Originally Posted by
dynodonn
My current commuter with all it's racks, panniers, accessories, and a frame/wheel set being being durable enough to handle heavy cargo loads, tips the scales at 55 lbs empty, and is definitely not something I wish to lift on and off a vertical rack every workday.
Before the case is made in getting a lighter bike, the co-worker with the "monster truck" didn't have to give up his vehicle, and start driving a compact car.
What kind of standard should racks be designed for? It'd be difficult to design a rack for all bicycles. Every bicycle is significantly different. Yes, the ideal would be a rack that doesn't require lifting and has no limitations to the length of the bicycle. Not every workplace has space for this.
Vertical racks are suitable for the vast majority of bicycles and cyclists. Recumbents probably wouldn't work, nor would extended length bicycles such as the Big Dummy. As you said, heavy bikes wouldn't work so well either. Personally, I wouldn't expect a workplace to design bicycle parking to accept those types of bikes. They are rare.
Maybe some weight lifting would do you some good?