How to Hang Your Bike from The Ceiling?
Bikes usually take little storage space. Still, you might be out of room to store the bike. So, dangling your bike from your ceiling can be good. However, this is easier said than done, and we’ve found a lot of bikers needing help with this.
We’ll share some easy tips to make things easier for you. We’ll discuss whether it’s okay to hang a bike from the ceiling or not. And how to hang the bike in different methods and with various accessories.
So, once you go through these, you’ll learn how to hang your bike from the ceiling properly. We’ll share multiple alternatives so everyone may find one or more suitable methods.
So, let’s get started!
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Contents
- Is It Okay To Hang The Bike From the Ceiling?
- How To Hang a Bike from The Ceiling Horizontally?
- How To Hang a Bike Vertically from The Ceiling?
- What is the difference between Hanging Your Bike Vertically and Horizontally?
- Hang Bike from Ceiling with Hooks
- Hang Bike from the Ceiling with One Hook
- Hang Bike from Ceiling with Pulley
- How To Hang a Bike From Ceiling Without Drilling
- How To Hang a Bike from Rafters
- Conclusion
Is It Okay To Hang The Bike From the Ceiling?
Yes, hanging the bike from the ceiling won’t be a problem! Suppose you use the proper accessories and methods for hanging the bike correctly. In that case, chances are high that you won’t face any issues.
However, certain conditions may lead to danger. For starters, if the installation of the hooks isn’t proper, it may be unable to hold on to the ceiling.
Another situation where the mounting may need to be fixed is when the bike is upright with the tire. If the tire goes flat, the cycle may fall.
Related reading: How to hang your bike in the apartment?
How To Hang a Bike from The Ceiling Horizontally?
There are two significant ways of hanging your bike from a ceiling horizontally. Let’s take a look at them!
Use Storage Hooks
This is the cheapest way to hang your bike on the ceiling. Just get a pair of ceiling hooks. Install the hooks on the ceiling and hook each tire to one of the hooks. So, this will keep your bike stably hung, and it’ll also help you save some space.
You can also get yourself a bike hook rack like the Saris Bike Storage system if you’re looking forward to hanging multiple bicycles on the roof. This bike rack has four pairs of hooks installed parallelly, allowing you to hang up to four bikes on the ceiling.
Saris Cycle Glide Bike Storage SystemCHECK CURRENT PRICE
While many products like this are on the market, we recommend this for several reasons.
Firstly, it can hold four bikes, and each cycle can weigh up to 50 pounds. There’s sufficient extra room around the hooks for you to mount or dismount a bike on the hooks. However, there’s a minor design flaw in this rack.
It comes with wheel hooks. These hooks rotate against their axis to fit the wheels irrespective of size or angle. While this is a good feature, it’s also very annoying that they can turn away with a single bump during installation.
During such cases, you’ll have to put the bike down, readjust them, and try to mount the cycle again.
Other than that, it’s a solid choice for anyone with multiple bikes to mount horizontally on the ceiling. Also, remember that you must mount the bike upside down when hanging it vertically from the ceiling with hooks. Usually, it’s okay to hang a bike upside down, so there is no need to bother with that.
Pros
- Isn’t expensive
- Only two hooks are enough to support the bike
- Easy to install
Cons
- You have to raise the bike off the ground manually every time
Required Tools
- Drill
- Drill bit
- Screws
- Two hooks
- Measuring tape
Use a Pulley
To hang your bike horizontally with a pulley, you need to install the pulley first. In the later chapters, we’ll discuss how you can do that properly.
Once the pulley is installed, you’ll have to attach the hooks to the handlebars and your bike’s seat. So, you’ll need to measure the distance between them and install the pully accordingly. They must be parallel, or the bike will not be stable after it’s hung.
Also, get a pulley with a rubberized hook like the Bike Lane Bicycle Storage Lift. Otherwise, the hooks may damage your bike’s tube. Other than that, this pulley offers two hooks on each side instead of one.
