Hey Folks!

I'm happy to report back to you that after reviewing all of your feedback and talking to our machine shop we decided on an in-house built standard upside-down "U" design welded to two 10 ft. lengths of channel. Once we got the material (Rigid electrical conduit and elbows) the welders were able to toss them together within a day or so and we hauled the new rack off to the powder-coater for a nice green finish. The final product looks great (I think) and as you can see in the picture on it's first full day of service, it was quite popular. 3 mopeds were cabled to the ends of it, and a few bikes in between.

Again, I want to thank all of you for your helpful advice and suggestions. I'm hopeful that the administration will approve of this design and it will actually become the new standard across campus. Time will tell.

-Jeremy

Here's a picture:

Can you estimate the cost for the construction?

On a side note, while it is not official yet, if it ever does become such you want to bury it under concrete.

Not sure what the labor charge will come to, but the material was a couple hundred, the powder-coating turned out to run 250 (uhg), I'd guess total with labor around $800. The welder whipped it out in very little time, and next time will be even quicker.

We had found a place in CA that was willing to build a similar rack for around 650/700 but it was being sold unpainted, so the added expense of this one was all in the powder-coating which was really necessary. Plus, there likely would have been significant shipping charges involved to get rack from that shop up in the SF area.

As far as burying it in concrete, unfortunately it was all I could do to convince them that it was necessary to bolt it down. With the amount of changes we go through on campus, they're wary of permanent anything. In the picture the rack isn't even bolted yet, and likely won't be for another week or two while they decide if this is an appropriate place for it to be used. It weighs around 200 lbs though, and would be difficult to walk off with dragging 3 mopeds in tow. You have to realize that even just sitting there with a few bolts holding it down it will be the most secure bike parking on campus, and although we do occasionally have theft problems, it doesn't seem to be huge problem.

-Jeremy

Oh I am very aware that thing is not going to walk off, I was more recommending it for aesthetics. I forgot to complement you by the way.

My university managed aesthetics by moving them a few feet off the concrete and letting the dirt and grass manage. However, since they where not connected to a good foundation several of them are now leaning.

speaking of concrete...
Here's a crazy idea, what if those tubular conduits were pumped full of concrete? That would make them pretty much impossible to cut through right? The concrete would destroy any blade that grinds thorough the metal layer.

Just thinking about this seeing as how I've seen a rack that had been cut to steal a bike from it apparantly...

I hate the grid racks. Luckily my college has woken up and decided to replace them with a style that seems much more workable. I don't know what they are called, but they kind of look like a row of fat coat hangers welded onto an outer frame. You can get the bikes right underneath that outside frame and U-lock at several angles, and the racks are being bolted down into concrete.

They're also repositioning the racks so they are in higher foot-traffic areas and I think that should deter theives. Not that we seem to have too much of a problem - there's a Jamis Coda with a cheapie cable lock (that half the time only goes through the front wheel!) that's still around. I know this because I like to park next to it

I don't do the full front-wheel-off lockup as my bikes both have old and crappy wheels and brakes that are a pain in the neck to release/put back (and the Raleigh doesn't have QR skewers, it has an oddball metric size nut!). I'm more concerned about the frames. But yeah, that Coda makes me shake my head.

This! This is the new rack design on my campus. Someone mentioned not liking the style with the big rings because it's too hard to lock the rear wheel, but the triangles seem to take care of that problem. They are wide enough at the base that they reach from fork to midway between seatstay and rear hub.

the rack i use at work has a row of upside down U's all welded to a base. seems like that would be convienient cause you wouldnt be able to take it apart but you can still move it around if you need to.
i guess someone with a big pickup truck could come and take the whole thing.
i've seen these newer style racks that look like an elogated Pi symbol, its hard to explain but i guess they are designed so you can set the frame in a little cradle, covered in rubber to prevent scratches, and then easily be able to lock the frame and either front or back wheel with one U-lock. its funny though because every store and restaurant in the area has them but nobody rides there.

OK, I know this set up is supposed to look like something cool when seen from the side. But what? I assume it is a bicycle? Got a link that shows the optical illusion?

I see wheels, rear triangle, front fork, seat and handlebars, but what is the far triangle on the right supposed to be, top tube?

I'm fortunate enough where I work to have bike lockers (such as shown below). I'm sure it's not in the budget, but they're great. Very safe and shield your bike from the elements.

Oh cool! I never even saw that till you pointed it out.

I can't use those, the space between the 'hangers' is too narrow for my bike to fit between them.

Do you have one of the really wide rear racks to fit over disk brakes or what? The "hangers" are a good 12" apart on these racks. Unless the spacing varies... but even so, I'd just park front-in, personally.

https://picasaweb.google.com/Dimilib/...64796744479970

I hope this worked. A very cool bike rack. Red alligator! :-)