DIY Bike Hoist

You love to ride and take pride in your bike. Taking care of your bike ensures that it continues to operate efficiently and provides many years of use. Care of a bike includes proper storage. If you are leaning your bike against who knows what in the garage, then you may be setting yourself up for damage and a potentially expensive repair bill. A bike hoist will safely raise your bike out of the way and keep it safe.

Things You'll Need

• 1/4" rope (50 feet)
• Eye screw
• Screw hooks (3)
• Pulleys (5)
• S hooks (2 large)
• Drill with bit
• Pliers
• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Cleat
• Screws

Instructions

1. Measure the distance between the handle bars and the seat of your bike. Transfer this measurement to the ceiling where the bike hoist will be built. Locate the joists in the ceiling and use a pencil to mark the distance. Keep the points in a straight line along the joist. Measure out 2 inches from each mark, in a straight line, and mark these points. You will have denoted the distance between the handle bar and seat marks as well as two additional marks to the outside.

2. Drill pilot holes in all four marked points. Use a drill bit that is smaller than the diameter of the eye and screw hooks. Thread a screw hook into the two center holes until the hook is about 1/2 inch from the ceiling. Determine which way the rope will be pulled to raise the bike and thread the remaining screw hook into the outside hole. Install an eye screw in the remaining outside hole.

3. Attach a pulley to each of the screw hooks. Tie one end of the rope to the eye screw with a figure eight follow through knot. Form a figure eight in the rope so that a foot of rope extends past the figure eight. Do not tighten the knot. Feed the rope through the eye screw and then work the end of the rope back through the figure eight. You will now have a double figure eight knot. Adjust and tighten the knot securely.

4. Feed the free end of the rope through a free hanging pulley that is not attached to the ceiling. The eye of the pulley should be pointing down. Pull the end of the rope up and through the closest pulley attached to the ceiling.

5. Pull the rope across the ceiling to the next pulley attached to the ceiling and then through a free hanging pulley. Pull the rope up and through the last remaining pulley attached to the ceiling and then down to the ground.

6. Insert a large S hook into the eye of both free hanging pulleys. Install the rope cleat in a position where the rope can be conveniently tied off when the bike is raised from the ground. Position the bike under the pulleys and attach the large S hooks to the handlebars and seat. Slowly raise the bike by pulling on the free end of the rope and tie the line to the cleat when the bike is in the desired position.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a pair of pliers to help thread the eye or hook screw into the ceiling if necessary.

• Use additional S hooks if necessary to secure the bike.

References

• Bike Rack Ed: Bike Racks and Hoists