| A bike rack is a device to which you can | | | | seeing the domino effect in action. |
| securely attach a bike to prevent it | | | | These types of racks were commonly |
| from getting stolen. The securing part | | | | called "wheel benders." |
| is normally done by means of a bike | | | | Bike racks have come a long way from |
| lock. The bike rack, in turn, is | | | | those humble beginnings. A more modern |
| fastened to the ground or to a solid, | | | | version of these bike racks was |
| immovable structure like a wall. | | | | pioneered in Sheffield, England, and are |
| Earlier bike rack models often allowed | | | | hence called Sheffield racks. These |
| the user to secure one wheel. This one | | | | devices consist of a thick metal bar |
| wheel could be secured to any device, | | | | shaped somewhat like a square arch. The |
| such as a grooved piece of concrete in | | | | top part of this rack is on the same |
| the ground or a piece of metal into | | | | level as the top bar of the bike frame. |
| which the wheel of the bike is placed. | | | | This top part allows the frame to be |
| These early means, however, were not | | | | secured by supporting the bike. |
| very effective, since all a would-be | | | | There is another type of bike rack that |
| thief needed to do was to detach the | | | | is popular with bikers. There is the |
| wheel that was secured. He could then | | | | kind that can be attached to any |
| free the rest of the bike and that was | | | | automobile, like a bus for example, to |
| normally the last that one saw of the | | | | transport bikes. There are bike racks to |
| "secured" bike. | | | | suit virtually every need. Bike racks |
| A further disadvantage of these racks | | | | are not only used in private homes but |
| was that they did not offer the bike | | | | also at schools, universities, apartment |
| much support. All it took was for one | | | | buildings, retail stores, and government |
| bumbling passerby to push one of the | | | | agencies. |
| cycles over and pretty soon, one was | | | | |