A Fresh Look: Hear From Leading Bike Component Manufacturers and Our Pro MTB Team Riders About Storing Bikes with Hydraulic Brakes Vertically

We have the addressed this topic before, but we know how crucial it is to maintain hydraulic brakes, so let’s revisit it! Is it safe to store bikes with hydraulic brakes in Steadyrack bike racks? The answer is YES. In this blog post, we are going to debunk the common misconception (again) that vertical storage of bikes with hydraulic brakes is not safe, and to join us and lend their expertise, we will also hear from some of our professional team riders and leading bike component manufacturers. 

Revisiting the Hydraulic Brake Myth: Is Vertical Bike Storage a Problem?

Hydraulic brakes are equipped with a closed system of hoses and reservoirs containing hydraulic fluid to operate the brakes. They work by pushing fluid through the houses and into the brake calliper when the brake lever is activated, causing the bike to come to a halt. There are many statements circling that the brake fluid will leak when the bike is stored vertically, and it is no secret that many cyclists are concerned that storing bikes vertically may cause harm to their hydraulic brakes.

With any bike, proper care and maintenance needs to be completed on a regular basis to ensure the functionality of the bike is not compromised, regardless of how you have chosen to store your bike. Same goes for hydraulic brakes! If not maintained correctly, the brakes can become soft or 'spongy' and may mean the brake lever needs to be pulled a considerable amount before you feel the brake engage. This is normally an indication that there are air bubbles in the brake system. If there are air bubbles in the brake line, storing your bike vertically can move them closer to the brake lever resulting in that soft, spongy feeling. It is important to note that this will only happen if there are already air bubbles present in the brake line!

Moral of the story, maintain your bikes and get your brakes serviced regularly. Different bikes will have different maintenance requirements, so be sure to follow the bike manufacturer instructions and if you are unsure, get in touch with your local bike store. After storing your bike in a Steadyrack, we always recommend that you pump the brake lever a few times as well to warm it up before riding.  

Real Riders, Real Experiences 

Rémy Métailler, Steadyrack Brand Ambassador and professional MTB rider, has been using Steadyrack for the past six years. 

"They keep my bikes safe, organized and don't cause any issues from keeping the bikes vertical, even on the ones I use less often, and as some people may think, using Steadyrack does not cause any issue whatsoever with suspensions or hydraulic disc brakes."

Another one of our in Brand Ambassadors and MTB legend, Tom Cardy, has been using Steadyrack for 4 years. 

"Steadyrack is the safest bike storage solution as the racks not only optimize space perfectly but most importantly they keep my bikes well protected whilst being stored as they do not touch or rub against each other. I am fine with my bikes taking a hit on the trails from a crash but damage in storage does not sit well with me. The racks also support the bike by the front wheel so there is no possible way of damaging the bike by using the rack. There is a stigma attached to vertical storage around hydraulic brakes and suspension being damaged however I have used Steadyrack for 4 years and can confirm I have never encountered any issues!" 

Still Not Convinced?

Still struggling to comprehend vertical bike storage? Don't worry, we got you covered. To take things to the next level, we reached out to a few leading bike component manufacturers to get some expert opinions and feedback surrounding the taboo topic of vertical bike storage and hydraulic brake systems.  

We spoke to Bengal Performance, a bike component manufacturer that specialises in the production of hydraulic disc brakes, who confirmed that vertical bike storage will not cause reservoir leaking problems. They advised that their brake set systems are designed to be in a vacuum status no matter what orientation the bike is stored in. 

"Vertical bike storage will not lead to reservoir leaking problems." - Bengal Performance. 

Hayes Brakes are a global manufacturer of brakes, suspension systems, wheels, and other bike components. We spoke with the team there and they confirmed that using vertical bike racks like Steadyrack for any bike that is equipped with a Hayes brake system is safe!

"Hayes approves usage of a vertical bike rack with bikes that have Hayes brakes installed."'- Hayes Brakes.

SRAM is a leader in bike component manufacturing and is known by cycling enthusiasts worldwide. We engaged with the SRAM team to get some valuable expert opinions on vertical bike storage as well. 

"Storing bicycles vertically should not cause any fluid to seep from our brakes or suspension. We test our brakes & suspension in various orientations as well as in different scenarios and have found that there should be no issues with fluid leaking from the reservoir. Any issues that do arise may indicate that air is present in the system, or seals in the system may be worn or damaged. If this is the case, we always recommend you seek advice from your nearest SRAM or RockShox dealer. As always, refer to the products user manual, or refer to sram.com/service for more information." - SRAM 

Best Practice

There are three key factors that are essential to ensure optimal performance and bicycle longevity: regular maintenance, pumping your brakes, and choosing Steadyrack for your bike storage solution...

No but seriously, making sure your bike's hydraulic brakes are bled properly and regularly is important, ideally once a year. When you notice they become soft or spongy, then it is time for a service. Finally, if your bike has been stored in the rack for awhile, it is always recommended to pump the brake lever a few times.

With years of positive feedback from our team riders, and further validation from industry leaders, you can trust Steadyrack for all your bike storage needs. Get ready to hit the trails with confidence!