Hanging your ebike

[TenBlinkers]

The most common indoor bike storage is suspending it on a hook from the front wheel where the rear wheel is a foot off the ground. What do you think about storing a 70lb ebike this way? Aside from being a pain to hoist up there, is it too much weight on the front wheel rim?

 

[David1]

Thats the way Metro Rail wants bikes to ride. I won't do it either, not even with my Hybrid. Everything would fall out of my panniers anyway. So I have to stand and hold the bike. Pretty ridiculous. Harbor Freight makes a good hoist system, using ropes and pullies. That what I use for my Hybrid. 70 lb.Ebike would be pushin the limit.

 

[TenBlinkers]

So, you don't think it's too much weight on the rim with a heavy ebike?

 

[grench]

I have been hanging my Ebike and conventional a for over a year with no problems. I like the space savings and don't have to deal with bikes falling over. The Ebike does flex the fork...probably no more than my weight does

 

[harryS]

I've got two of those HF bike hoists. I don't like using the seat as a lift point, as I worry about the quick release clamp working loose. I either put the hooks on the frame behind the seat (not easy), or I use the rear wheel. I think it's OK for a light bike, but it could warp the rim on a 55 pound e-bike. The cords seem too light for that kind of weight anyway.

I like your system, Grench. Sure wish I had a bigger garage,

 

[flymeaway]

What do you think about storing a 70lb ebike this way

I wouldn't. Unless you support the weight of the bike on a second point to relieve the stress on the rim I think it's too much weight. Conventional bikes are OK, but heavy e-bikes?????? probably not a good idea.

Court J.

 

[MLB]

Disk brake bikes should never be hung upside down. Don't know about vertical.
The rim supports the weight of the bike and your body and the impacts that occur at speed.
Hanging with the bikes weight isn't going to hurt it.

 

[pxpaulx]

Disk brake bikes should never be hung upside down. Don't know about vertical.
The rim supports the weight of the bike and your body and the impacts that occur at speed.
Hanging with the bikes weight isn't going to hurt it.

I'm not sure about the 2nd part of your comment - rims are designed for external force pushing towards the center, plus the mass of the bike and your body is spread out over much more rim surface area (and across 2 tires) between the rubber contacting the rim and the amount of surface in contact with the road. The design of the rim could also affect this, a rounded inner rim protruding toward center would have a small single point of contact, while a flat rim would again spread the load a little. The pulling stress is different - I don't think it would be that big of a deal anyway, but it could more easily affect spoke tightness and as a result of that make your wheels out of true and less safe to ride.

 

[TenBlinkers]

"Unless you support the weight of the bike on a second point to relieve the stress on the rim"

I think this is good advice. There's a bike club near where I work where I could park the bike and shower (currently I pay for a gym but only use it for the shower, so the bike club would be a big savings). Their secure bike room is all hanging hooks, hence my question. They have a hook for the rim, then sort of a loop halfway down the bike where you can put your lock. I'll see if I can rig something that will help support the bike weight on that.

 

[MLB]

I'm not sure about the 2nd part of your comment - rims are designed for external force pushing towards the center, plus the mass of the bike and your body is spread out over much more rim surface area (and across 2 tires) between the rubber contacting the rim and the amount of surface in contact with the road. The design of the rim could also affect this, a rounded inner rim protruding toward center would have a small single point of contact, while a flat rim would again spread the load a little. The pulling stress is different - I don't think it would be that big of a deal anyway, but it could more easily affect spoke tightness and as a result of that make your wheels out of true and less safe to ride.

\
Repeating what the LBS that built a set of wheels for me said. It wasn't an ebike though, so 'maybe' the extra 20lbs makes a dif.

 

[Neal]

I've been hanging my 50 lb. DH bike from its front tire for about 8 years now and no problems whatsoever....