So...new company rules, picky GM, and flats galore!

Quick back story:  The General Manager at my company is a relatively picky dude, nothing crazy but it can get a little over the top.  The company I work for makes race car parts, so as you can imagine with 20+ CNC and mill machines we create a lot of metal debris, and this ends up in the back lot when the recycling company comes to pick-up our shavings and such.  And we don't clean the back lot.

Up until recently I used to enter through a side door and avoid all the crap in the back, previously I used to park my bike back there and would end up with flats from stuff working itself into my tire.  Well we are no longer allowed to use the side door, and I work in the front of the building and the side door was much closer to the front and I avoided the metal getting into my tires.  Well so far 2 days I have come in the back, and guess what?

2 slow leaks and rear tires filled with really small shavings.  One tube I couldn't patch because I couldn't find all the small holes, and the one currently on the bike I haven't pulled off due to frustration of the situation.

So we were told we either need to come in the back doors (where all the debris is, not my happy place), or the front door.  If I come in the front I need to come through the front office and I am sure that won't be smiled upon.

My other option is to lock my bike right out front, we have a dual sided entrance with a little covering and large brick pillars I could throw a lock around.  Nice thing there is the front desk lady sits right there and would be watching my bike all day.

So should I go in and out of the front door through the office to the shagrin of the GM, just lock it up out front, or come in the back doors and deal with flats all the time?

And to give you an idea, I put about 500 miles on these tires last season when I bought them brand new and didn't have a flat.  I have about 260-ish and 2 flat, but never had a problem until being forced in the back entrance.

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Permalink Reply by Rick Schukat (6.3mi) on April 22, 2014 at 1:11pm

Where I work, we sink big forge dies. Lots of chips, all the time. I learned my lesson early when I was leaving one afternoon and heard/felt thump thump thump then hssssssss. One big chip cut though a fairly new vittoria randonneur, ruining it and the tube. I started walking it to/from the street (I bring my bike inside) and problem solved for the most part. Walk it through the front office and tell them why you're doing it!

Permalink Reply by yai danche on April 22, 2014 at 3:01pm

maybe he's not even aware that this is happening to you.  however, since he is new and you haven't figured out if he is cool with this stuff, i would play it safe.  i mentioned to a hr person how much it sucks to leave my bike outside because it gets rained on and i've had one stolen.  and he said he hates cyclists who ride in the rain because they're always "in the way" and no i can't bring my bike inside it's too "dirty."  don't take it toooo personally if he slams your idea of bringing your bike through the front.  

Permalink Reply by Mike Schwab on April 23, 2014 at 5:17am

Only if they have a debris filled spot in the parking lot and he is forced to drive through the bad spot and has frequent flats.

Len Krietz said:

Dumbest thing said on this thread.  Go ahead and escalate the situation rather than solve it.  If that worked, any employee who had a car flat or breakdown on the way to work would bill the company for the privilege of going to work and collect  a pay check.  Even if the GM is a a-hole, he is the boss and makes the rules.  If they can't be negotiated, then your choice is to follow them or seek a more bike friendly place of employment.  Thats the choice I'd give one of my employees (though I am a very nice guy who tolerates a lot of things and allows bikes in the office


Skip Montanaro 12mi said:

Perhaps you could expense the cost of repairing all those flats. Bill them for time and materials. :-)

Permalink Reply by John Wilson 6.0 on April 23, 2014 at 8:47am

Who cares if its not "smiled upon". If you're still allowed to bring it through the front door, bring it in the front door. 

If THAT starts to get on the GM's nerves, explain to him politely why you prefer using the front - or even the side - entrance. He may lighten up and let you go back to using the side door.

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