This helps distribute the overall weight of the bike much better. It also has a safety lock mechanism to keep your bike safe.
Moreover, when you lower the pulley, guide the bike in an upright position, or you’ll drag it against the floor.
Pros
- The pulley system is more convenient as you won’t have to reach the bike hoist manually
- Pulleys can support the weight of a bike better due to better weight distribution
Cons
- A bike pulley can be expensive
- You have to find multiple ceiling joists
Required Tools
- Drill
- Drill bit
- Screws
- Pulley system
- Measuring tape
How To Hang a Bike Vertically from The Ceiling?
Installing your bike vertically against the ceiling can be extremely cheap, but it may only be suitable for some. You’ll need sufficient height clearance to do so. If that’s not an issue for you, follow us to learn how to mount it vertically.
Use Hooks
You can hang the bike either by the rear or the front wheel. We recommend hooking the rear wheel up as it helps keep your handlebars stable. And for this method, you’ll require hooks, drill bits, and screws.
Pros
- Simple installation procedure
- It will help you save space for placing more furniture in the room
Cons
- It will take up some floor space
- You’ll have to reach the hooks while mounting or dismounting the bike
- It might leave the hydraulic brake spongy
Required Tools
- Drill
- Drill bit
- Screws
- One hook
- Measuring tape
Use a Pulley
As discussed previously, pulleys can be magical while installing bikes on ceilings. However, note that you can’t mount a bike horizontally and vertically with the same pulley. This is because while one requires two pulleys, the other needs one.
When installing the pulley for vertical mounting, you’ll have to attach the hook on one of the wheels, preferably the rear wheel. So, you’ll need to install only one pulley instead of two.
Once you attach the hooks to the bike tires, you’ll have to pull on the cord to lift the cycle. This is a more straightforward method for those who find it troubling to lift the bikes. Or it may be to access the hooks on the ceiling whenever they need to mount the bike.
Pros
- Easy to mount the bike
- Installation is comparatively easier than horizontal orientation
Cons
- It might require an extra pair of hands while dismounting the bike
- It takes up floor space
- It might leave the hydraulic brake spongy
Required Tools
- Drill
- Drill bit
- Screws
- Pulley system
- Measuring tape
What is the difference between Hanging Your Bike Vertically and Horizontally?
Hanging your bike vertically and horizontally is entirely different and will have other effects on your bike. Horizontal mounting bikes take up the same amount of space as vertical mounting. What makes these storage solutions different is the installation and your experience. So, here are the factors that you need to consider.
Space Management
Mounting your bikes horizontally and vertically is very different. The first difference is that horizontally mounting the bikes will take up much more space than vertical mounting.
As the cycles will be laid across the roof, they’ll take up much more space, and you’ll need a lot of clearance for each bike. So, if you’re installing the system on your garage ceiling and want to save space in your garage, you should consider horizontal mounting.
So, if you’re planning on installing multiple roof hangers for various bikes, you’ll need to plan accordingly. You have to factor in the dimensions of the bikes as well as the space. Also, you may be left with some unusable areas afterwards.
Another prominent issue bikers face with horizontal mounting is that these are relatively tougher to hang. You will have to reach higher as you’ll need to hold the bike flat against the surface. So, some bikers may even require a tool or a ladder to get access so close to the ceiling.
Ceiling Height Clearance
Despite the apparent drawbacks of horizontal mounting, it must be considered a lousy option. The vertical mounting has some disadvantages as well. The first one is ceiling height clearance.
If the roof needs to be higher, you may not get sufficient space to hang the bikes vertically, as it will prevent you from putting anything below them.
If the ceiling is too low, it may even obstruct the room. So, it’s essential to ensure the ceiling is high enough before mounting the bikes vertically. And if the ceiling doesn’t fit the bill, installing the cycle in a horizontal mount will be more appropriate.
