Is putting your bike upside down wrong? 67% of you say not, so why the controversy?

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Im genuinely interested to hear your explanations because I think you are making up reasons to confirm your bias against hydraulic disc brakes, which is really rather silly.

OK it's a fair cop, I exaggerate, but only after 20 years working on my own and other people's hydraulic disc brakes, I tend to run all the bad experiences together.

So yes, the likelihood of pulling a lever whilst the bike is upside down AND there being air in the reservoir AND being unable to carry out a perfect bleed to correct it is all pretty unlikely, I'm just remembering the times when at least 1 or 2 of the three has happened (bikes hanging by rear wheels in trains, bikes being stored hanging from rear wheels, people pulling a lever when bike is upside down to check piston movement, etc. etc etc.)

I'm at a stage where I  prefer my bikes as simple and 'precaution free' as possible so am immediately averse to anything that adds any complication to the mix. My garage time (when I'm lucky enough to get it) is turbo trainer time! 

How do you clean underneath unless the bike is upside down?

Oh I see, but still BS!!

PP

I must apologise, when I said upright I meant standing the bike on the rear wheel and manouvering it around like that.

Air bubbles in the brake fluid reservoir entering the hose is the only technical reason for keeping the rubber side down (same issue with lad wheeling bike around the shop). And that (perhaps obviously is only an issue with hydraulic brakes). The rest is 'looking after your stuff', and/or vanity, which is fine - each to their own.

Otherwise, a bit of a 'non-article' IMO. Must be a slow week...

I'll flip them to puncture repair but can't remember last puncture and riding fatties mostly indicates punctures probable during nice days hence probably lay if windy, flip if still.
When I ride flat bar to work I always flip. Bullhorns prop bars up clearing clipin torch, computer, big fat comfortable seat another secure footing, just easier than normal which is lay against fence. Can't pull flip though because of guard. Ndo flip on front clamps, over balance point, takes about a second after pannier removal and is quicker than finding rest of seat and a drop bar handle on a fence lay.

When I get a puncture I always turn the bike upside down. Wheel out sorted. Ok rubbers may get marked but it's better than a scratch on the frame in my book

At home I use a stand, just a cheap one I picked up in Aldi a few years ago. I'd be perfectly happy throwing down a rug and putting my bike upside down on that, but the stand is more secure against being knocked over and working off the floor is so much better for my poor old man spine. Plus it looks like I might actually know what I'm doing.

In the field, whatever works and whilst I'll be careful not to scratch anything I have seen people cause more serious damage to important components by titting about with trying to keep their bike off the ground whilst removing bits.

I was in the LBS the last week and the mechanic mentioned to one of the lads not to use the brake whilst wheeling the bike around upright.  Upon further questioning by me, as I was rather alarmed, doing every day to get my bike in and out of the flat, he said mine were alright, but other manufactures brakes can suffer.

I tend not to turn the bike upside down, too much stuff on the handlebars and the nose of the saddle is a bit delicate.  I tend to lay it down on the non-drive side if I need to remove the rear wheel. 

I had a bad experience wheen a lad, with the bike upside down I really messed up the chain and hanger as I couldn't visualise the way everything ran when it was upside down.

I've got security quick release spindles on my main commuter (90's vintage) that don't allow the whels to come off unless the bike is upside down.  They and the rest of the bike have  worked . fine all that time so certainly no problem for old school bikes.

I used to respect Bling Matthews and hoped he'd wear the rainbow bands one day, - but he's dead to me now...

I do whatever makes it easiest to get at the bit that needs fixing. Bar tape is cheap and easy enough to replace if you feel you have to scrape it about on the ground and fill it with grit and muck, I invariably have a rain cover (AKA Tesco plastic bag) to protect the seat with me. Each to their own.

I don't care what the pros do, they're not paying for their own equipment.

There's no choice really is there? If you're out on a ride and get a puncture, how do you protect the dropouts and rear mech without flipping the bike over?

Multi-comment click bait battle!!!!

I'll bite because I'm bored.

Never turn my bike upside down, why would I want to cover all my most intimate contact points (bars, saddle) in grit and muck, just out of laziness in not learning how to do everything with bike the right way up? 

Worst case if windy or rear wheel is out I will lay bike on side (drivetrain up) and trying not to lay bar tape in puddle/mud/dog eggs.

Also another strike against hydraulics in my book, the fear of accidentally pulling lever whilst bike upside down/wheel out, and your lovely brakes never quite feeling the same again unless you're a pro mechanic with countless hours brake-bleeding practice under your belt.

People can do whatever they want with their bicycle. If they wish to turn it upside down whilst fixing a puncture, so what? You don’t like it because it’s not ‘pro’ or ‘written in the ‘rules’; get over yourself.

Its not difficult to put a bike upside down without scratching hoods or saddle for a temporary repair, and if you slip your bottles out of the cages first if they leak or will fall out (cage not tight enough then, which is a different issue) then once again, a non-issue. Even this article is clutching at ‘potential’ problems like your bottles will roll away... really, how often as ANYONE seen this happen when someone puts their bike upside down?

And the speculative disc brakes not working after being put upside down can only mean they weren’t bled properly in the first place, which I suspect has another warning in the dealer manual...

If disc brakes were bled correctly in the first place it wouldn’t lead to so many forum posts about brake rub after hard braking downhill, etc. So a properly bled hydraulic brake will suffer no ill effects from temporarily being put upside down. Again, a non issue. 

In my opinion a bigger issue is watching those determined not to put their bike upside down standing it on the rear derailleur with the rear wheel out, or hanging it over a metal field gate with the forks or stays rubbing against the metal gate - and this article claims you might scratch your hoods...

Lay the frame chainset side up in long grass, CAREFULLY or turn the bike upside down and place it carefully on a soft surface, or even more carefully on the tarmac. Or alternatively get a trusted mate to just hold it.  It’s really a non-issue.

And remember, the OWNER of the bike can do whatever he/ she wants to do with THEIR bike and quite honestly if you are that judgemental you’ll end up riding by yourself ALL THE TIME.

PP

Watch out if running deep section wheels too. Did that when repairing a puncture and bike blew over too easily causing a bit of paint damage.