bikensurf

Warning: Rant ahead.

So, after commuting for the last 6-7 years to a job I have had for almost 15 years I am told that I can not bring my bike inside and keep it in an office that is unoccupied. There isn’t anyone else here, that I work with that cares, just the freakin’ idiot office manager, who unfortunately is my sister-in-law.

Some of what she said:

Her, “We might be hiring someone to work in that office.”
I say, “But we haven’t hired anyone yet?”
Her, “No, not yet.”
Might hire someone? I might punch you in your neck.

“There are scuff marks on the wall that I have to fix. It’s just not your bike but there marks from chairs too.”
True that there are tire marks, 5(?) and true that there are huge gashes from the chairs in her reception area So dumbass, you’re going to move the chairs outside too?

“Can you ‘tie’ it up in back of the building?”
Yeah, I’ll tie it up with your stringy blonde hair and it’ll be fine until the crack heads decide to steal it.

This sucks. I’m so pissed off. There are 3-4 covered parking decks for cars in the downtown area with attendants, but none of them have racks because there is “No Skateboards” and “No Bicycles” allowed. Why can’t there be a plague that just wipes out all the idiots that I know?

substructure

She's pissed because you aspire to better yourself and she can't manage enough willpower to wipe her bum real good.

ontheroadid

RE: There are scuff marks on the wall that I have to fix.

Offer to fix them for her. That's what I do. I know I mark up the wall, and I also know that we have touch-up paint in one of the storage areas that matches the wall color. Every couple of months, I bring a small brush and cover my bike marks.

It sucks that you're related to this hag. I don't know what all your options are, but I suggest taking a bit of a stealth/guerilla tack, as long as it won't get you fired. In order to kind of conceal the fact that I bike to work and have a lot of extra stuff (clothes, washing supplies, deoderant, etc.), I grabbed an extra filing cabinet. Most of it is full of bike/clothing stuff, not paper. I also set up a "covert" laundry line under my desk (I have a cubicle with a counter-like desk). I hang my towel, sweaty jersey/socks, and washcloth from this, and turn on my little fan (also under my desk) to dry the stuff out before it gets a chance to stink.

Here's a guy who stores his bike under his desk (last picture):
https://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/06...d-gear-friday/

Let us know if you come up with other alternatives. It's fun beating the system.

Fight the power....

chipcom 

So just park it in your own office.

Tude 

Aw man - I feel for you. Tell them to get some bike cages then as you don't feel safe about just locking it up outside

We're going thru a growth spurt here at college and every available spot has been eaten up (we even had a temporary asst manager in our department - who was ousted from her office - and "demoted" to the now old coat closet (IT people had a good snicker when they asked the room number to which she was moving - and I respond no number - it was the coat closet). Anyway - my and the Associate Dean's bike "garage" was taken away too, but luckily there is room in the storage closet for both our bikes - whew!!!

Bob J

Bring it up at the next family get together

JR97

That sucks. And I guess kickstands do, too. j/k.

I don't think I could work with family or in-laws. Let us know how it turns out. Can you go above her?

bikensurf

Unfortunately there isn't any room in my office, which is really just a corner. It's a small company, 7 people in a small space. I'd love to hide it, but there is no where to hide it. Storage closets are super small and jammed with junk. Kickstand or no kickstand, I think she just doesn't want it in here at all. I’ve offered to touch up the areas where there are tire marks, but she wants none of that. In her eyes, it's a toy and has no place indoors, anywhere. In hindsight, I sort of saw this coming from the looks she's give me when I leave for the day and little comments here and there. She's the type of person that considers bicycles a nuisance on the roads too. Ugh.

Winter76

Could you hang it with one of those vertical hangers? That way it only takes up vertical space.

Link to the hanger: https://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1183135883406

Link to a pad for the bottom wheel to save the wall from getting dirty:

https://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1183135875373

same time

Ha ha - and make the next family get-together a family bike ride.

