Two-tier bike racks are a game-changing product anyone considering installing bike storage should be aware of. These types of bike racks are designed to store bicycles in a two-tiered arrangement efficiently, maximising the use of vertical space and optimising storage capacity. The gas struts, also known as gas springs or gas lift supports, are used to lift and lower the bike rack's upper tier. This extra addition to the bike rack makes it easier for users to access and store their bikes.
This blog will examine how they work, what they do and why the gas strut element is so crucial.
How do gas-assisted two-tier racks work?
Design
Two-tier bike racks are typically designed with two levels or tiers. Bikes are stored on both the ground level slot and the upper level one. The idea is that you can keep twice the amount of cycles in the same space. There are a few options for two-story bicycle racks – economy and value ones with the bare bones construction, and then there is the more complex variant like our Two Tier Bike Rack with the addition of a gas strut.
Gas Struts
Gas struts are hydraulic devices that use compressed gas to provide a controlled and adjustable lifting force. The gas struts are often installed to assist with raising and lowering the upper tier of the bike rack, as this could be a problem for some cyclists who may not be able to bear the weight of the bike and push it up, thus rendering the existence of a second level obsolete. The gas struts are great at solving this issue because, when activated, the gas strut helps counterbalance the weight of the upper tier, making it easier for users to lift and lower it.
Access and Storage
The user typically needs to lift the upper tier using a handle or lever to store or get a bicycle back down. The gas struts assist in this lifting process, reducing the effort required. Once the upper tier is raised, users can easily secure or remove their bicycles from the designated storage slot.
Security
Many bike racks come with locking mechanisms to secure the bicycles in place, preventing theft. Our two-tier racks with a gas strut hold bikes stable in the wheel channels with locking bars for additional security and allow both bicycle frame and wheel to be chained.
Why Are Gas Struts Essential for Two-Tier Racks?
Gas struts are a great addition to an already good product. They are a must-have for several reasons.
Ease of Use
Gas struts ensure real ease of use. They make it significantly easier and almost effortless to lift and lower heavy bikes onto the top tier of the bike rack. Two-tier rack models without gas assist need users to manually lift the weight of their bike onto the top level. This can be difficult for some users and sheer impossibility for others. Gas struts provide people with a controlled and assisted lifting motion, reducing the effort and strength required by the user.
User Accessibility
Gas struts enhance the overall user experience by making the bike storage process more accessible to a broader range of people. This makes them the perfect solution in terms of user-friendliness, as a broad spectrum of cyclists with varying physical strengths and abilities can use these bike racks without any problem.
Safety
Gas struts on two-tier bike racks also make them safer. By eliminating the need to lift heavy loads, they also minimise the risk of strains and potential injuries resulting from lifting heavy things. Gas struts mitigate this by taking the weight off and providing a smooth and controlled way to lift up and down, lowering the risk of accidents and injuries.
Efficiency
Gas struts are also great because they improve the two-tier bike rack's efficiency. The effortless lifting and lowering works in seconds and allows users to quickly and easily access or store their bicycles without spending extra time and effort on lifting heavy tiers manually.
Space Optimisation
One of the main benefits of installing two-tier racks is to save space and maximise what you have, as they allow for two bicycles to be stored in the space of one. This is the idea anyway; however, often, people find that, in practice, this works out differently. People usually take up the ground level first, leaving newcomers no choice but the put their bikes up on the second level. However, as mentioned above, this may be an issue for some people who can't lift their bikes up. This may result in unintended underoccupancy.
The assisted lifting encourages users to take full advantage of the vertical storage space available in two-tier racks, as nobody is limited by their physical capability to lift heavy loads. Anyone can use both levels with minimal effort. This, in turn, enhances the overall capacity of the storage system.
Reduced Maintenance
Gas struts are also an excellent investment on bike racks as they can prolong their lifespan. The gas assist can help reduce wear on moving parts of the bike rack, which may result from the repeated lifting and lowering process. This can lead to lower maintenance requirements and associated costs over time.
Gas struts are essential in two-tier bike racks because they enhance usability, safety, efficiency, and user accessibility. These benefits collectively contribute to a better user experience and a more functional bike storage solution. Including gas struts in the design of two-tier bike racks demonstrates a commitment to user satisfaction, and your employees or visitors are very likely to appreciate that and utilise the bike racks.