Spongy Hydraulic Brake
This factor is for you if your bike has a hydraulic brake. Yes, it’s okay to mount your bike vertically, as it doesn’t leave any permanent effect. However, there’s one temporary side-effect that every biker needs to consider.
Once you mount your bike vertically, the air bubbles in your bike may gather in the uppermost area. This will make the brake spongy, and you’ll need to bleed the air out of the system.
This isn’t noticeable after a few minutes of riding, as the brake bleeds out. Still, you’ll realize it initially after taking the bike out, which may annoy you.
Then again, this isn’t a problem that you’re bound to face. Even if you have a bike with hydraulic brakes, you may not face it. This is because only defective hydraulic brakes tend to have air bubbles.
If your hydraulic brake shows such sponginess after vertical mounting, you should get it serviced. After a good service, you should avoid facing the same problem again.
Verdict
There’s no problem with either horizontal or vertical mounting. Both are great as long as they suit someone personally. So, before you get the hooks and drills ready, simulate the mounting positions so you can determine what works better for you.
Hang Bike from Ceiling with Hooks
Hanging your bike with hooks can make things easier. However, it’s not all perfect. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of this method.
Related reading: How To Hang A Bike with Hooks?
Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Hooks
Let’s start with the advantages. Firstly, hooks are incredibly cheap. If you have significant budget constraints, you can opt for hooks that are as cheap as $4. Although we don’t recommend using cheap hooks as that may put your bike at risk of damage, you will have that option.
Secondly, hooks are relatively easier to install. You have to position the hook, screw it in tight, and it’s ready to use!
Despite these advantages, hooks can be disadvantageous in specific ways. You must lift the bike to the ceiling every time you hook it up. It can be difficult for many, especially after a long ride.
Moreover, it’s crucial to install the hook in the correct position. If you figure out the sweet spot on the ceiling, the hook stays out of the ceiling. So, it’ll damage not only your ceiling but your bike as well.
However, if you can make your way around these cons, hooks are one of the best methods for hanging your bike.
Installing a Hook on Your Ceiling
All you need to install hooks on your ceiling are two hooks (for one bike), screws, and an appropriate drill bit. We recommend using rubber hooks like the Proslat 13028. Rubber hooks will hold your bike in position without scratching them up. Also, the Proslat hooks come with a ProLock feature for keeping your bikes stable.
To install a hook, you need to find a solid area that can withstand and hold the bike’s weight first. Once you find a ceiling joist, drill a pilot hole to insert the hook. If you’re about to mount it horizontally, you’ll need to install two hooks.
You want to use something other than cheap hooks as they get rusty very fast. Get coated hooks for the most durability, and use additional padding to reduce as much friction as possible.
Once you install the hook, keep the bikes upright and hang them by one wheel. If you’re mounting them horizontally, attach each wheel to a hook. Use a measuring tape to place the hooks at an optimum distance.
You’ll also find different hooks with brackets if you want to store bikes closer together. Unlike the hooks mentioned, you’ll need to screw in the brackets in those cases.
So, this is how you install a hook on your ceiling to hang your cycle.
Hang Bike from the Ceiling with One Hook
Attach the bike’s rear wheel to the hook to hang your bike from the ceiling with one hook. This will keep the bicycle in a vertical position, hanging from the hook. It takes up more space below it, but it’s an excellent method for hanging the bike in a narrow space.
Hang Bike from Ceiling with Pulley
Hanging your bike from the ceiling can be a better alternative for some, although it’s a bit more expensive. Let’s look at the pros and cons of this method, and then we’ll go into the installation process.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Using a Pulley
The significant advantage of using a pulley is that it lets you hang the bike on the ceiling without lifting it with your hands. Lifting the bike with your hands can be challenging, and the pulley makes things much easier. Also, it has an excellent weight distribution system, so it’s a bit more stable than the hooks.
However, using a pulley also means that there are chances of slippage. You can make the pulley slip if you fail to tie the cord properly to a wall hook. The system might also fail. Although it’s doubtful, especially if you buy an excellent pulley, you can’t eliminate the chances.
