Stowaway bicycle hoist: Instant New York loft makeover for your flat

stowaway

Looking every inch like a scene from a New York loft, the Stowaway bicycle hoist scoops up your bike and stores it flat against the ceiling.

stowaway bicycle hoist

A nifty counterweight pulley system means you only ever lift half the weight of the bike and a braking system means your pride and joy won’t crash to the floor if you let go of the pulley straps.

According to the designer of the Stowaway bicycle hoist, Sinead Geraghty, “With 3 bikes and no external storage options, my house resembled a bike shop and every day we were tripping over at least one of them. It got me thinking that there had to be a better way of storing the bikes without taking up valuable living space. I started researching options to buy and soon realized that there was nothing suitable available. That’s pretty much where the Stowaway concept grew from and for the last 18 months we’ve been working hard developing and refining it.”

stowaway bicycle hoist

The Stowaway is currently available to pre-order for £70 via Kickstarter with delivery expected in September 2016 should the project reach its funding target.

What’s wrong with keeping your bicycle in the shed?

Assuming you have a shed, thieves now target them specifically for the bicycles within and as a result, many cycle insurance companies now insist on a high level of door lock security. Cycle insurance from the ETA has a sympathetic policy towards keeping bicycle sin a shed; you can use any type of lock to secure the door and the bike doesn’t have to be locked while left inside – although if it’s visible through a window you have to cover it with a blanket or similar. Read more about storage requirements.

Win a Stowaway bicycle hoist

We have a Stowaway bicycle hoist to give away. Leave us a message at the bottom of this page and we’ll pick a name before Christmas.

stowaway bicycle hoist

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.

 

Comments

  1. Stuart Lamb

    Reply

    This would certainly help with the lack of space I have in the spare room where I store my bike

  2. rodders

    Reply

    Great idea

  3. chris deacon

    Reply

    Will it hold my electric bike as well as my ordinary bike ?

    Merry Christmas to the ETA gang

  4. Chris

    Reply

    My wife is always complaining about my bike in the hallway. This could help restore marital harmony.

  5. John

    Reply

    YES PLEASE, JOHN CLEESE! 🙂

    Merry Christmas, too

  6. Tim

    Reply

    Love it.

  7. Euan

    Reply

    Would be perfect as I’m currently doing up my spare room in a New York apartment style and that the room my bike sits in.

  8. Tom

    Reply

    My poor bike has been in storage since I moved into a small flat. This is the solution I’ve been looking for – absolutely amazing!

  9. Fran

    Reply

    How I’d eat my bike for one of these. Nearly…

  10. Peter Clark

    Reply

    Dear Father Christmas,

    I have (generally) been very good this year.

    I would like for Christmas a bike hoist to store my road bike as I don’t use it that often and it gets in the way.

    I will leave you a mince pie and a carrot for your reindeer.

    Thank you very much, Peter Clark aged 48

  11. Andy Wadsworth

    Reply

    That’s a very smart idea.

  12. John Hoare

    Reply

    Great idea, I wish it could take more that one bike

  13. Paresh

    Reply

    That’s a pretty neat way to store your bike, saving space and not bumping your head!

  14. Paul Love

    Reply

    Looks perfect for when the new baby is parking his pram in your bike space

  15. andy lee

    Reply

    would stop my wife falling over the bike every time she comes in the front door.

  16. David

    Reply

    Fantastic idea. Hope the kickstarter is successful.

  17. stewart kerr

    Reply

    This would be very nice, save the bike taking up space

  18. Daz

    Reply

    This would make a great addition to the bike cave. One off the floor means space for another (if iam allowed a new bike

  19. kirsty B

    Reply

    Genius! Would love one for my pokey London flat! I how resourceful cyclists are.

  20. Jane

    Reply

    We currently have one bike on the wall, one on the floor in a narrow corridor, and one in a cellar (there are of course only two of us). This would revolutionise our flat!

  21. Richard Barber

    Reply

    Seems to be the answer to storage problems.

  22. Paul smith

    Reply

    Great idea. Can it take more than one bike? If not the folder can stay in the corner of the kitchen.

  23. Lisa Taylor

    Reply

    My moaning flatmates would be very pleased!

  24. Owain

    Reply

    This would solve my storage problems instantly!

  25. T.Shaw

    Reply

    Wonder how any of these I can get on the ceiling!

  26. Sarah

    Reply

    Wow

  27. Lee Treadwell

    Reply

    This would save me lugging my bike up flights of stairs! Would really appreciate winning this prize.

  28. foudespaves

    Reply

    Neat.

  29. Sarah

    Reply

    Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease 😀

  30. Joe

    Reply

    Awesome! Ninja bike storage!

  31. Nate

    Reply

    Would be very useful thank you!

  32. Darren C

    Reply

    MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!
    This prize would be great in my garage, I could them put my car away!

  33. Keith G

    Reply

    Brilliant piece of design. Fingers crossed that the project reaches its funding target.

  34. Mark D

    Reply

    Good idea. Would go great in my garage, but guess you can only use with one bike, tho

  35. James Tinsley

    Reply

    Looks great would be a good addition 🙂

  36. terence riley

    Reply

    what a great idea. one will be a perfect storage solution when i eventually move into a sheltered housing apartment. hopefully i will still be cycling.

