Bus bike rack too short, how to strap in a bike quickly? [update]
 

On 2018-09-13 16:41, John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Thu, 13 Sep 2018 16:29:41 -0700, Joerg
wrote:

On 2018-08-24 07:35, Joerg wrote:
Couldn't believe it. Those great agency folks obviously didn't test the
bike racks for our local buses before signing the contract. Long story
short my 29er bike didn't fit in and neither did my friend's. Luckily
the driver was patient and helpful. We had to load the bikes reversed so
the hook goes over the rear wheel. Not easy because of my panniers but
worked, somehow. The front wheels now rode up on the other side of the
rack slot. We both had bungee cords with which we strapped them down as
hard as we could. Oh, and the slot width barely fit my 2.25" wide MTB
tires barely squeezed in and I had to push down hard. The rack looks
like this:

https://ixquick-proxy.com/do/spg/sho...8df2678ec2064b


When we arrived another rider put his 26" MTB on there on even that
barely fit in (rear wheel rode up half an inch).

Does anyone know a better "strap down" method that is faster than
wrapping a bungee around rim and rack numerous times?


Today I did a road bike trip where I also used the bus. The bus had a
3-slot rack but only the innermost slot was designed correctly with one
end open.

The two outer slots were the same as before, bad design, too short. I
know that Jay and Sir won't believe this but I tried and verified it: My
road bike did _not_ go into those outer slots. Luckily the inner slot
was free.

Are you sure that it is the bike rack that is at fault? After all, it
might be that your bike is too long.

Or perhaps that is too subtle for you?


I am 6'2" and the bike frame was ordered to fit me after they had
measured me. The frame nothing unusual, just a road bike for a tall but
not extremely tall guy. So yes, it is the rack designer's fault.

Occasionally even car manufacturers make such mistakes. For example, I
wanted to buy a Jeep Chrokee in 1997. It had fixed (non-adjustable) head
rests and the top of them was exactly at my neck. Not safe. So I did not
buy. Mitsubishi knew how to design it correctly so that's what I bought.
According to a Jeep specialist I was not the first one ...

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

Bus bike rack too short, how to strap in a bike quickly? [update]
 

On Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 4:29:35 PM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
On 2018-08-24 07:35, Joerg wrote:
Couldn't believe it. Those great agency folks obviously didn't test the
bike racks for our local buses before signing the contract. Long story
short my 29er bike didn't fit in and neither did my friend's. Luckily
the driver was patient and helpful. We had to load the bikes reversed so
the hook goes over the rear wheel. Not easy because of my panniers but
worked, somehow. The front wheels now rode up on the other side of the
rack slot. We both had bungee cords with which we strapped them down as
hard as we could. Oh, and the slot width barely fit my 2.25" wide MTB
tires barely squeezed in and I had to push down hard. The rack looks
like this:

https://ixquick-proxy.com/do/spg/sho...8df2678ec2064b


When we arrived another rider put his 26" MTB on there on even that
barely fit in (rear wheel rode up half an inch).

Does anyone know a better "strap down" method that is faster than
wrapping a bungee around rim and rack numerous times?


Today I did a road bike trip where I also used the bus. The bus had a
3-slot rack but only the innermost slot was designed correctly with one
end open.

The two outer slots were the same as before, bad design, too short. I
know that Jay and Sir won't believe this but I tried and verified it: My
road bike did _not_ go into those outer slots. Luckily the inner slot
was free.

Hey, don't use my name in vain. I didn't say the racks would work for you.
Nothing works for you. I said you complain a lot about supposed bad government and do nothing about it.

You are probably complaining about the SportWorks DL2/3 which even for the closed-end models is sufficient for bikes with wheelbases up to 44 inches. 44" wheelbase is long. A 62cm Surly Steamroller has a 39.7" wheelbase. I don't know why that rack doesn't work for your bike. They work for odd shaped bikes around he http://farm1.staticflickr.com/93/248...3cdf194b2f.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...rying_bike.jpg
Bikes everywhere! https://ilovethebus.files.wordpress....n-portland.jpg

I guess its time to call Kurtis Ming! There is also this mode of transportation: https://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons...ahmbulance.jpg

-- Jay Beattie.

Bus bike rack too short, how to strap in a bike quickly? [update]
 

On 9/13/2018 7:29 PM, Joerg wrote:
On 2018-08-24 07:35, Joerg wrote:
Couldn't believe it. Those great agency folks obviously didn't test the
bike racks for our local buses before signing the contract. Long story
short my 29er bike didn't fit in and neither did my friend's. Luckily
the driver was patient and helpful. We had to load the bikes reversed so
the hook goes over the rear wheel. Not easy because of my panniers but
worked, somehow. The front wheels now rode up on the other side of the
rack slot. We both had bungee cords with which we strapped them down as
hard as we could. Oh, and the slot width barely fit my 2.25" wide MTB
tires barely squeezed in and I had to push down hard. The rack looks
like this:

https://ixquick-proxy.com/do/spg/sho...8df2678ec2064b



When we arrived another rider put his 26" MTB on there on even that
barely fit in (rear wheel rode up half an inch).