Also, pulleys can be much more expensive than hooks. So, unless the mentioned advantage matters to you, you should opt for hooks or take a look at the methods we’re about to discuss.
Installing a Pulley
Pulley kits can be found online or in local hardware stores. We’ve already discussed one product in the previous sections. So, you can also consider this hoist from RAD Sportz.
Although this pulley is for kayaks, you can also hoist bikes on it and use it as a storage system for large objects. We highly recommend this because it can hoist up to 120 pounds. Hence, it’s capable of holding bikes for a long time.
Start by finding the ceiling joists. Use a measuring take to determine the distance between the two wheels so you can position the pulleys evenly. If you’re mounting it vertically, you can use only one pulley.
Once the positions are figured out, use an electric drill to bore holes into the ceiling. Install the pulley system next. You’ll also need to install a hook on a nearby wall space so you can tie the rope to the wall.
Take the pulley rope and put it through the first pulley, then the second pulley bracket, and finally, pull the rope to the hook where you’ll tie it.
The hook has to stick firmly to the wall, or it may come off due to the bike’s weight. We recommend that you screw it in, but you can also use adhesive hooks if they’re strong enough.
How To Hang a Bike From Ceiling Without Drilling
Hanging From the Ceiling without Drilling
The product that you’ll need is the RAD cycle stand. It’s an entirely adjustable stand made of aluminum, and you can place it on your room’s floor. It’s long enough to extend up to the roof, and you can adjust its height.
RAD Cycle Aluminum Bike Stand Bicycle Rack Storage or Display Holds Two BicyclesCHECK CURRENT PRICE
The stand comes with support on both ends, so you’ll be able to adjust it so much that it hugs both the ceiling and the roof, maintaining balance.
The two ends of this stand come with a protective covering so that it won’t damage the roof or the floor. Also, you won’t need to drill any holes in the ceiling or the floor. The rack can hold up to two bikes.
How To Hang a Bike from Rafters
Did you know you can hang your bikes with a very affordable DIY method? Let’s take a look at it!
How to Hang Bikes from Rafters
This method is very straightforward and should be easier to understand if you have already gone through the section on how to use hooks.
In this method, you install the hooks on the side of the beams on the rafters. So, you can’t use the hooks that we’ve discussed already. You’ll need 90-degree hooks like the Shepherd Hardware 8088E. These are long, robust, and perfect for hanging your bike on rafters.
You’ll also need screws and a drill for attaching the hook to the ceiling.
Advantages and Disadvantages
There’s no disadvantage to this method other than that it’s only for some. Yes, you technically can set this up, but you need to do it right. Otherwise, you may return the next day only to see a broken bike on the floor.
As for the advantage, it’s almost free! Also, it lets you use a ceiling in a very creative way. Unlike regular ceilings, rafters have notches on them. If they’re deep enough, you can hang the cycle by hooking it through the chain stays, not the rear bike wheel. This will lift the bike much higher and free up a lot of space downwards.
As you can see, using rafters for hanging bikes can be very advantageous. However, you must be careful if you’re new to these DIY crafts. Make sure you pick the proper joists for installing the hook. Also, choose an appropriate drill bit for the screws, or you might make them loose.
Related reading: How To Hang Bike On The Wall?
Conclusion
Now that you know the best bike storage ideas, we’re curious about which one you want to choose. As you can see, all of the methods mentioned in this article have their advantages. So, it boils down to how you want to store the bike.
The vertical method is excellent for saving wall space; whether you use a hook or pulley depends on whether you find the mounting system easy. The pulley system is a more convenient way to store a bike but is a bit more expensive.
Also, consider hanging the bike from the rafters if you keep it in your garage or shed. You can even turn it without drilling with particular wall-mounted bike racks. You should consider this if you live in an apartment. So, these were the best ways of storing bikes!
