Originally Posted by due ruote

The problem I always have with the "jail cell" type is that it's difficult to lock up with a u-lock unless you get a spot on the end of the rack. That's why half the bikes at the local schools just have a dinky cable through the front wheel.

The undulating type is what I see around here for most new installations, and I've found them acceptable. The point about denting a tube is valid I suppose, but will be for anything but the most new-fangled varieties, which you don't seem to be going for. The relative safety of your bike on most racks is a function of who comes along next, and an installation like you're describing for employee use is likely to be friendlier in that regard than if you're dealing with random strangers. You can hope, anyway.