Does anyone know a better "strap down" method that is faster than
wrapping a bungee around rim and rack numerous times?


Today I did a road bike trip where I also used the bus. The bus had a
3-slot rack but only the innermost slot was designed correctly with one
end open.

The two outer slots were the same as before, bad design, too short. I
know that Jay and Sir won't believe this but I tried and verified it: My
road bike did _not_ go into those outer slots. Luckily the inner slot
was free.

So what is the wheelbase of your road bike? And what's the wheel size?

I'm curious how you always seem to end up on a remote tail of every bell
curve.


--
- Frank Krygowski

Bus bike rack too short, how to strap in a bike quickly? [update]
 

On 2018-09-13 18:03, jbeattie wrote:
On Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 4:29:35 PM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
On 2018-08-24 07:35, Joerg wrote:
Couldn't believe it. Those great agency folks obviously didn't
test the bike racks for our local buses before signing the
contract. Long story short my 29er bike didn't fit in and neither
did my friend's. Luckily the driver was patient and helpful. We
had to load the bikes reversed so the hook goes over the rear
wheel. Not easy because of my panniers but worked, somehow. The
front wheels now rode up on the other side of the rack slot. We
both had bungee cords with which we strapped them down as hard as
we could. Oh, and the slot width barely fit my 2.25" wide MTB
tires barely squeezed in and I had to push down hard. The rack
looks like this:

https://ixquick-proxy.com/do/spg/sho...8df2678ec2064b




When we arrived another rider put his 26" MTB on there on even that
barely fit in (rear wheel rode up half an inch).

Does anyone know a better "strap down" method that is faster
than wrapping a bungee around rim and rack numerous times?


Today I did a road bike trip where I also used the bus. The bus had
a 3-slot rack but only the innermost slot was designed correctly
with one end open.

The two outer slots were the same as before, bad design, too short.
I know that Jay and Sir won't believe this but I tried and verified
it: My road bike did _not_ go into those outer slots. Luckily the
inner slot was free.

Hey, don't use my name in vain.


IIRC you raised doubts in another thread about it and wrote that you are
6'4", which is taller than I am.


... I didn't say the racks would work
for you. Nothing works for you.


As I wrote the open channel slot in the rack worked and that's how the
all should be designed.


... I said you complain a lot about
supposed bad government and do nothing about it.


Which is not true. I wrote that I am in contact about the matter with
the planning and marketing manager of our transit agency.


You are probably complaining about the SportWorks DL2/3 which even
for the closed-end models is sufficient for bikes with wheelbases up
to 44 inches. 44" wheelbase is long.


It's not. A large (L, not even XL) 29" MTB like mine is about 46" axle
to axle. This is the 21st century, not the 20th.


... A 62cm Surly Steamroller has a
39.7" wheelbase. I don't know why that rack doesn't work for your
bike.


It's probably a different (and mis-designed) rack because that's about
the axle distance of my road bike and it did not fit in.


... They work for odd shaped bikes around he
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/93/248...3cdf194b2f.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...rying_bike.jpg


My road bike measures 39-1/2" axle to axle. That is not outlandishly
large and should fit. But it did not.

[...]

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

Bus bike rack too short, how to strap in a bike quickly? [update]
 

On 2018-09-13 21:30, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 9/13/2018 7:29 PM, Joerg wrote:
On 2018-08-24 07:35, Joerg wrote:
Couldn't believe it. Those great agency folks obviously didn't test the
bike racks for our local buses before signing the contract. Long story
short my 29er bike didn't fit in and neither did my friend's. Luckily
the driver was patient and helpful. We had to load the bikes reversed so
the hook goes over the rear wheel. Not easy because of my panniers but
worked, somehow. The front wheels now rode up on the other side of the
rack slot. We both had bungee cords with which we strapped them down as
hard as we could. Oh, and the slot width barely fit my 2.25" wide MTB
tires barely squeezed in and I had to push down hard. The rack looks
like this:

https://ixquick-proxy.com/do/spg/sho...8df2678ec2064b



When we arrived another rider put his 26" MTB on there on even that
barely fit in (rear wheel rode up half an inch).

Does anyone know a better "strap down" method that is faster than
wrapping a bungee around rim and rack numerous times?


Today I did a road bike trip where I also used the bus. The bus had a
3-slot rack but only the innermost slot was designed correctly with
one end open.

The two outer slots were the same as before, bad design, too short. I
know that Jay and Sir won't believe this but I tried and verified it:
My road bike did _not_ go into those outer slots. Luckily the inner
slot was free.

So what is the wheelbase of your road bike? And what's the wheel size?



