Conference noted::bicycle

    I was just about to enter a note on this exact subject!!!
    
    I'm in the same situation where I have three bikes (two worth taking
    care of!) that are taking up too much room.  I don't have a basement 
    so I'm looking for something 'decorative'...
    
    Nashbar, Specialized and the other biking pubs have the wall racks for
    between $110 - $150.  ....More than I'd like to spend (please, no one
    call me cheap AGAIN! :)  )   but exactly what I'd like to have.  If
    anyone knows of a sale going....please post it!
    
    Linda

    For the unfinished basement nothing beats a hook screwed into one of
    the joists.  For a few bucks a piece you keep the bike out of the way
    and they are unlikely to fall down.
    
    If you don't have the option of screwing hooks in the ceiling, but are
    good with a saw, then you can probably build something like those units
    offered by Performance and Nashbar for a lot less than they sell them
    for.  No, it won't look quite as nice, but you have the joy of having
    built it yourself and saving all that money.
    
    
    Rich

    What Rich said.  I hang 4 bikes from the rafters in my garage.  The
    mtbs need to be swapped end for end due to the handle bar widths but no
    big deal.  A pair of screw in hooks per bike at about $2.29 a pair @
    K-Mart or your other favorite saving place and you are set.  
    
    Tougher to do in a living environment but you could put these hooks in
    the ceiling and hang them by the front wheel, sort of like Seinfeld
    does. :-)  If you go the wood route, you can dress up the rack by
    staining it.  A decent stain can even make a 2 x 4 look okay.  Well,
    maybe for a short while.  
    
    Brian

RE: In a living environment

You could remove the pedals and hang it on the wall (or from hooks and wires in
the ceiling) behind the sofa.  It would make a nice centerpiece for a sports
theme den.  You could then put your snowshoes and/or skis on another wall, and
old metal milk can with baseball bats in the corner, and a few baseball
pennants on some of the wallspace.  A framed poster advertising a boxing match
on another wall would complete the design. 

Jim 

    
    
    	Well are you talking storage? or...parking?   If the former, take
    it apart and put it in a box (don't forget to lube)  if the latter,
    then hanging it in your living space may not work out, cause there's
    a bit of maintenance activity, ie lube/wrench/tweek etc. that just
    doesn't fit in with the decor of a lounge!!  I put mine in the cellar
    (lucky me) The more active bike is on or around the work stand. And
    the other is hanging on the Kmart hooks, against a wall.
    
    CMD

    Linda,
    You probably want a vertical system (hang one bike over the other)
    The cheapest solution is an @8 foot 2x4 with a cross beam for each
    bike and four plastic coated hooks; fugly, but no more than $15.
    But take a router and stain to it and it'll look pretty nice.
    There's also commercial equivalents in both Nashbar and Performance.
    
    Anchoring it is the problem: they're either linked into a stud in a
    wall or wedged against the ceiling by spinning like an extendable
    "lollicolumn" as found in basements; neither may be doable for you.
    K

    
    	A 2' 2x4 nailed perpendicular to the bottom of each foot will
    	suffice as a pair of "feet" to hold it up.
    
    	But I would also brace the entire structure with a 2x4 nailed
    	diagonally across the back, from top corner to opposite bottom
    	corner.  Otherwise you run the risk of having the whole thing
    	topple to 1 side.
    

    
    - 	  ------H----------H------
    |	  |\                     |
    3' 	  |   \                  |
    |	  |      \               |
    |	  |         \            |
    -	  ------H----------H------
    |	  |            \         |
    3'    |               \      |
    | 	  |                  \   |
    -	|||                     \||| - edge of 2x4
       
    
    
    	3' should be enough separation, but if not then creep towards
    	3.5' per level.  But that puts the top crossmember at 7', and
    	that's where the top bike will be suspended, via the horizontal
    	tube, so if the bike is taller than 1' from tube to seat [or
    	tube to handlebar top] then you'll be very close to an 8' ceil-
    	ing.
    

    keep your bike in your bedroom, where it can be used as a clothes
    hanger for all those delicate hand washed bicycling clothes that get
    used over and over and over again.