, I realised why people go full sus!

I saw a wall mounted hook where you pop your front wheel in. This one though pivoted to the side so was really efficient on space. I looked for one at the time but didn’t find it.

Dave!

[Rich B]

No matter how you try to store bikes, they are big and awkward with bits that stick out like handlebars. Hanging them is nowhere near as efficient as you'd think/hope, leaning them is the most space efficient, but annoying when you need to get to the one at the back.

I've slimmed down my fleet to 4 bikes and just lean them.

[Gavin]

Yeah, they really are a bugger of a shape, especially with the wider bars. Sadly, my kids are not that fussed, especially in winter so only two need to be readily accessible and I have another wee shed that 2 or maybe 3 at a push can go in so maybe just a normal 7 foot shed with the bikes nose to tail, hopefully with enough wall space to hang the kit up out the way. Cheers

[dinny_g]

Do any bikes with Hydraulics need to be stored level anyway ??

[Rich B]

Do any bikes with Hydraulics need to be stored level anyway ??

Mixed reports on that - usually a couple of pumps of the lever and they're back to normal. In my experience, Shimanos don't like it.

Though my mates (Shimano) brakes were fucked at 417 bike park the other day and every time he put his bike on the trailer hanging from the front wheel his brakes would completely disappear. I think there must have been a leak as we couldn't even get them bled after.

[8Ball]

Adding to the mixed viewpoint; I haven't had any issues hanging bikes with discs. Mix of Shimano & Magura.

[Jobbo]

If you're putting them in a shed, make sure the shed door is nice and wide. Pushing a bike through a door aperture which is narrower than the handlebars is irritating. That's probably the main reason I keep mine in the garage.

[Mito Man]

I’m off to submit a patent for folding bike handles and make my filthy fortune.
*Starts browsing yachts*

[ZedLeg]

I can't imagine anything bad happening when you put a break in mountain bike handlebars

[Rich B]

I can't imagine anything bad happening when you put a break in mountain bike handlebars

. No thanks!

[simon_g]

I have a hefty wardrobe rail on my garage roof joists, then have inch-wide velcro strips that go around the tyre, then bikes get hung up on big S-hooks. Works for every shape and size of bike. Rather than having them sticking straight out from the wall you can turn them flatter to it so they don't poke out so much. Lots of extra S-hooks for tyres, helmets, things like the ikea bag of spare gloves and parts I always chuck in the car.

Bars are a problem. Bikes we don't use much (like my wife's ones) get their bars turned 90 degrees and sometimes remove pedals too so they take up less space.

Old pic (I moved the rail a bit closer to the wall) but gives the idea:

D5FE7DFB-6BD0-49F0-B8CD-3D755BA4E86E.JPG by kiteless, on Flickr

[simon_g]

Just realised I don't own a single one of the bikes in that pic any more

No issues with hanging them up like this. Forks, shocks, brakes all been fine.

[KiwiDave]

I've currently got four of them lent (gently) side by side on their wheels. At some point when I get round to emptying the space I'm going to make a rack where I can push the front wheels in ala bike shops, should get six side by side in the space I think.

[Gavin]

Large doors are definitely on the agenda. Bikes just are a pita to store and I have quite a small garden (typical newbuild).

Looks like a normal 7 foot shed with double doors may be the best idea, should be able to fit 4 bikes nose to tail.

Of course rattling down the black runs made me think a full sus bike might be "needed"....

[dinny_g]

No issues with hanging them up like this. Forks, shocks, brakes all been fine.

Old wives tale so. Looking back, he was probably just trying to punt me a £100 stand for maintenance...

[ZedLeg]

I have a hefty wardrobe rail on my garage roof joists, then have inch-wide velcro strips that go around the tyre, then bikes get hung up on big S-hooks. Works for every shape and size of bike. Rather than having them sticking straight out from the wall you can turn them flatter to it so they don't poke out so much. Lots of extra S-hooks for tyres, helmets, things like the ikea bag of spare gloves and parts I always chuck in the car.

Bars are a problem. Bikes we don't use much (like my wife's ones) get their bars turned 90 degrees and sometimes remove pedals too so they take up less space.

Old pic (I moved the rail a bit closer to the wall) but gives the idea:

D5FE7DFB-6BD0-49F0-B8CD-3D755BA4E86E.JPG by kiteless, on Flickr

Is the back wheel still on the ground?

Probably just me but I'd be hesitant to hang a bike like that for an extended period of time.

[Rich B]

With the huge stresses and hits that wheels are designed to take, I wouldn't worry about 15kg hanging from one.

They're designed to take the weight of the bike and rider (could be 100kg+ easily) bumping about over potholes or roots or even landing jumps, probably multiplying that weight massively.

[8Ball]

Agreed, the only precaution I really take is to make sure the hook isn't up against a spoke nipple and putting pressure on that. Even then it's probably ok given what a wheel is built to withstand.

[ZedLeg]

With the huge stresses and hits that wheels are designed to take, I wouldn't worry about 15kg hanging from one.

They're designed to take the weight of the bike and rider (could be 100kg+ easily) bumping about over potholes or roots or even landing jumps, probably multiplying that weight massively.

Yeah I know, like I say probably just my anxious brain looking for problems

[dinny_g]

Besides Zed, if you left the resting on the back tyre, just think of the flat spot!!!