I saved the best for last. This is the torturous bike rack that inspired the whole series. I had seen the Jaws of Death all over town and never used it properly. I had seen the Throat Choke and never tried it out. But this Ankle Biter was so perplexing I was compelled to figure it out. It wasn’t obvious to me, or painless for Zella.
The shopping center clearly made an attempt to serve bicyclists by putting in so many racks in a little covered area with landscaping. Too bad they’re way in the back of the parking lot next to the garbage dumpsters.
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- Like the other torture racks, the Ankle Biter can with instructions.
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- Step 1 was sliding the front wheel in. The front basket didn’t make it easy.
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- This bracket SHOULD slip around the chain stays and between the spokes.
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- I tried another rack and was surprised it actually worked.
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- But my trusty school locker padlock wasn’t long enough.
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- Wait, the instructions say to do it this way. Does that even work?
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- After thinking about it for a while, I’m declaring success!
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- This guy slid the ankle biter above, not around the chain stays.
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- Neither did this guy. But his U-lock is equally effective and less damaging.
Location: Menlo Station Shopping Center, Menlo Park, California, USA
One woman. Many bicycles. 
Richard Masoner (@cyclelicious)
August 7, 2013 at 1:41 pm
The remains of the peeled instruction sticker seems to say “Rally Rack Division, Sonoma CA,” which I think is the same manufacturer of the “Jaws of Death” rack.
ladyfleur
August 7, 2013 at 2:04 pm
Yeah, I saw evidence online that Rally makes the Jaws of Death. What I couldn’t find was another example of this lovely rack.
Matt
August 11, 2013 at 8:40 am
You should report them for crimes against bikemanity.
ladyfleur
August 11, 2013 at 9:05 am
🙂