At this point, Berm Creek has everything we need to ride, work, and hang out.
But there’s one problem that I still haven’t solved—The mess that is bike washing.
Granted, this isn’t a big problem.
But I wash enough bikes where it makes sense to craft a permanent solution—one that doesn’t
involve getting mud on my house, or wrecking the lawn.
My wife suggested I build a wash station to contain the mess, so I thought: what would
be the perfect amount of overkill.
A good bike wash station should be in a spot with drainage.
The DOT dug this trench along my property line, which happens to be close to my driveway
and my hose.
To make it suitable for our wash station, I’ll need to do a bit of landscaping.
The ground is pretty uneven, but we’ll make it work.
Now that we’ve chosen a spot, we need a plan.
To me, the most important part is a platform that water can pass through so you’re not
standing in the crap you just hosed off your bike.
Next would be something to hold the bike off the platform, to make it easier to reach.
Finally, a place to hold brushes and wash solution.
The hose isn’t so important to me, since I have one nearby.
Now to get some supplies and start building.
We’ll use 4x4’s as posts, and planks to build a platform that water can pass through.
To hold the bike off the platform, we’ll use these pipe fittings to make a horizontal
bar at the top.
For wash solution, we’ll use this granite soap dispenser from target, which looks more
like a murder weapon than a soap dispenser.
The wash station will have a footprint of 4 feet, by 6 feet.
First, we’ll frame out the platform with 2x6s, so we have a visual aide for the rest
of the project.
I’m doing this in the driveway to ensure the platform is flat and even.
Then I’ll just carry the whole thing over here and line it up.
As you may know, I’m not a construction expert so trial and error is a big part of
my methodology.
To get this platform level, my strategy was to locate the posts according to the platform,
and then use a level to adjust the deck, little by little.
If there’s a better way to do this, I don’t have the tools or experience.
But in the end, my method worked.
The only problem was cutting the excess off the 4x4’s, which proved to be challenging
and probably not very safe.
The inside of the platform was getting in the way of my saw guard, so I considered taking
it all apart to make the cuts.
Instead, I decided to do the smart thing for once.
That makes more sense.
With the frame leveled and secured, it was time to set up the bike hanger, which meant
digging another post hole and securing an 8 foot 4x4 to the back of the platform.
We’ll attach our pipe and hooks to this later, but first the deck planks.
I cut 6 8 foot planks in half to make 12 4 foot planks.
To ensure ample drainage, I used a pencil to space them evenly.
While I fasten these planks, let’s have a quick look at another Berm Creek addition.
My backyard trail system is home to quite a few critters.
To keep them entertained we installed the Squirrel Party 5000.
It’s a rotating strip of wood with a counterweight on one end, and a piece of dried corn on the
other.
When a squirrel climbs up to get the corn—well that’s when the party starts.
If you plan on building one of these it’s important to cut these notches on the end
so the squirrels don’t get their legs caught.
Squirrels also vary in size depending on where you live, so the counter weight and balance
point need to be adjusted accordingly.
Thanks uncle Danny, for sending this to me.
Back to the bike wash station, which is starting to look like something.
To hold the bike up, I’m using an end flange to mount a pipe parallel to the platform.
I added a cap on the end to keep the bike from sliding off.
I’m also mounting hooks to this post to hold brushes.
Finally, a little shelf for that granite dispenser, all loaded up with non toxic bike wash soap.
The wash station is complete, and there’s only one thing left to do.
Now that we have a bike to wash, I can show you the concept.
You hang your bike by the seat so it’s up high and easy to access.
This also makes it so the dirt falls off and away from your bike.
I usually start by soaking everything with the hose.
Then I soap up a brush and get to work.
To clean wheels, I use a brush with stout bristles to really scrub the grime from between
the spokes.
Rinse, repeat.
As planned, the water falls through the cracks and meanders down the hill with the rest of
the runoff.
You’re never standing in the mud or a puddle of water, and there’s no mess to speak of.
With a wash station, I’ll be less likely to avoid washing my bike.
And now anyone I ride with is probably gonna want to use my bike wash station before they
go home.
This wash station may even come in handy for cleaning other things.
So there you have it, my very functional, but rather unnecessary mountain bike wash
station.
You’ve gotta admit it looks better than those weeds and the drainage trench behind
it.
And if you’ve ever had a hard time finding a good place to wash your bike, you know first
hand how nice it is to have.
Thanks for riding with me today and I’ll see you next time.