In a small office, majority often rules, even if there is a manager. Can you bring it up with your co-workers, come up with a solution, present it to your sister in law?

bikensurf

That's great. I like it. I'll run it up the flag pole and see who salutes.

dynaryder

Time for a folding bike?

Or ask your brother to have a talk with her.

bikensurf

I think I had better wait until Monday to bring it up, there's a little tension right now. I sort of wear my emotions on my sleeve.
And there is a place right behind my head where that hook could go. Wish me luck.

nightc1

That's awesome. Bikensurf, you should give that a try... expecially if you have a quick release front wheel and seat. Even without one it would only take a minute or two do do that.

Is there a manager above your sister-in-law? And by sister-in-law is this your brothers wife or your spouce's sister? And yeah it makes a difference.

bikensurf

I went ahead and asked about the hooks...bwhahahaaa. She looked at the space behind my head and said that the wall wouldn't hold. Which, I think is true. The wall to the left of me is falling apart and the space (about 3' wide) is not strong at all. Then she said that I should "tie" it to the tree behind the office again. She said that there wasn't much traffic back there during the day. Ha, except for the homeless lot drinking. Back to the drawing board.

My brother's wife. But he has nothing to do with working here. I can try asking him to talk to her. Yes, there is someone over her. He doesn't care but for some reason, in this matter, she has the say. I don't get it. I could out right refuse to listen to her, but I don't think that will do any good.

My desk has two sets of drawers on either side where I put my legs, no room for a bike.

Falkon 

INCONCEIVABLE!

Wulfheir

Tell your brother to mention it during sex.

ghettocruiser

Few are the problems gear from MEC cannot solve.

JeffS

Is she your manager?

If not, take it up with that person. Maybe I'm just unlucky, but my experience has been that office manager is just code for *****. [edit] b i t c h

nightc1

Dang man. I feel your rant... I really hate this situation.

I'd talk to the boss above her. Forget your bro for now... leave that as a last option.

But whom ever you talk to mention the bike is not cheap, you've biked to the office now for freakin years and been with the company 15 years, and mention where she wants you to put it would leave it open to a lot of homeless and thieves.


...

Do any of your co-workers drive big honkin suv's? Maybe you could store it in one of them during the day?

Do people use every inch of the hall? Is there a spot slightly out of the way for it?

Oh and hey they make racks that don't bolt to a wall. If you could get that approved then you'd be set.

...

Worst case sinario... what about finding a better job? One where your 15 years of experience would be appreciated by your manager no matter who your manager is?

crue0001

Can you ask them to install a bike rack outside? Tell them you'll overlook the project or something like that. Also, how big is your bathroom there? Is there room to hide it there, I mean if you have 7 people and they don't mind then it shouldn't be a problem right? ALso she won't go look in the Mens bathroom... hopefully. Also you could buy one of those bike lockers like the Bike Pod:
https://huntco.com/bikepod/
Also, I don't know what kind of building you have but I worked at a small building like that and made friends with Janitor and he let me keep my bike in his cleaning closet. So just be on the lookout for nooks and crannies like that. Good Luck.

8bit

Does your company handle/assist/fund (even indirectly, through rent) car storage for employees? If so, you should ask for your personal car storage to become bike storage. Either that, or invite one of the bums that hangs around the back of the building to come sit in her chair so that you can have a safe place for your bike.

Definitely go up the chain of command and be prepared to bargain.

derath

I brink my bike into the office. We also have a small office and have a training center in the back. I often just lean it against the wall in the front hallway. It is the hallway that goes straight back past the bathrooms, kitchen and then training center.

I have had the owner ask once that I move it out of the way. We had some big wigs from the software company that produces the software we sell. I asked "aren't they from Portland, isnt that a big cycling city?" They would get a kick out of it. Which they did.

Luckily our office manager says my a$$ looks good in spandex, so she doesn't seem to mind when I cycle into work.

-D

notfred

No she's not and you know it. I hate this argument.

Heyduke

This seems like a practical start....seriously. Ask your bro for help, man! Surely he has some idea at a resolution. If that doesn't work, then start making some managerial allies and get a mediator. Is your S-I-L in HR?