Storing your bike upside down may be a common cycling debate; but where does the right way really lie? When a mechanical incident happens due to someone flipping their bike for it’s generally because they want to store it for aesthetic purposes.

Some cycling enthusiasts flip their bicycles to store them while others would rather leave them upright.

If you are short on space, you might feel like it is quite difficult to figure out how to store your bicycles .There are a variety of mounts and hooks available for your bike if you want to store it in your home, but what would happen if you stored the bike upside down?

Reasons for Avoiding an Upside-down Bike

There are a few solid reasons as to why this wouldn’t be recommended; in addition to the look, other cyclists would give you.

  • The most problematic thing about spinning the bike in upside down direction when you’ve got mechanical is that it risks scuffing/damaging the hoods and saddle. Also, you’ll catch a lot of dirt, water, or mud on main contact points when you reach for the bike again.
  • Additionally, you’ll need to pick water bottles as they might have fallen from their holders and rolled down. When the cages don’t relinquish their grip on bottles, they might not leak sticking energy drink your entire frame.
  • The other reason you don’t want to turn the bike upside down when you’ve got any mechanical is that it would rarely make it simple to fix the issue that took place. Also, it would make it difficult to quickly diagnose and fix the issue.
  • Other problems can also be possible such as the risk of getting covered in dirt from grease or tires from chain when turning over the bike.

Effect on Braking Performance through Upside down Bike

What about hydraulic disc brakes? The disc brakes are sealed units with oil in lever, hose, and caliper. So theoretically, your bike’s orientation shouldn’t lead to any changes in its braking.

With that being said, many people hand their bikes, or also turn them upside down, only for finding that the brake lever has turned mushy. The cause most likely is an air bubble in the system which reached its highest point in the caliper and changed the brake lever feel.

Turning your bikes in upside down direction can facilitate airflow in the caliper, or at least within the hose. It is not that the reservoir drains, but rather that air floats at the top. Formation of air bubbles that was not a problem earlier when faced upside down, make way towards metering hole and then reach master cylinder, and from there in the hose and eventually they reach the caliper.

This would often not be a big deal, as after you pump lever sometimes, the air bubbles can work their way into reservoir. However, the air bubbles also get trapped in caliper corners, and then the brake performance does not return after some lever pulls.

Why Cyclists Consider Flipping their Cycle Upside Down?

The only time it would be best to turn your bike upside down would be when you notice any mechanical issues. The common reason to turn the bike is fixing its flat tire.

Let’s face it, getting wheel out of bike would be tricky when it is right side up, mainly as you need to hold bicycle frame in air for avoiding scratching dropouts on ground.

Flipping the bike in upside down direction makes it simple, you can get to wheels and the bike becomes upright, and doesn’t lie on grass ditch.

Adjusting brakes and gears, such as when indexing through gears or to spin the drivetrain, can be easier because you’re not fighting gravity.

Alternatives to Turning the Bike Upside down

You can hand the saddle from a tree, hook handlebars over a gate or a fence, or get a friend for holding the bike. Also, you can try the methods of hooking saddle over the head. Also there is a product developed specifically for the intended use i.e. a portable bike.

The bike stand clips firmly to the handlebars while protecting the grip and controlling it from the ground. It makes it stable. It is something else for spending money and carrying it with you, so we’re not sure whether this is a solution or not.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to hang a bike by the back wheel?

From what I have found, you should have no problem hanging your bicycle by the rear wheels, or even the front! Bicycle wheels are mainly made from Aluminum and can withstand the weight of a bike (thankfully not that much by design).

Is it okay to hang a bike with carbon wheels?

As we just learned, you can hang your bike by the wheels! However carbon wheels are the one exception. These wheels like to flex under just a little bit of pressure, and hanging them is enough to deform them, and damage them. They sure are light, but also brittle at the same time.

How should I store my bike wheels ?

If you have spare wheels, and want to know where to store them, then hanging them is going to be the best option! If you get a rubber padded hanger, you can easily hang them from the wall. This will keep them from getting hit, stepped on, or crushed while sitting on the floor.

Conclusion

Seems like not a lot is at stake while pulling the bike in upside down direction. However, it’s best to be careful and it would make it simple to sort a flat or mechanical tyre. It is a great debate that gets many people worked up, and also there are many pros and cons of doing it.

The main being the braking of the bike getting affected through air bubbles pushing inside the cables and reservoir tank. To simply put it, if you wish to have brakes at their best performance, you must find another good way of storing them.