Bike stands are not complex pieces of equipment. A stand consists of a base with uprights and axle rests that support the bicycle wheels above the floor. Production bike stands have adjustable rests to accommodate axles of various widths. But you can save on cost by making stands equally as reliable, and size them to the dimensions of the axles on your bike. Steel tubing is cut to size and bent into shape for the stands and uprights. Welding the axle rests atop the uprights completes the fabrication.
Step 1
Measure the distance from the front and rear wheel axles to the floor. Cut four pieces of 1-inch diameter steel tubing as three-sided uprights for the front and rear stands. The uprights are equilateral triangles. The height, from one point of the triangle to mid-point of the base, equals the distance from the axles to the floor.
Step 2
Calculate the size of the triangles and cut the pieces of steel tubing for the uprights using a hacksaw. Bend each piece into the triangle shape using a tubing bender. Weld the ends of the pieces where they meet at a point of the triangle.
Step 3
Cut two additional pieces of 1-inch tubing 80 inches long as base frames. Bend each piece into a rectangle that measures 24 inches long and 12 inches wide. Cut off any excess where the ends of the pieces meet at a corner of the rectangle. Weld the ends of each rectangle where they meet at a corner.
Step 4
Measure the overall width of the front forks of the bicycle. Add 1/2 inch to this dimension to establish the width of the front wheel uprights. Measure the overall width of the rear wheel dropouts. Add 1/2 inch to establish the width of the rear wheel uprights.
Step 5
Place the rectangular base frames on a flat surface. Mark the center points of the longest sides on each base frame. Stand two of the triangle uprights on a base frame with the base of each triangle spanning the 12-inch width of the rectangular frame.
Step 6
Refer to your center marks. Position each upright at each side of the center mark at the width of the front wheel uprights as determined. Weld the uprights in place. Refer to your dimensions for the rear uprights and weld the remaining triangle uprights to the other rectangular base frame.
Step 7
Cut four pieces of 1 1/2-inch by 1/8-inch steel plate 2 1/2 inches as axle rests. Secure one of the pieces in a bench vise with 1 inch extending above the top of the vise jaws.
Step 8
Measure the diameter of the front wheel axle and add 1/8-inch to establish the width of the axle rest slots. Make two vertical cuts, 3/4 inch long in the 1/8-inch plate as the sides of the slot.
Step 9
Bend the cut section down using pliers. Cut the bent section at the base of the slot with a hacksaw. File the inside edges of the slot using a flat file. Repeat these steps and make the other axle rest for the opposite upright. Mark the front axle rests for reference.
Step 10
Measure the diameter of the rear axle and add 1/8 inch to establish the width of the rear axle rest slots. Repeat the previous steps and make the axle rests for the rear uprights. Mark the rear axle rests for reference.
Step 11
Weld the front and rear axle rests atop the point of the front and rear uprights with the slots pointing up to receive the bicycle axle.
Tips and Warnings
- A variable resistance motor can be attached to the rear stand. Consult an experienced welder for the correct rods to use with a particular steel tubing.
- Wear the proper safety and protection gear when cutting steel and welding.
Things You'll Need
- 1-inch diameter steel tubing
- Hacksaw
- Tubing bender
- Welding equipment
- 1 1/2-inch by 1/8-inch steel plate
- Bench vise
- Pliers
- Flat file
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