There are hundreds of options when it comes to purchasing a bike wall mount. Many people have pondered this project, either due to lack of storage space or simply to fill in the empty space on the wall. Bicycle wall mounts have been getting a lot of buzz lately, so much so that a niche market has emerged and turned this storage solution into a modern way to decorate your home. Whatever the reason, if you need to store your bike indoors, here are the pros and cons of your options.
DIY Pros
It’s not difficult to build your own bike wall mount – you just need to make sure that your mechanism will hold the weight and that there is a way to easily secure it to the wall. The first thing to do is decide whether you want to display your bike vertically or horizontally. Horizontally it is apparently the most popular shape as it takes up a large part of the empty wall space and is more aesthetically pleasing. Hanging it vertically tends to get in the way as it comes off the wall. If space is not an issue for you, you can easily install a large hook on the ceiling or wall to secure the bike vertically. To mount horizontally, you can also use hooks or a repurposed material such as drop handles from another bike, steel tubes, or wooden pegs.
Cons of DIY
Installing a bike wall mount yourself isn’t always as functional or aesthetically pleasing as some of the options out there. You will need to make sure the materials you select are strong enough to support the weight and use a good stud finder to make sure it is firmly mounted to the wall.
Buy Pros
Specialty markets create items that are perfectly tailored to meet a specific need. There are several brands that have created bike wall mounts that look like works of art in their own right, also offering storage for things like helmets, accessories, and keys. If you are a true cycling enthusiast, then buying a wall mount from a special vendor supports a small business in an industry that you are passionate about and looks so much better. It serves as a statement piece that adds character to your home and a conversation piece about something you love, rather than simply providing a simple storage solution.
Buy Cons
As with almost all DIY projects, doing it yourself is cheaper. If you are simply looking for an easy storage solution for your bike, rather than creating a work of art in your home, the DIY option may work better for you.