Homemade Bicycle Stand

Designing a homemade bicycle stand can become a multipurpose tool to help work on a bicycle, store a bicycle and show a bicycle. Freestanding designs can be made from the simplest of materials, in this case PVC pipes put together that can hold the bicycle up and be cost efficient regardless of budget. This European-style stand can be placed anywhere and is lightweight enough to move around and sturdy enough not to fall apart.

  1. Setup

    • This stand will require 1½-inch thick PVC piping, two T-fittings and one cross fitting along with a hacksaw and tape measure, in addition to two 3-inch half pipes of PVC, which will be for the bottom bracket and down tube of the bicycle. To put all of the pieces together, you will need PVC cement to make it all stick together and stay together once it is done. Once all of the base pieces are together, the building can begin.

    Assembly

    • Assembling the stand will take minimal time, although it must be made just right to allow free standing. Attach two PVC pipes through the T-fittings evenly so that the PVC pipe on each side of the T-fitting is about the same length. From here, attach two PVC pipes of the same size into the remaining side of the T-fitting, although every pipe should have been the same size when purchased, so this should not be a problem. These pipes will be connected through the cross fitting, which will have four holes. It is on this cross fitting that the first PVC half pipe will connect, but do not put the PVC cement on it just yet. It should sit on the fitting in between the dip so that it can sit on the bottom bracket, which runs left to right on the bike instead of up and down.

      Next you will measure the frame of your bicycle from the bottom bracket, the spot that connects the crank and the sprocket, to about an inch from the top of the down tube. Once the frame is measured, return to the last piece of PVC piping and cut it to fit that measurement; then attach it to the last piece of the cross fitting. It is now assembled, and it is time for the PVC cement to keep it in place.

    PVC Cement

    • Take the PVC pipe out of the fittings, and layer in the inside of the fittings with the cement, as it will give it a good lock and keep it from falling apart. After the reassembly, lather the half pipes in the PVC cement and stick the first one in the middle of the cross fitting so that the bottom bracket will be able to sit flush on the inside of the half pipe. Allow this to dry for about an hour before attaching the last piece and making sure it all fits right. Put your bike up on the stand before attaching the last half pipe for the down tube to make sure there is a good fit. It should be attached about an inch before the end of the top of the PVC piping; use the PVC cement to hold it in place.

      Once the cement has dried, the bike will be able to sit on the stand without any issues. The drying process will take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours, so allow time to dry before setting the bike on the stand. If, after you set the bicycle on it, the last cemented piece falls off or slides, apply more PVC cement and let it sit longer in order to dry. After it stays in place, the bike stand will be ready for use and should last for a very long time.