Plans for homemade bike parking racks?



<[email protected]> wrote: (clip) But I'm just now learning that the "wheel
bender" type of rack is not what's preferred. I guess it outs too much
stress on the front wheel... especially if the bike is heavily loaded. No?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
If I had to hold a heavily loaded bike in such a rack, I would do it by the
rear wheel. (2.) If a rack is filled with bikes, it seems to me that only
the end ones would be subject to "wheel bending." To counter this, you
could put tubular arms on the rack ends, extending, maybe, half a bike
length, to fend off side loads.

Leaving a bike parked in a rack of any kind will always entail SOME risk:
theft, vandalism, scratching, etc. To completely eliminate all these risks
would require lockers, which would be great, if it didn't cost so much, and
if you didn't require that they be movable. This could become a case of the
perfect being the enemy of the good.
 
[email protected] wrote:

>> "Sheffield stands" are what you need. Google will find you a variety
>> of pictures, and there is a formal specification here:
>>

http://www.nationalcyclingstrategy.org.uk/vbulletin229/upload/showthread.php?t=29
>
> Hmm.... interesting
>
> But it appears these types of stand need to be anchored
> into concrete. Yes?
>
> I'm thinking we want something movable in case sidewalk
> need cleaned or space reclaimed for special function


The traditional (in the US) racks designed for a wheel to slot into are
practically useless. The only viable place to use a U-lock properly is at the
ends. If both ends are taken you're out of luck. These racks are hideous,
which is the main obstacle to property owners providing racks at all; and not
space efficient, which is probably the next biggest reason.

That inverted "U" design (Sheffield stand) is probably the best/simplest. If
you don't have access to bent steel tubing, flat bar stock or even rebar would
still work fine. VA Tech has a bunch made of flat bar stock. Usually these
racks are set in concrete, but if they need to be moved, they could be welded to
a horizontal bar at the bottom of each inverted "U". These would be even
simpler and cheaper than traditional wheel-slot racks, with fewer joints, and
perhaps less material. Plus they're more space efficient, especially when
filled with bikes, and easier to clean around with a broom or leaf blower.

Our town has some nice new racks, like hitching posts with dual rings welded to
the top, accomodating two bikes each. They're space efficient, simple, and
cheap, and blend well aesthetically with the adjacent post-and-chain fence. But
they're designed to be set in concrete, so the welded loop-on-horizontal design
would be better if the racks need to be moved.

Matt O.
 
>Usually these
>racks are set in concrete, but if they need to be moved, they could be welded to
>a horizontal bar at the bottom of each inverted "U". These would be even
>simpler and cheaper than traditional wheel-slot racks, with fewer joints, and
>perhaps less material. Plus they're more space efficient, especially when
>filled with bikes, and easier to clean around with a broom or leaf blower.


Good point!!
 
[email protected] wrote:
> >build a plywood rack-let the back end extend beyond the rear wheel
> >tilt up to sit on rack end

>
> Not understanding what you mean


Nor it was intended to be understood. Datak always writes in strange
code. Whatever he says always looks good but never makes sense. He is
an ideosyncratic feature of the newsgroup like some of the people in
the bar or coffehouse.

Andres
 
[email protected] wrote:

> [email protected] wrote:


>>gdaniels wrote:
>>>build a plywood rack-let the back end extend beyond the rear wheel
>>>tilt up to sit on rack end

>>
>>Not understanding what you mean


> Nor it was intended to be understood. Datak always writes in strange
> code.


I'm with ya.

> Whatever he says always looks good...


What? I'm not with ya.

> ...but never makes sense. He is
> an ideosyncratic feature of the newsgroup like some of the people in
> the bar or coffehouse.


I'm back with ya.

--
Dave
dvt at psu dot edu
 

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