Bike Racks

Bike racks are devices to which bicycles are securely attached by a bike lock. It can be a free standing structure or attached to the ground or some other stationary object, like a building. The various designs of bicycle racks have achieved a range of degrees of success in preventing theft.

The early models of bike racks usually offered a way to secure one wheel of the bike to the rack. This could have been a grooved piece of concrete in the ground, a forked piece of metal, or a horizontal ladder providing a number of spots for the wheels of many bicycles. This type of rack has not been very effective in preventing theft because a thief only needed to detach the wheel in question from the bicycle to free the rest of the bicycle.

It could be said that thieves’ success was more due to bike owners’ improper locking of their bicycles than any defect in the design of a bike rack. Another down side of these racks is that they do not offer much support. A row of bicycles in this type of rack, if people put their front wheels in the rack which is wrong, are susceptible to being toppled in a domino effect. Among many cyclists, these types of stands are known as “wheel benders” among cyclists.

The Sheffield Rack, named for Sheffield England, consists of a thick metal bar in the shape of a squared off arch. The top part of the arch is roughly level with the top bar of a bicycle’s frame. It, therefore, supports the bicycle and allows the frame to be secured. Other varieties feature a second, lower bar to support smaller bikes. These racks are also coated to reduce the hardness of their surfaces and reduce the risk that the paint on a bike gets ruined.

In Amsterdam, two-tiered bicycle racks are everywhere. This system allows many more bikes to be parked in one area as the handlebars are left at alternating heights by the rack. This type of rack is made of steel and has a large bar to which the frame is easily locked.

Contact a Bike Lock Store

For more information on correctly locking your bike or help in selecting the best lock for your needs, contact the bike lock experts of A & Js’ Bike Locks.