Pittman is known for its stocked range of standard cycle shelters, street furniture, public infrastructure and safety systems. But if your project has bespoke requirements such as VE, fire safety considerations, a unique layout or needs to meet a premium aesthetic, Head-Wind can design, build, and install bespoke cycling facilities, bin stores, and street furniture that meet those exact site requirements.
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Head-Wind, the Best Pittman Alternative
Head-Wind is a made-to-order manufacturer and installer of custom cycle shelters, secure storage, street furniture, and end-of-trip facilities for commercial constructions.
Unlike a catalogue supplier that just sells and ships, we make every unit to order and handle the entire end-to-end process in-house. That means when you partner with us, you first get technical drawings for sign-off. Then we manufacture your custom unit, do groundworks, ship, and install. Plus, after installation, we stick around for up to 10 years, providing expert aftercare for your design.
Head-Wind is a good fit when a standard shelter won’t sit right on your site, your cycling facility’s finishes have to match the building’s architecture, or you need a cycling facility installed in about 6 to 8 weeks.
Why Choose Head-Wind Over Pittman?
Pittman has supplied public cycling facilities for over 50 years, and it’s now part of the Bunzl group. Its cycle range is a catalogue of standard models like the Dublin, Oslo and Rothar. They’re held in stock and powder-coated to any RAL colour you ask for. If you need a proven shelter for a simple layout, that stocked range is quick to order and hard to fault.
But like every off-the-shelf product, Pittman’s catalogue has its limits.
First, the designs are drawn to standard dimensions. So an awkward footprint, a tight basement ramp or an unusual capacity can mean having to reshape your site to fit the product. Second, if you are managing a high-end project where the cycling facility has to match a specific cladding, roofline or finish, Pittman’s standard designs won’t meet those requirements.
Head-Wind steps in for project specifications like those, keeping your site conditions in mind for every stage of the designing and installation process.
| Consideration | Pittman | Head-Wind |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Stocked range of standard shelter designs, powder-coated to RAL on request | Bespoke units made to order for your exact site conditions |
| Scope | Supply, with product-selection advice and installation guidance | Design, drawings, manufacture, groundworks, installation and 10 years of aftercare, all in-house |
| Best fit | Standard cycle parking on a straightforward layout | Awkward footprints, high-end finishes, non-standard capacities and projects on fast-track |
| Backing |
Established supplier, part of the Bunzl group | 10-year warranty and a 25+ year design lifespan |
Why Construction Stakeholders Choose Head-Wind
Specification and compliance support for architects
If you get the specifications of your cycle storage wrong, your entire compliance plan could fall apart. Head-Wind helps prevent that by providing technical drawings your architect can sign off, and manufacturing based on that approved drawing. That way, the cycle parking approved in the planning documents is the one that actually gets built.
Bespoke design for awkward spaces and high-end finishes
Basements, podium decks and the frontages of older, protected buildings rarely suit a boxed product. Because we make each unit to order, we’ll match a specific cladding, work to an unusual footprint, and build in the capacity a busy office can spare. With Head-Wind, you don’t have to compromise the design to fit whatever’s on a shelf.
Value engineering for budget
Working with a tight budget but still want to build quality cycling storage? Head-Wind can help you design a custom solution that gives you the most value for your budget while still meeting planning policy and BREEAM requirements.
Fast turnaround
When a project is running behind schedule, the last thing you want is for cycle storage to delay you even further. Head-Wind’s typical turnaround of 6 to 8 weeks from quote to installation helps you make sure no further time is wasted.
One accountable team from design to handover
Split a cycle-parking package across a separate supplier, groundworks crew and installer, and the gaps between them become your problem. We carry the whole job ourselves, so there’s a single point of responsibility if a date slips or a detail changes on site.
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Manufactured & Installed
BREEAM documentation available
25+ year design lifespan
Need Help Specifying?
Not sure which shelter suits your site? Our team can advise on capacity, compliance, and planning requirements.
Custom Cycling and Public Realm Facilities Head-Wind Offers
Cycle Shelters
Covered, secure cycle shelters made to fit your site, in galvanised steel with powder-coated RAL finishes. We’ll size the run, roof and cladding to the footprint and capacity your scheme needs.
Two-Tier Cycle Racks
Space-saving two-tier racks, including gas-assist models that lift the upper tier with almost no effort. You fit more bikes into the same floor area without cramping access.
Bike lockers and stands
Individual bike lockers and stands for spots that need more security or fewer spaces. That runs from Sheffield stands in a courtyard to fully enclosed lockers for long-stay parking.
Cycle charging
Mains, solar and wind-powered charging for e-bikes, so staff and residents can top up on site. Useful where an office or development is chasing additional sustainable-transport credits.
Cycle washing and servicing
On-site wash stations and self-service repair points that keep bikes usable through a trip.
End-of-Trip Facilities
Full end-of-trip facilities, from changing-room and clothing lockers to the layout around showers. For cyclists arriving at an office or apartment to get somewhere to change and store belongings.
Street Furniture
Matching street furniture, including benches, bollards and planters, so the area around your cycle parking looks like one coordinated scheme.
How Head-Wind Backs Every Project
Our credibility reflects in our delivery model itself. We are with you at every stage and never bring in a third-party supplier or installer.
We design each unit, produce the technical drawings your team signs off, manufacture your custom design in-house, then send our own crews to do the groundworks and installation. Every install is engineered to last 25+ years and is backed by a 10-year warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Category:
Pittman
No. Pittman’s cycle range is built around standard, stocked models like the Dublin, Oslo and Rothar. You can have them powder-coated to a RAL colour on request, which is ideal for a straightforward site layout.
If you need a shelter designed around an awkward footprint, a specific finish or exact site specs, Head-Wind is the better manufacturer to work with.
Category:
Pittman
Yes. Head-Wind is a practical alternative to Pittman for projects that need a more affordable cycle storage solution. We value-engineer bespoke cycling facilities to reduce costs while maintaining the capacity, compliance, and functionality your project requires.
Category:
Pittman
It depends on what you need to purchase. For standard cycle shelters and street furniture off a catalogue, Larkin Engineering, AJ Products Ireland and Turvec are all worth a look alongside Pittman. Head-Wind is right when you want made-to-order cycle shelters, storage, and end-of-trip facilities delivered end to end. You’ll get one team that owns the whole job, and a build made for your site rather than a standard off-the-shelf product.
Category:
Pittman
Head-Wind typically delivers and installs bespoke cycling facilities in as little as 6 to 8 weeks, including project coordination and installation. By contrast, if you’re buying an off-the-shelf design from a supplier like Pittman, you’ll still need to arrange groundworks, coordinate contractors, schedule the installation, and manage sign-off yourself. All of these will easily add several weeks to your project timeline. For projects already running a bit behind on schedule, having one supplier manage the entire process helps keep delivery on track and reduces coordination risk.
