Sorry for the very basic question: I just started commuting to work. My office building has vertical bike storage racks with hooks. I have never used vertical racks before. Some of the commuters place their front wheels on the top hook, while others hook the their frames. What is the proper way to store bikes on vertical racks? I am concerned that hooking my wheel might do damage to the brakes or gears, but I just don't know enough about bike mechanics to make an informed decision.

Personally, I'd resist using them, obviously management has never had to lift a fully decked out all weather commuter bike.

Unfortunately, there are no other bike racks in or near my office, so I have to use it.

So typical of a lot of workplaces, where bike parking is usually designed by a non commuting cyclist. Maybe look into getting a bike that you would not be too concerned about being damaged should any take place.

I doubt hanging from the front wheel alone will cause damage to the brakes or drivetrain. However, the jostling about from others storing their bikes probably will. Consider getting a SS/FG/IGH to minimize damage to the gears, look at getting a folder, or find an alternate place to park your current rig.

+1

I had never seen a vertical rack for public use so I googled. Found this neat rack.

I'd store it by the front tire. That's how I've always stored my bikes when I've used vertical racks & I've never had any trouble.

Here, the light rail has vertical racks on board; easy to load if you follow the picture diagrams - lift front wheel up, roll the front wheel up the guide, holding on to the handle bar, and pushing on the back of the saddle, hook the front wheel (watch out for the valve stem).

No problems, bike gets jostled a bit - the worst is a sudden stop when some moron motorist cuts off the train.

Some people, never looked at the instructions, and try to brute force thier bike on to the rack, most give up before causing damage.

My commuter, with the kitty litter paniers is 40+ lbs (not much lighter than our tandem), and on the rare occassion (rain or total fatigue) that I take the light rail, no problems.

Sounds like the OP's dilemma, but with no instructions as a guide.

My requirement should be that all management decision makers should commute by bicycle every workday for one year, I can guarantee that the bike parking landscape would look vastly different after that time frame.

Hanging the bike by the front wheel means you don't have to lift it as far,
bike's weight heavier on the back , but ...

you have to use a hand on the frame, to lift the weight, and another on the handlebars ,
to keep the front wheel straight so as to catch the hook..

If you hang it from the back wheel you have both arms to lift the bike
and the rear wheel will not flop around in the process.

Unlikely...given the amount of sprawl and some people's crazy commutes. I have people in my office that commute 110 miles each way. His out of pocket cost is $30/mo due to commuter subsidy from employer, and yet he complains because it went up $5 for the first time since 2008.

If some employers can help support a 220 mile RT commute, one would think that others would be able to provide a safe and easier place to park one's bicycle than the OP's.
Just goes to show the amount of disconnect between a number of management hierarchies and bicycling commuter needs.

Curious, does your employer have a really nice area for employee bicycle parking? If so, does it compare with the employee motor vehicle parking if the employer happens to provide that as well.

a 110 mile one way commute/220 miles RT - is that a daily commute? Thats two centuries Daily???

When hanging by the front wheel, I use both hands on the handlebar, saddle on my stomach and just lift it onto the hooks.

To the OP: hanging a bike by the wheels will not damage anything. Bike shops hang customers' bikes this way when brought in for service. The only chance of damage is if the hooks are too close together that someone else hanging their bike hits your bike with theirs. In this case your frame might get scratched. To mess up your gears, they would need to hit your bike pretty good.

Hanging bikes vertically is more space efficient than normal racks. They are also easier to use than 2 tier horizontal racks. I'd be very happy with a dedicated bike storage, inside or outside, at any place I work or live.

Since the person referenced doing that commute also is only out $30/month because the employer is picking up the tab- I'd say they are riding a train and may or may not even be using a bike.

makes more sense. i thought this would have been one badass hardcore biker!

Some cyclists are all to happy when bike parking is provided by an employer, that virtually anything is acceptable.

I've yet to see any of my automobile driving co-workers having to lift 30 to 50 lbs every time they park their vehicle, why should a cyclist commuter have to on the account that it's a convenient and space saving alternative for an employer.

An interesting twist: If an employee has an injury while lifting a bike to hang on an employer provided rack, the employer may be liable for the expenses of the injury under Workers' Compensation. This would probably be the case here in NC; however the laws vary from state to state. A shoulder injury could cost the employer 10s of thousands.

-G

Yes, he does that daily. It takes him 2 hours each way by van pool, 6 passenger minivan. The vanpool portion accounts for 1:45 of his commute. The remaining 15 min is to drive to the meeting place. For traveling some 200 miles each work day, $30/mo out of pocket is a heck of a bargain so I don't know why he's complaining about $5 increase per month.

Employer leases and subsidizes 3-400 parking spaces available for $1/day, $10/mo or $100/yr. Market rate for that area is $15/ day (early bird special) or $275/mo.

There are about 30 bike lockers located in various locations around the office building as well as a few uncovered bike racks that only allow securing one wheel. The bike lockers are free, though if we lose the key, then we have to pay $100. The distance between the opening and the next locker is about the distance from my front wheel to somewhere in the middle of the chain stay so they are a bit annoying to use. There are no changing or shower facilities though. Right now I am changing inside a public restroom.

Security will fine us if they catch us taking a bike inside a building or lock bikes with a big chain if they are locked in unauthorized locations.

I asked about the bike commuter benefit and was told that the administrative costs would be too high and they have decided not to offer it.

Correct, he is sharing a minivan with a few other people in the area. Parking for carpool is also subsidized, so the above mentioned parking rates do not apply.

These are the type of bike racks at work.

Those vertical hooks used to be how bikes were stored on trains. I don't think you will have a problem unless you have a suspension fork. Suspension forks should not be hung like that for long periods.

Security will fine you or your employer, and how much?

Again, bike parking facilities approved by a non commuting cyclist, I avoid those like the plague, or just lock my bike up on the end with none of my wheels inside those "wheel bender" slots.

What's the problem? At home, I have hooks in the garage wall to store my bikes. They get stored vertically, with the hook grabbing onto the front wheel.

I have never had a problem, and I routinely use it to store my commuter which ways like 45lbs.

Our lightrail system also has vertical hooks. It's such a quick and fluid motion to wheel my bike on the car and get it in the rack that I can't even tell you exactly what I do. :-) The bulk of the weight stays on the rear wheel, and I've had no problems with my pannier not hanging on.

How one chooses to store their bikes at home is their choice, but shouldn't be made mandatory in the workplace as a "one size fits all" type of setting. I can roll and park my bike throughout my workplace and home without any lifting required.

Imagine the out cry from motor vehicle driving work force if it was made mandatory that they lift 30 to 50 lbs every time they parked or left the work place.