JohnBrooking

Hey, I just thought, I'm in a good position here. My office moved to a new building a few months ago, and the outside landscaping, parking lot, etc. is not even done yet. Needless to say, no bike rack. However, the facilities people at my company know that I would like one, and have said they'll look into it. I've been locking it the handicapped parking sign for now.

So, I just realized I should help them out a little with a recommendation. We are very money conscious right now (this is not a good time for US paper companies), so if I could recommend something to them which is inexpensive but still adequate, they might appreciate the effort, and I'd know I was getting something I could live with. I don't much care what it is, except of course that I want to be able to lock the frame to it, not just the front wheel. So I'd be interested in hearing your recommendations for an inexpensive, basic, but adequate, rack. (I'm the only one, and I'd be surprised if there are any more in the near future, but maybe planning for 3-4 would be good.)

On a related note, someone mentioned on another thread potential financial incentives for business providing a rack? Anyone know where I can find information on that?

Marylandnewbie

I have no idea what the price of racks might be, but maybe the facilities people could fabricate something inexpensively. This might be particularly desirable since you only need 3 or 4 spots for bikers. Perhaps simplest would be some 1-1/2" or 2" galvanized plumbing pipe connected together with elbows to form a U and then set the open end of the U in concrete. A little more complex, but perhaps more aesthetically pleasing would be to take about a 3" pipe and weld two loops from steel rod to it so it look something like a post with ears. Sink the post in concrete and maybe fill it with concrete for a cheap solid place. If the ears are mounted at a good height you can easily lock your frame to the ears. Just a couple of ideas, hope it helps.

jnbacon

Try Madrax . The Circa 2000 is the rack I use everyday, and it is one of the nicest racks I've ever tied up to. You roll your bike under and next to the posts, so there are multiple locking positions. Comes in a two or four bike design. No idea about the cost, but go to their site and send them email.

edit: added image


I like how there is plenty of room side and top, so that you can roll (most) bikes right underneath.

MichaelW

The best design is a series of inverted U shapes. I prefer the ones which are slightly longer, with a flat top segment rather than a curved one. You should be able to rest the bike by its rear luggage rack, and lock the front wheel using a shackle.
It is important to space them correctly. There must be room between the Us for two bikes and one person. There must be room at each end for the wheel, esp if you lock the front wheel to the vertical.
Too many perfectly good racks are badly positioned. Ive even seen one with a lamp-post between the 2 racks.
Site the racks as close as possible to an entrance, but do NOT place them so they obstruct a natural pedestrian path (ie where people walk not just where planners want them to walk). Make sure you have bike access to the bike racks.

If it rains then a roof can be good, but it has to be high enough for a person to stand.
https://bikeparking.com/welleseries/index.html
https://www.cycle-safe.com/Racks.html
https://www.ibike.org/engineering/parking.htm

for a local supplier, try
https://www.bikemaine.org/dir_businesses.htm

jeff-o

Hardware stores have pipe benders, don't they? Just go there, buy some steel pipe, bend some U shapes, then set them in concrete.

tacomee

Yeah, I'm with jeff-o. Talk with the facilities people with something in mind that isn't going to cost an arm and a leg ($50-- I'm pretty sure I could homebrew a rack for that) Make the thing yourself, ask for only the cost of materals. Painting the thing could go a long ways to make it look more respectable.

The most important thing is get a biking coworker help talk to the brass so you don't have to make this it's only you whining about it. But I totally understand if that's really not a option. It's lonely being the only bike freak at work

soda

A C-cup would be good.