Need some cool bike rack ideas!

[rubysoho]

I work in a public park that is not only a historical site but also a farm AND full equestrian facility (weekly horse shows year round). We do a lot. :cool: BUT, there are NO bike racks and I know people do pedal to the park on occasion. Right now there are 5 bikes (probably from the same family) either sitting against a fence or down in the grass.

We need bike racks!! (And yeah, I'd love to stop hiking my bike inside with me, lol.)

But, I think we can't/shouldn't have the normal bike racks that are painted crazy bright colors. It needs to go along with the historical theme so the historical "flow" isn't interrupted. I was thinking about functional art... Like metal corn stalks that could double as bike parking near the visitor center. Or a cool cow sculpture near the farm. By the equestrian facilities there would need to be a type of rack that a horse couldn't accidentally put a hoof through (yes, there is wood fencing which poses the same concern but I want to cover all liability bases!!).

So... thoughts or suggestions??? Know any great metal working artists who wouldn't charge a non-profit too much for a commissioned piece or two?

[ny biker]

Have you tried contacting the people at FABB and Bike Arlington? They might have some ideas.

[NbyNW]

Landscapeforms (http://www.landscapeforms.com/en-US/site-furniture/Pages/all-bike-racks.aspx) and Dero (http://www.dero.com/custom_racks.html) both make some interesting bike racks, and I believe they can both do custom work as well. But I imagine they might be quite pricey.

Are there any art/design schools in your area that have a metal shop/ sculpture program? Could be a great opportunity for a student.

[rubysoho]

Have you tried contacting the people at FABB and Bike Arlington? They might have some ideas.

Yes. But they never got back to me. Thanks for the reminder. I am going to touch base with them again.

[Jones]

Horses remind me of wagons, which make me think wagon wheel bike racks could be cool.

[HillSlugger]

Horses remind me of wagons, which make me think wagon wheel bike racks could be cool.

This was my first thought.

[ny biker]

Is this park named after something I would cook bacon in?

[marni]

how about a metal hitching post to go with historical and horses? nothing to complicated sculpturally but utilitarian.

just a thought

[OakLeaf]

I don't know where these were made, but here's a picture I snapped in northeastern Ohio last month:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nYQNgy4iWX4/TrknJ8vweCI/AAAAAAAAAUY/imJgcJa23cQ/s512/IMAG0075.jpg

I like them because they're functional and stylish at the same time. Outside of the handlebar accents it's a pretty simple design, so they might not be too awfully expensive, either.

[KnottedYet]

There are a lot of those same racks in Seattle.

Who-ever is making them must be making quite a few to have them in Ohio and Seattle.

The one I use the most is painted with a yellow rubberized coat so your bike doesn't get scratched. They hold two bikes per loop without the bikes having to rub each other, too.

Here is a pair of the yellow painted version. This is not a good picture http://www.thirdplacebooks.com/ but if you look at the left photo (peaked roof) on the left side of the picture you can just see 2 of the yellow painted bike racks along the windows of the bookshop. This bookstore is along the huge complex of MUTs (off the Burke-Gilman) which go for something like 50 or 60 miles, and on a good day that rack is packed with bikes.

[ny biker]

One of my friends posted this on facebook this morning. You might get some useful sources from the organizations they mention.

http://dcist.com/2011/11/artistic_bike_racks.php#photo-1

[rubysoho]

Thanks again, all!