  37. Sarah-Jane Lock

    Reply

    “With 3 bikes and no external storage options, my house resembled a bike shop…” I know the feeling. One (or perhaps even THREE) of these would come in very handy…!

  38. Leslie Ross

    Reply

    Sounds a better solution than the telescopic pole bike holder I currently have – even with 3 metre ceilings I have to be careful where I put it!

  39. Pablo

    Reply

    Exactly what it will solve my space issue at my pad… currently having the bike in the narrow corridor 🙂

  40. Doug Milsom

    Reply

    I love it! I keep my bike in a tiny but secure garage, and it would be a major space saving to hoist it onto the ceiling.

  41. Tom A

    Reply

    This is perfect, one bike on the ceiling means more bike space on the floor!

  42. carl

    Reply

    Nice idea, looks secure

  43. Frank Lee

    Reply

    I just had my bike nicked from the garage – my next bike needs to be stored indoors !
    Soooooooo…Hang em High! (the thieves and maybe my bike)

  44. Rry Mrrsn

    Reply

    Looks good. I will try to make my own one from balsa and rubber bands.

  45. julie

    Reply

    hoist looks great and helpful with storage and getting it up higher – would love it

  46. David Carroll

    Reply

    Love it! What a super idea and great use of redundant space. Up, up and Stowaway.

  47. Iain

    Reply

    Great concept! Will need one to store my bike at my new place.

  48. Cati Smith

    Reply

    Oooh, cool idea 🙂

  49. Nick

    Reply

    Great idea!

  50. Keith G

    Reply

    Great idea.

  51. Mark B

    Reply

    Space savingtastic. This would be great.

  52. Lynne

    Reply

    Great Idea! You could also impress visitors to your home, telling them that the bike on the ceiling is a new art installation!

  53. Alastair Seagroatt

    Reply

    Interesting fun idea

  54. Alison

    Reply

    Speaking as someone who lives in a flat, this looks brilliant!

  55. david

    Reply

    Me me meeee!

  56. TheCyclist

    Reply

    Yay! At last! A place where I can store my bike without anyone falling over it. 🙂 Yes please. I would love one of those hoist devices.

  57. Jayne

    Reply

    Was just thinking how useful something like this would be for space saving but don’t really have enough spare wall space to use one of those hooks for hanging a bike on, hoist is a great idea.

  58. Helen Allen

    Reply

    I love my bike
    My bike loves me
    Except
    When I squeeze past
    And it smacks me on the knee!

  59. Peter Chisnall

    Reply

    If you saw how jam packed my garage is you’d know I need one of these!

  60. Asha Stokes

    Reply

    Living in a flat with a small corridor downstairs. This is what I need, indeed!

  61. Katie

    Reply

    I want one of these so much!

  62. Raf

    Reply

    My friend obsered that the number of bikes he owns is always one greater than the number of bikes he needs. this would be a great present to sort out his storage needs : )

  63. Rory Harkins

    Reply

    Yes please. Gimme

  64. Greg

    Reply

    My bike needs a lift

  65. markymark

    Reply

    merry xmas to everyone, except bike thieves naturally!

  66. Cheryl Buxton-Sait

    Reply

    A fantastic idea. I would love this.

  67. Paul Montgomery

    Reply

    Looks perfect for my small high ceilinged study, where my bikes live. Great idea

  68. Mike Croker

    Reply

    Neat: unless you are running an oil filled SA hub gear, that is :~

  69. John Mills

    Reply

    Dear Santa is it too late to ask………..

  70. Helen Smith

    Reply

    My boys would be fascinated by the mechanics of this and it would also mean I would have to spend less of my time trying to prevent the bike from toppling on to them as they try and play with it in the living room (Its current storage spot).

  71. giuseppe

    Reply

    Wonderful!!!

  72. Gwen

    Reply

    That would make a great Christmas present!

  73. Richard

    Reply

    I’ll take two!

  74. Georgia

    Reply

    This is a fantastic idea. I could really use this in our student house. 5 students, 5 bikes. It would be very appreciated!

  75. norma

    Reply

    I want one, how much and where do I get one

  76. Gail

    Reply

    Genius, I hope I see these in bike shops soon

  77. Richard

    Reply

    Good way to keep it indoors !

  78. James Russell

    Reply

    Had a hoist in a very high roofed garage that allowed me to store it above the car, but this takes the idea to a new level. How about storing it in the hall, and seeing how many people who come through the front door notice it?

  79. Bridget b

    Reply

    As I’m fast fulfilling the N+1 theory of bicycle ownership, in my tiny London pad this would be beautiful and clever! Can’t wait to have one.

  80. Alex Alexander

    Reply

    A great idea, at the moment I’m OK with a garage but when I downsize it will be really useful.

  81. christina

    Reply

    Prefect – would solve a whole lot of problems and make more a more hamonious household.

  82. mark d’emmanuele

    Reply

    I need one of these!!!

  83. Andrew

    Reply

    This would be an awesome way to store bikes in a flat where space is limited.

Add your comment

Your email address will not be published. Your name and email are required.