Classic & Vintage - What would you lock your bike up to if you could buy anything??

I'm searching for a quality and readily available commercial bike stand/rack for my workplace.

It should hold 10 bikes and be accessible from front and back.

It should hold the bikes upright and not have all of the bikes falling all over each other.

Any suggestions? Posted here because you all know the value of locking up your vintage bikes somewhere that won't do damage to them.

Thanks all. :)

This isn't the one I am thinking of but it is a close cousin of it.

http://www.gizmag.com/go/5849/

I can't find the link at the present but the one I am thinking about is similar to this except it actually is larger connects to electricity, lifts the bike into the umbrella up out of the hands of anyone (I think its like 16' to 20' tall) and solves every problem with locking your bike up. I'll keep looking for though.

Unfortunately most of these come from England\Europe...


Found it.
Switzerland.... figures. And its solar powered, not grid connected.

http://www.biketree.com/
http://www.boreme.com/posting.php?id=27827

Inside the workplace or outside?

If you could buy anything, why worry about the bike? Just buy another. Or buy a bike you won't worry about getting stolen.

If you could buy everything, where would you put it?

http://2012patriot.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/fort-knox2.jpg?w=450&h=236

http://fxpaper.fatalsystem.com/images/wallpapers/military/m1a1-abrams-tank/M1A1_abrams_tank_5.jpg

If you could buy anything, why worry about the bike? Just buy another. Or buy a bike you won't worry about getting stolen.

If you could buy everything, where would you put it?

why ask why? try Bud Dry.

Ok... not quite what I was looking for. I appreciate the humor but I could really use some thoughtful advise.

I am amending my original post to clarify.

I am looking for a readily available commercial duty bike rack, not a concept design or Homeland Security expenditure.

It will be housed in a loading dock.

I just need recommendations that speak to the preferences and experiences people have when locking their bikes up to common stands. Are those undulating, wavy ones better than the "barrier" style bar racks? That sort of thing.

They put a nice rack in the building across the parking lot. (tube with 2 ends in cement and enough "U"s to hold 4 bikes). Problem for me is it
is completely exposed. No protection from rain, or a wandering bike thief. So personally I would like something to has protection...

A selection here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_stand). Maybe a poll :) I like the ring and post for short stays.

Are you going to be able to bolt the thing down somehow or otherwise permanently attach it or is the weight going to be the main factor keeping it in place?

Thanks Bikemore... that is the feedback I am looking for.

This will be in an enclosed loading dock area so there is no fear of theft or rain... I'm mostly concerned with the ease of locking bikes upright so they don't fall all over each other.

So you think the "serpentine" style racks are better than "jail cell" style racks?

Are you going to be able to bolt the thing down somehow or otherwise permanently attach it or is the weight going to be the main factor keeping it in place?

yes, bolted down.

My whole problem with a traditional US type rack is the fact that the bike is still accessible to thieves. And those U racks that are used now are really good to dent and ding the frame. Now because I use leather saddles I'm with bikemore, I want covered protection for the bike from the elements. I still ride it in the rain but I don't like it sitting in the rain... In the end because of these problems I wouldn't take a C&V bike to a rack I would just get a beater. And at that point, any old pole will do.

There is another option and we have a few of these downtown here but they do take a lot of room and you are still depending on a lock that can easily be cut. It is a bike pod or bike locker. Something like this, http://huntco.com/bikepod/

This is thoughtful advice even though you may not agree with it. These are the usual concerns with a C&V bike and there are no ways in which a traditional US rack deals with them.

Now if your talking a private company and the loading dock is out of the way and you have enough space on a wall you could always do a custom traditional wall rack job that probably wouldn't run to much from a welder. Just get a square ironed frame rack with 10 hooks spaced appropriately and have an arm or something come up enough from the middle to run a lock through it for the user to lock the frame and a wheel. Bolt that to the wall.

The locking mech, I'm thinking something like this:

http://www.greenlaunches.com/entry_image/0609/30/bike_racks.jpg

It keeps them hanging and from bumping into each other. It clears out floor space but does take wall space. And is as safe as any other bike rack from thieves.

If I could buy anything?
What would I lock my bike up to?
That way, she wouldn't be able to run like last time.
203542

Interesting - Odd that we must carry 15# of chain and lock becuase we have shaved grams off our bikes - But if commuting to a work area I think a chain lift would keep our bikes and personal items just out of reach...

203543 or 203544

http://www.eta.co.uk/2010/11/30/german-robot-tackles-bicycle-theft

Another vote here for bike lockers. Something like this: http://www.missionmission.org/2010/03/26/bike-lockers-why/

The locking mech, I'm thinking something like this:

http://www.greenlaunches.com/entry_image/0609/30/bike_racks.jpg

It keeps them hanging and from bumping into each other. It clears out floor space but does take wall space. And is as safe as any other bike rack from thieves.

That's really cool. However, if you're choosing from the more common US options, I'd go with five of the the "inverted U" or "staple" design in the background of this photo. Definitely not the wavy variety. Two points of contact to hold up your bike are better than one.

I would just go with the basic. if it were outside bike lockers or that Bike Tree thing would be wonderful.

http://www.jbimporters.com/web/images/new_400/95056.jpg

http://www.jbimporters.com/web/checking_product_description.php?part_number=95056

you could bolt this down or maybe use some heavy sand bags to help hold it in place.

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.

I don't have enough information to offer any advice. Locking my bike up outside my office building, or my apartment building, indicate very high level security demands. I have bikes I would never lock up outdoors overnight; for such situations I would want a locker, but then I would not be riding that bike for such situations. But outside a library or museum where I'd be for a couple hours, that's a lower level security demand but still considerable. Outside an ice cream shop or convenience store, a lower level still.

Not a bike rack but still an interesting alternative:
http://www.durabikelocker.com/

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.

Thanks due ruote... that's helpful info.

I would just go with the basic. if it were outside bike lockers or that Bike Tree thing would be wonderful.

http://www.jbimporters.com/web/images/new_400/95056.jpg

http://www.jbimporters.com/web/checking_product_description.php?part_number=95056

you could bolt this down or maybe use some heavy sand bags to help hold it in place.

These are what I'm most commonly used to, but around here at least, people put their fork on one side of the top bar and the frame on the other side. This often leads to scraping/banging up of the frame, but is probably the easiest to install of the types.

If I could buy anything?
What would I lock my bike up to?
203542

Maybe? Jus' kiddin'.

http://imagesofjesus.net/wp-content/gallery/images-of-jesus/jesus3.jpg

Actually I never lock my bikes, they either are parked in the basement or under my booty.

A Cop car with the lights flashing ?

Johnnybee.

I'd lock it to one of my pet Ligers.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Liger_couple.jpg/800px-Liger_couple.jpg
It's pretty much my favorite animal. It's like a lion and a tiger mixed... bred for its skills in magic.

I'd lock it to one of my pet Ligers.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Liger_couple.jpg/800px-Liger_couple.jpg
It's pretty much my favorite animal. It's like a lion and a tiger mixed... bred for its skills in magic.

You ever take your bike off any sweet jumps?

Great. Thanks for your help. :notamused: