Wheelbenders

thistle_

I've been offered a job closer to home at a 'cycling friendly' company.

This cycling friendly company only have 6 'wheelbender' bike stands.

Do wheelbenders live up to their reputation for damaging bike wheels or is it a myth?

The whole being able to ride to work again is quite an important reason for changing jobs, but I don't want to destroy a half decent set of wheels in the process :roll:

Mr Plum

Is there not a metal fence/gate nearby? I'd be looking for an alternative place to lock my bike up, even if it meant an extra 100m walk at the start and end of the day. It's difficult to lock your bike up properly to those wheelbenders anyway.

Headhuunter

thistle (MBNW) wrote:

I've been offered a job closer to home at a 'cycling friendly' company.

This cycling friendly company only have 6 'wheelbender' bike stands.

Do wheelbenders live up to their reputation for damaging bike wheels or is it a myth?

The whole being able to ride to work again is quite an important reason for changing jobs, but I don't want to destroy a half decent set of wheels in the process :roll:

It's not that wheelbenders damage bikes it's that they are a total waste of time security-wise. You stick your front wheel in the slot and lock the wheel to the unit. All the thief has to do is remove the front wheel and walk off with the rest of the bike. I would completely ignore the wheelbenders and lock the bike to a railing and then campaign for a better bike rack...

thistle_

There's a metal signpost in the middle of the car park, but I couldn't tell if there was enough space around it to fit a bike without it sticking into the road. The lamp posts and fence posts are all too big to fit a D lock around.

London_Falcon

Headhuunter wrote:

thistle (MBNW) wrote:

I've been offered a job closer to home at a 'cycling friendly' company.

This cycling friendly company only have 6 'wheelbender' bike stands.

Do wheelbenders live up to their reputation for damaging bike wheels or is it a myth?

The whole being able to ride to work again is quite an important reason for changing jobs, but I don't want to destroy a half decent set of wheels in the process :roll:

It's not that wheelbenders damage bikes it's that they are a total waste of time security-wise. You stick your front wheel in the slot and lock the wheel to the unit. All the thief has to do is remove the front wheel and walk off with the rest of the bike. I would completely ignore the wheelbenders and lock the bike to a railing and then campaign for a better bike rack...

Reverse the bike into the wheelbender, lock with D-Lock. Secure front wheel to frame with second D-Lock. Does that work ???

Headhuunter

London_Falcon wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

thistle (MBNW) wrote:

I've been offered a job closer to home at a 'cycling friendly' company.

This cycling friendly company only have 6 'wheelbender' bike stands.

Do wheelbenders live up to their reputation for damaging bike wheels or is it a myth?

The whole being able to ride to work again is quite an important reason for changing jobs, but I don't want to destroy a half decent set of wheels in the process :roll:

It's not that wheelbenders damage bikes it's that they are a total waste of time security-wise. You stick your front wheel in the slot and lock the wheel to the unit. All the thief has to do is remove the front wheel and walk off with the rest of the bike. I would completely ignore the wheelbenders and lock the bike to a railing and then campaign for a better bike rack...

Reverse the bike into the wheelbender, lock with D-Lock. Secure front wheel to frame with second D-Lock. Does that work ???

I don't see how it could make much difference, they just remove the rear wheel instead. It's a bit more hassle to remove the rear wheel and then of course they have to get the lock you have put on the front wheel off but they can do that in the back of a van or lock up somewhere in their own time once they have taken the bike away...

ex-pat scot

Large motorcycle chain lock.
Run it from stand through back wheel to rear frame triangle.
D lock front wheel to frame.

Leave locks at work.

Mr Plum

You should always be putting something through the frame, but these stands make it difficult to do properly. If the stands aren't under a cover with CCTV then there's no benefit in using them, only negatives. I'd be looking around the local area for somewhere suitable to lock it up to.

bails87

I've got a similar setup at my work, see here: viewtopic.php?f=40052&t=12808758
I wouldn't use them if there's an alternative. If they're anything like ours there's a bracket fixed to a wall, and then two standard bolts attaching the individual stand to the bracket. So if someone wanted the whole bike, rather than one minus a wheel, they could spend 30 seconds undoing the bolts and then carry the bike, plus about 1kg of wheelbender stand (not exactly a deterrent), into a van.

pdw

If you haven't accepted the offer, then I'd raise it with the company, especially if they describe themselves as "cycle friendly". Politely enquire if they have any better cycle parking, or if they have plans to improve it.

If cycling to work is a big part of why you're moving, then it's probably good to establish now if they really are cycle friendly. Obviously, it depends on your position - if you really want the job then get a contract signed and then worry about it.

Were there any bikes in the wheelbenders when you were there?

meanredspider

We have a brand new set of wheelbenders. Another issue is, if they're in a shed like ours are, you can't get anywhere near the stand once there's a bike either side. They are a stand designed by someone that has never ridden a bike.

thistle_

Mr Plum wrote:

If the stands aren't under a cover with CCTV

Didn't think to look for CCTV cameras around the building to see if there's any coverage. Will go for another recce sometime.

pdw wrote:

Were there any bikes in the wheelbenders when you were there?

No bikes, but 2-3 locks on each stand when I went for the interview (i.e. in the daytime).
The cycling issues aren't a show stopper, but would be a big plus point in trying to decide whether to go for it.

fossyant

Use the end stand - drop front wheel off, rear to wall, but to the side of stand (not in it). This will let you get enough frame near the stand to get D-lock through frame and both wheels. Used to do it at one place when contracting there for a few months.

The Rookie

Carefull, some wheelbenders aren't strong enough, the two at a nearby supermarket chain local store have both had the bottoms of the arms pulled off the mounts and the bike security unhooked and taken away with the bikes......

Simon

reformedfatty

Have these at my work. I use a normal cable lock - stop, take panniers off to reduce the side loading on the wheel, reverse bike in, cable through the wheel and chainstay. Someone might run off with the front wheel sure but im in a decidely low risk area (and I hate the wheels).

Joffff

Also have wheelbenders where I work, but comically none of the cyclists use them "as intended". We all either chain bikes to posts, or side mount the bike against the entire rack of wheelbenders, securing to the bike rack frame itself.

In my opinion, wheelbenders are just a way for companies to tick "cycle friendly" on their list.