Homemade Bike Stand

If you have a bike or two in your garage and are tired of propping them up against a wall when not in use, then consider constructing your own bike stand. Store-bought bike stands can be bulky or flimsy and cost at least $20. If you have access to woodworking tools and a few pieces of scrap lumber, you can make your own stand for a fraction of the cost of a stand from the bike shop. If you wish, you can also paint your stand to match your bike.

Things You'll Need

  • 6-inch length of 4 x 4 lumber
  • Circular saw (hand saw will also work)
  • Pencil
  • Carving router bit
  • Router
  • 14-inch length of 2 x 4 lumber
  • Two triangular pieces of 2 x 4 lumber with sides measuring 3.5 x 3.5 x 4.9 inches
  • Eight 2.5-inch screws
  • Drill
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut the 4 x 4 piece of lumber in half lengthwise using the circular saw or hand saw. Mark one of the short sides (not the top or bottom) of each half with an "A." Set each piece standing on end with the "A" facing you. Mark the right side of one piece and the left side of the other piece with a "B."

    • 2

      Carve out a 3/4-inch U-shape on the B side of each piece. The U-shape should be 1/4 inch back from the A side. The U-shape goes all the way from top to bottom, so when you put the two pieces together with B sides facing inward, you see a 1.5 inch oval all the way through.

    • 3

      Attach the two pieces together with the B sides facing inward, using two of the screws. The screw should be placed about an inch from the top of the block and 1.5 inches back from the A side.

    • 4

      Trim away the middle of the A side so there is a 1-inch opening from top to bottom. (This allows the pedal to slide through.) Take your bike and test that the left side crank arm (the bar your pedal attaches to) slides through the hole you made in the block. If it doesn't, trim away a little more until the crank arm slides in freely.

    • 5

      Attach the 4 x 4 block to the 14-inch 2 x 4. Place the block off center with 3.5 inches at the front and about 7 inches at the back. The A-side of the block will face the front. Drill four of the screws through the underside of the 2 x 4 into the 4 x 4 block to make a secure attachment. The 2 x 4 is now the base.

    • 6

      Attach the two triangular pieces on either side of the stand. One 3.5 inch side should be flush with the bottom of the stand. The other 3.5 inch side butts up against the 2 x 4 and 4 x 4. The pieces are placed more to the front of the stand than the center (about 1/2 inch back from the A side). Attach each piece with one screw through the 4.9 inch side into the 4 x 4 block.

    • 7

      Finish your stand any way you like. You can leave the stand as is, or you can paint it. For added detail you can also bevel the ends of the 2 x 4 or round the edges of the block.