Bikes, bikes. Bikes on the wall!
While I was at work on Friday, UPS dropped off the entrance hall pieces I bought from Ikea and my Delta Vincent Dual-Bike Storage Rack. I put them together on Friday night and put them up today.
The bikes look like they’re racing up the wall. The rack needs to be screwed into the studs, which limited my positioning options. I’d like a little more space between the radiator and Yellow Bike. Once its cranks and pedals are on, I’ll have to be careful I don’t bang them into the radiator.
Yellow Bike was away when I took this shot, but it really does live next to the radiator.It works, aesthetically. But, boy is it a workout lifting Bike up there. Bike is no lightweight by contemporary standards, even if it weighs less than the bikes of my youth. Then, add the rack, fenders, lights, batteries, U-lock and what have you, and pretty soon it’s a behemoth.
I lift and carry it all the time—at least twice for every ride. All I have to do then is rotate my elbow 90°. It’s a little different lifting the thing straight up. Especially when trying to slide a spinning wheel over a hook while the whole front end flops around. And it’s not like there are any real good handholds on the thing either.
On the other hand, it’ll be a good upper-body workout. Especially since it takes me a few reps to get it hung. Yellow Bike, especially while stripped of its drivetrain, is much easier to get up there, although there’s still the spinning wheel issue. I’m sure it’ll get easier with some practice.
Still, I’m pleased with the whole thing. It keeps the bikes out of the way, yet convenient to grab, and they look nice hanging there.
The pieces from Ikea are just perfect for what I want and need. With the exception of my gallon of Simple Green degreaser and other bike washing stuff, and also excepting shorts, jerseys and the like, all my bike stuff fits in the two pieces, including tools, work stand, spare parts, panniers, bungees and cargo net, non-washing maintenance stuff (chain lube, grease, battery chargers, etc.,) as well as all my shoes, boots, outerwear, baseball caps and backpacks.
There’s still room to sit down on the bench to put on my boots and plenty of hooks leftover.
I almost don’t recognize my own apartment.
