Outdoor bike rack recommendations?
 

My local dentist just asked me about what type of outdoor bike rack he should have installed as part of his parking lot make-over.

The rack would likely normally be occupied by one bike, since I've been parking my bike there every visit over almost 20 years and can't remember seeing another bike there. But he knows that some of his patients ride, and that they live nearby. So a rack that holds perhaps two bikes would seem adequate. I've locked mine to the railing, but he is wanting to have a basic modern bike rack installed over a concrete pad near the entrance.

So I am wondering if there is much consensus as to what constitutes a most user-friendly (i.e. functional) rack these days (hopefully something that is not going to cost tons of money, as it will be somewhat seldom used).

Any recommendations? I suppose that style counts for something here, as it will be right in front of his practice's front entrance and street view.

Thanks in advance.

For two or more bikes, the wave rack (with suitable coatings) is hard to beat:
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7862b9d6a5.png

The inverted U rack is another good choice:
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...724fb2070e.png

Note the additions on these inverted racks. You can add all the frilly stuff you want, as long as you can lean the bike up against the rack and lock it.

Note both of these are just a little tricky to install: you need to leave access room all the way around the racks for the bikes. I've seen a picture of a wave rack right up against a wall -- cut the capacity by at least a half, because you can't put the bike perpendicular to the rack.

Now, for what to avoid. The wheel bender rack is cheap, easy to put in, difficult to lock a bike to, and, as its nickname implies, can damage bikes parked in one quite effectively.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5c4be453bb.png

Thanks pdlamb for the run-down on what's available. Fortunately the rack can be installed when the cement is poured.

Park-It has a two bike rack that can be buried in concrete.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f7b9082735.jpg

It may also be worth discussing with them rack placement. A gym I go to has their bike rack placed in front of a fifteen foot brick wall so that from inside the business it's not visible. Had it been moved a little to the right, it could have been placed in front of a 60' glass wall where patrons of the gym would be able to see their bikes from inside the gym.

How about these?
 

These two are in my city, so for a dentist they may be great!
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4cb16df464.jpg

Tooth rack
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7f2d7e97cd.jpg

Dentures rack


Seriously, for functionality I just think the inverted U works best. They accomodate all types of bikes and don't take up a lot of space.

I vote this. Although I like the HOOPS better - just a little more versatile.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/T6...w1388-h1041-no

I don't like the ribbons - seems like they were invented by architects who don't ride bikes.

@DiabloScott, I kind of like the "ribbons." They're installed at my work, and it's easy to get three bikes cross-wise on the double top; I suspect this is a little bit more dense bike parking than you'd get on the inverted U. Theoretically you could get one bike on each side of the U, but then you get so close that you hook the other bike with your bars, or vice versa.

I like those tooth-y racks. Are they well anchored, though? I've read stories of people picking up racks with bikes attached and hauling them off.