Sometimes the simplest thrown-together object becomes one of your favorite tools. Twenty years ago I hammered together a step-stool from scrap lumber to assist me with one job, and it’s been one of the most useful items in the house ever since.

Doug DuBois knows how that goes. He needed a stand for his commuting bike, so he used a bit of lumber he had on hand and cobbled together this stand:

 

 
When Doug returns home from a commute, he rolls his Surly Long Haul Trucker back into the stand for secure berthing. When the time comes to load up panniers, the stand keeps his LHT steady and accessible on each side. Here’s an oblique view of the bike stand:

 

 
The base is constructed with 2×4 lumber, and the sides are made from 1-inch boards. A spacer in the rear creates a slot that’s about 1/8″ sider than the bicycle’s rear tire:

 

 
Looks good to me! Thanks to Doug DuBois for allowing Outside Up North to pass the word and for letting us reprint his photos. To see Doug’s full-sized photos, visit his webpage here.

 
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