05 May 2009

New Bike Racks

long bike racks
Hmm, they have new bike racks over near Cambridge Brewing Company. Must have been installed in the last week.

I think I like them. Nice look. They seem protective but it could be tough to get in there if there are lots of bikes. Of course that's true of the old designs too. Not sure how space-efficient they are. What do you think?

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

They are nice looking. Probably not the most space efficient, but probably not much worse than the standard staple racks.

Actually, one nice thing about them is you could probably lock bikes in-between the side posts as well, by putting the lock around the head tube and locking it to the thick post. You would just need a kickstand (which is a good idea anyway), so your bike wouldn't fall over.

Anonymous said...

It looks OK. My front tire has a quick release on it. I'd have to back my bike up into a spot before being able to get my U-lock around my tire, bike frame and then the rack.

MamaVee said...

I'm horrible at using racks. It's like a driver who can't parallel park. but they look pretty.

So OT- why doesn't Boston Home of Tweed have a tweed ride. What can we do about this? Or perhaps that is just a daily ride among these parts. ;-)

Charlotte said...

MamaVee,
We've been talking about doing one. I was going to organize one for May but then there was a death in the family and I got sidetracked.

I somehow feel like it 'goes' better with the autumn leaves and back-to-school and apples and pumpkins anyway, don't you? So wouldn't autumn be better?

Do you want to join the planning committee?
:)

spiderleggreen said...

Reminds me of some guys I knew who had bike rack company(Dero). One of their designs was a curly cue(The Swerve). This was back in the 90's, when bike racks didn't have style and I thought it looked great. They had a bid to do bike racks for the Walker Art Center, which is shows modern art. The Walker rejected using the Swerve and went with one of their other designs, because the didn't want visitors to think that the racks were an art installation. I thought that was a definite compliment.

Randall said...

They should keep the architects and art students as far away from bike racks as possible and leave that job to people who actually have bikes and need to lock them. Peak Racks are by far the best I've encountered.

Charlotte said...

Gosh Roadrider, from the photos I don't think I'd like those Peak Racks at all.

Any rack that attempts to hold my front wheel inevitably ends up crushing my fenders. I prefer the racks that I lean my bike against.

I think we're seeing that you can't please all the people all the time!

Carice said...

What a nice looking bicycle rack The curve allows different locking heights, which could be nice. My giant basket makes any type with a front bar tough, but perhaps I could pull back and lock lower.

Roadrider, ease up on the architects- My architecture office has a 20% commuting rate through most of the summer, and I go year round.

I, personally, think that the Peak ones look flimsy and cheap and I don't understand how they allow you to lock the frame, let alone the rear wheel. I have often seen them empty and abandoned, while every post and street sign around them has a bike locked to it. They seem more like an organizing device rather than a security one.

Charlotte- Sorry to hear about the death in the family...

MamaVee said...

Yes, Fall and Tweed In Boston do go together perfectly. I would love to try to help plan. I'm total newbie but willing to learn and be given jobs.

RE: racks- yeah- I'd rather simple. The Xtra is big and heavy and the Sorte is Big Heavy and Wide an for both I just like a straight pole to lock it to. space to keep my big stuff out of the way of other ppl's bikes. My fav used to be the U's on parking meters. But really I shouldn't have the sorte near cars b/c it would block the way. Xtra too b/c so long.

jb said...

I see it's time to head over to CCB for a beer, umm I mean to test out the new bike rack with my Xtracycle!

Derrick said...

I like it. 32 bikes any way and not too tight. I would be nice to see it full!

Christa said...

Cool, haven't seek those before.

'Xander Labayen said...

interesting racks... it looks hard to lock up your front wheel though..maybe if the bike was reversed.. i'd hate to carry two locks with me... they look like a cool jungle gym.

Anonymous said...

It doesn't matter what the racks look like as long as they work and they get used. But these are very attractive.

Kat212 said...

I think they look nice but wonder how well they would work with a lot of bikes parked at the same time. Where I live though there aren't any bike racks at all you basically hitch your bike to a tree or any other immobile object that happens to be free.. Someone should really put a couple of those racks around here..