Maybe it is cheaper to drive

March 27, 2006 12:58 PM

Are bike racks really this expensive?

I'm looking to buy a few bike racks, the standard style you see everywhere, well everywhere but here that is. My city lacks a lot of things, lots of people riding bikes is one of them, so I had this idea to buy a few racks, have my company's logo welded on them and give them away to clubs and retail establishments where they might actually help business. Half generosity and half shameless promotion. But I can't get over the prices I'm seeing. I have no metal working experience, but am I the only one that thinks $500-$1000 for a hunk of bent steel is a pit pricey? Help me out here folks, I'm trying to be a nice (and well promoted) guy. What are my options?

posted by paxton to Travel & Transportation (17 answers total)

I'd guess the pricing has to do with the fact that big metal bike racks are a low-volume product, and are marketed at municipalities and institutions.

I'm certain you could pick a design you like and have a local metal fabricator replicate it for you, at somewhat less cost.
posted by killdevil at 1:04 PM on March 27, 2006

You mean like these?

Just another idea, but you may want to talk to your local department of parks and rec. and/or the chamber of commerce for more locations for "donations."
posted by Pollomacho at 1:05 PM on March 27, 2006

Response by poster: just like those Pollomacho, thank you.
posted by paxton at 1:07 PM on March 27, 2006

I should clarify, the dept. of parks and rec. may also be able to help you get a cheaper rate.
posted by Pollomacho at 1:07 PM on March 27, 2006

Make sure this is legal as well - I always thought that bike racks were a city-sanctioned type thing, put out on public sidewalks, etc. Of course if the business owns the property, no problem, but a public sidewalk might be another story.
posted by agregoli at 1:08 PM on March 27, 2006

Response by poster: Yea I'm not going to just be dropping them on public property. We're talking about working with business that might benefit but don't see the value making the purchase.
posted by paxton at 1:11 PM on March 27, 2006

The multi loop style are the easiest to maintain, hard to injure oneself on, unattractive to skaters, and IMO work the best. $500 isn't out of line for a good size rack, all the ones I've seen either have a swack load of welding or mandrel bends plus the cost of the steel.
posted by Mitheral at 1:54 PM on March 27, 2006

Damn these American made products. These people, making their pithy livings, families, pensions, and mortgages building such overpriced garbage. These products should be outsourced to China immediately.

Or, take killdevil's idea; source some tubing, and find a local machine shop. Those are easy mandrel bends do do.
posted by buzzman at 6:30 PM on March 27, 2006

Mcmaster-carr has the multi-loop for $350, but the best deal is a 24 slot for $480.
posted by 445supermag at 6:32 PM on March 27, 2006

Articles on types of bike racks, choosing a bike rack, placing bike racks... google wheel bender bike rack for more.

Cycling advocates around here like the post-and-ring style because they support two bikes but don't take up much room when unused. The ribbon or multi-loop style mentioned above arouses their ire, for bikes leaned against them only contact them at one point and thus tend to fall down. Also, in practice only the end spots tend to get used, so bigger bike racks are in fact worse.

Good luck, and whatever you choose, please don't choose wheel benders!
posted by blue grama at 6:58 PM on March 27, 2006

I have the Saris Bones and love it. Google it and see it. Not metal, reasonably priced, and I think it's handsome.
posted by 6:1 at 8:41 PM on March 27, 2006

Sorry, saw bike rack and thought of car bike rack. My bad.
posted by 6:1 at 8:42 PM on March 27, 2006

I know when my employer was looking into some of the big public bike racks last year they were quoted over £10,000 for one. Which seemed quite expensive at the time.
posted by prentiz at 12:52 AM on March 28, 2006

Please say you'll get these:

posted by fixedgear at 2:13 AM on March 28, 2006

Any info on pricing for those post and loop ones? (And my co-op was quoted $500-$750 per rack through our city, which used to give them away free until new developments started stockpiling them... Dicks.)
posted by klangklangston at 7:16 AM on March 28, 2006

You say a bike rack is just a "hunk of bent steel", as if any monkey can toss one together.
Just how much do you think they should cost?
A bike rack has to be a pretty heavy-duty piece. It has to be heavy and sturdy enough to withstand a lifetime of use (and abuse) in all elements. I suspect there is a large amount of hand fabrication involved, too.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:22 AM on March 28, 2006

Another possible reason for the cost is that I'm pretty certain I recall that my welding instructor told us that welding galvanized was very dangerous (health-wise).

So maybe this keeps low-end fabricators away from flooding the market. You can't just go buy some fence posts, and start waving a MIG welder at them unless you have taken "[e]very precaution, including high-velocity circulating fans with filters, air respirators and fume-extraction systems."
posted by popechunk at 8:10 AM on March 28, 2006