Dismal bike rack... owner enlightened!

[Ganymede]

This bike rack belongs to a business run by the son of an old friend. I tried using it and hurt my bad shoulder, so adapted accordingly (that's my hybrid nestling in there).

Luckily I bumped into the boss (he's a lovely chap) and was able to tell him my findings. He said that nobody ever used the rack and instantly realised that might be why... he is planning to buy some shared bikes for his colleagues to use around the town so I've sent him some useful links about Sheffield stands. Also pointed out that you could only lock your bike by the wheels, which could be detached/bent etc etc... really these stands aren't fit for purpose and he should get his money back!

 

[jack smith]

That looks horrible... Especially if you have a heavy bike which yours looks like compare to a carbon road bike, looks like it would scrath your tyres, rims too not good at all

 

[young Ed]

sorry to here on the hurt/injured shoulder
and well done to both you and boss for staying positive and looking at better alternatives
Cheers Ed

 

[HLaB]

My old flat had something like them but in a lockable wooden cage, they suffered from break ins often as most folk wouldnt secure their bike or only the front wheel My commuter sat in there often but I d'locked the wheel to the rack, like other neighbours but also threaded a kyrptoflex cable through the frame and rear wheel and sometimes used a 2nd d'lock. Wheel bending was never an issue but being in a cage meant there wasn't much sideway space anyway.

 

[fossyant]

Ours at wotk are like posh versions of those. To lock our bikes we have to tip the bikes rear up to get the locks through the rear triangle.

Hard work with a heavy bike and most of the ladies can't get their bikes in.

 

[annedonnelly]

It's a shame when the owner has clearly tried to provide something useful. He's probably been conned by some salesman.

 

[howdenbiker]

Luckily I can take my bike inside and leave it in the corridor, just as well as there are no racks of any type

 

[Ganymede]

It's a shame when the owner has clearly tried to provide something useful. He's probably been conned by some salesman.

Yes he's a good chap, but as he said to me, knows nothing about bikes or cycling! I think he probably looked at something in a catalogue that would fit in the space. Also it's one of those designs that looks interesting if you are ignorant of the practicalities.

That looks horrible... Especially if you have a heavy bike which yours looks like compare to a carbon road bike, looks like it would scrath your tyres, rims too not good at all

Yes that is my old warhorse but my other bike is a 2-wheel bent and even heavier!

Ours at wotk are like posh versions of those. To lock our bikes we have to tip the bikes rear up to get the locks through the rear triangle.

Hard work with a heavy bike and most of the ladies can't get their bikes in.

It is quite common to find facilities/fitments of all kinds that are unsuitable for anyone less than a strong single man to use - look, for example, at the size of the doors on a lot of public buildings and imagine trying to get through them if you are small, or old, or with children or a trolley or a pushchair. The boss in this case is a tall, fit bloke and I suspect that the possibility of someone not being able to lift their bike in the air simply didn't occur to him. Well it has now! - and he knows I'm no shrinking violet!

 

[raleighnut]

This bike rack belongs to a business run by the son of an old friend. I tried using it and hurt my bad shoulder, so adapted accordingly (that's my hybrid nestling in there).

View attachment 78933

Luckily I bumped into the boss (he's a lovely chap) and was able to tell him my findings. He said that nobody ever used the rack and instantly realised that might be why... he is planning to buy some shared bikes for his colleagues to use around the town so I've sent him some useful links about Sheffield stands. Also pointed out that you could only lock your bike by the wheels, which could be detached/bent etc etc... really these stands aren't fit for purpose and he should get his money back!

That rack may be better if it was the right way round, its currently stood on its back instead. You would find it much easier to use then. (we had racks just like that at school in the 60s-70s)

 

[Ganymede]

That rack may be better if it was the right way round, its currently stood on its back instead. You would find it much easier to use then. (we had racks just like that at school in the 60s-70s)

Really!!! noooooo! that's hilarious, I will tell him.

Isn't it more or less symmetrical though...?

 

[young Ed]

That rack may be better if it was the right way round, its currently stood on its back instead. You would find it much easier to use then. (we had racks just like that at school in the 60s-70s)

Really!!! noooooo! that's hilarious, I will tell him.

Isn't it more or less symmetrical though...?

now you say it i do see that yes the other ones like that i have seen are so that you wheel the bike in forwards and gravity holds the rear wheel in place in that slot that is currently vertical and the front wheel is held in the deep channel currently towards the ground
Cheers Ed

 

[shadow master]

This bike rack belongs to a business run by the son of an old friend. I tried using it and hurt my bad shoulder, so adapted accordingly (that's my hybrid nestling in there).

View attachment 78933

Luckily I bumped into the boss (he's a lovely chap) and was able to tell him my findings. He said that nobody ever used the rack and instantly realised that might be why... he is planning to buy some shared bikes for his colleagues to use around the town so I've sent him some useful links about Sheffield stands. Also pointed out that you could only lock your bike by the wheels, which could be detached/bent etc etc... really these stands aren't fit for purpose and he should get his money back!

My first impressions its sat on its back,the wrong way round,the gutters currently at the top are all at the same level so you can wheel the bike in and its sits up the gutter! Still crap idea though!

 

[DCLane]

My university has one of those at a site in Leeds. It's terrible and I won't use it. The railings nearby have to suffice.

 

[Ganymede]

Now every time I look at the photo I go cross-eyed...

I just googled some images of similar racks and I think it IS the right way up. Still pants but the right way up.

 

[MacB]

It is the right way up, it is termed a semi vertical bike rack and this example is from the cheap and basic end of the design range. As for usage the easiest way is to hold the bars and pull the bike up so that it's vertical resting on rear wheel. Then use your knee under the saddle, while still holding the bars, to lift the rear wheel into the slot. Once this is done the front/top of the bike can be allowed to 'fall' into place in the upper part of the trough.

I find this my favourite sort of rack though the pictured version wouldn't be one I'd choose, there are far better models out there.