How to Build a Bike Rack
Bicycles, just like other means or transportation, should have an organized form of parking. The bike rack provides that need. By placing your bike in a stall, it is held upright, preventing it from tipping over. The rack also acts as a means of security once you lock your bike to a stall handle. Given its benefits, the owners of more than one bike should own a bike rack, in fact, they can build one, if they choose.
The PVC Bike Rack
A bike rack should be sturdy, since it carries several bikes and keeps them secure. PVC comes as the perfect material. Its strong surface won’t have any trouble holding several large bikes, even motorcycles. The pipes are also easy to connect, needing only a powerful adhesive to link them together.
Procedure:
bike rack
Lay a couple of 28-inch pieces opposite each other.
Stick a pipe elbow at the ends of both pieces, forming a single structure.
Connect a 1 3/4-inch piece to the openings then supply a t-connector for both pieces.
To create a sizable structure, hook up 16 1/2-inch pieces to the t-connectors.
Connect a 18 1/2-inch pipe to the lower openings of the t-connectors located at the top.
For the structure’s bottom portion, affix a 9 1/2-inch piece to the t-connector.
Put the structure together by sticking t-connectors for all the open ends.
Repeat the process, depending on the number of bikes you have.
Once you are able to create one stall, which is demonstrated in steps one to seven, forming the rest of the frame is easy. Just make sure all the connections are secure, otherwise the structure might topple over when holding multiple bicycles.
Wooden Bike Rack
If you want to add an elegant touch to the bike rack, wood is a good material. The only problem is, it gets damaged more easily than its PVC-based counterpart. Just apply a thick finish to boost its durability. To create the rack, just follow the steps for the PVR rack, only substitute the pipes with wooden bars and blocks. Screw each component together, firmly securing all connections. Once the structure is formed, apply varnish or paint, waterproofing, and the finishing solution. You can even have the whole thing laminated, if you want it to raise its stylishness.
Homemade Rack: the Better Alternative
Homemade bike racks are worthy alternatives to the commercially-sold ones. They are just as sturdy and provide more options for customization (the PVC rack). Best of all, the raw materials are as cheap as change, which saves you a lot on your budget.