39-1/2", regular 700c wheels and 25mm tires.


I'm curious how you always seem to end up on a remote tail of every bell
curve.


Obviously they can design something correctly, in this case the 1st slot
which would also easily hold my MTB. The other two slots were designed
wrong, as were both slots on their 2-slot racks.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

Bus bike rack too short, how to strap in a bike quickly? [update]
 

On Friday, September 14, 2018 at 9:25:55 AM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
On 2018-09-13 18:03, jbeattie wrote:
On Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 4:29:35 PM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
On 2018-08-24 07:35, Joerg wrote:
Couldn't believe it. Those great agency folks obviously didn't
test the bike racks for our local buses before signing the
contract. Long story short my 29er bike didn't fit in and neither
did my friend's. Luckily the driver was patient and helpful. We
had to load the bikes reversed so the hook goes over the rear
wheel. Not easy because of my panniers but worked, somehow. The
front wheels now rode up on the other side of the rack slot. We
both had bungee cords with which we strapped them down as hard as
we could. Oh, and the slot width barely fit my 2.25" wide MTB
tires barely squeezed in and I had to push down hard. The rack
looks like this:

https://ixquick-proxy.com/do/spg/sho...8df2678ec2064b




When we arrived another rider put his 26" MTB on there on even that
barely fit in (rear wheel rode up half an inch).

Does anyone know a better "strap down" method that is faster
than wrapping a bungee around rim and rack numerous times?


Today I did a road bike trip where I also used the bus. The bus had
a 3-slot rack but only the innermost slot was designed correctly
with one end open.

The two outer slots were the same as before, bad design, too short.
I know that Jay and Sir won't believe this but I tried and verified
it: My road bike did _not_ go into those outer slots. Luckily the
inner slot was free.

Hey, don't use my name in vain.


IIRC you raised doubts in another thread about it and wrote that you are
6'4", which is taller than I am.

I've never used a bus bike rack because I ride everywhere and do not need to have my bike hauled on welfare-based mass-transit created by nanny government. Buses are for loser proles who are sucking off the public teat and not for real men like myself who live in the wilds of Oregon.

But now that we're going on about bike bus racks, I'll go to the practice spot and see if my bike fits. I'm assuming Sacramento is using a standard SportWorks model, which is basically the national standard rack. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avQ6ZHKvNgI That Trek has a 41.7 WB. Go to :33 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETtnX_KScI8 A Volpe with fat tires. Maybe Sacto is screwing with you and sending you buses with the super-short racks.

-- Jay Beattie.

Bus bike rack too short, how to strap in a bike quickly? [update]
 

On 2018-09-14 10:36, jbeattie wrote:
On Friday, September 14, 2018 at 9:25:55 AM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
On 2018-09-13 18:03, jbeattie wrote:
On Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 4:29:35 PM UTC-7, Joerg
wrote:
On 2018-08-24 07:35, Joerg wrote:
Couldn't believe it. Those great agency folks obviously
didn't test the bike racks for our local buses before signing
the contract. Long story short my 29er bike didn't fit in and
neither did my friend's. Luckily the driver was patient and
helpful. We had to load the bikes reversed so the hook goes
over the rear wheel. Not easy because of my panniers but
worked, somehow. The front wheels now rode up on the other
side of the rack slot. We both had bungee cords with which we
strapped them down as hard as we could. Oh, and the slot
width barely fit my 2.25" wide MTB tires barely squeezed in
and I had to push down hard. The rack looks like this:

https://ixquick-proxy.com/do/spg/sho...8df2678ec2064b






When we arrived another rider put his 26" MTB on there on even that
barely fit in (rear wheel rode up half an inch).

Does anyone know a better "strap down" method that is faster
than wrapping a bungee around rim and rack numerous times?


Today I did a road bike trip where I also used the bus. The bus
had a 3-slot rack but only the innermost slot was designed
correctly with one end open.

The two outer slots were the same as before, bad design, too
short. I know that Jay and Sir won't believe this but I tried
and verified it: My road bike did _not_ go into those outer
slots. Luckily the inner slot was free.

Hey, don't use my name in vain.


IIRC you raised doubts in another thread about it and wrote that
you are 6'4", which is taller than I am.

I've never used a bus bike rack because I ride everywhere and do not
need to have my bike hauled on welfare-based mass-transit created by
nanny government. Buses are for loser proles who are sucking off the
public teat and not for real men like myself who live in the wilds of
Oregon.


Public transport can greatly increase the riding range. For example, I
could not finish a ride in time if I'd go all the way into Sacramento
and back. If I use light rail for some of the way back I can. And
there's a beer garden that has Kloster Andechs brews plus freshly baked
pretzels with Obatzda.


But now that we're going on about bike bus racks, I'll go to the
practice spot and see if my bike fits. I'm assuming Sacramento is
using a standard SportWorks model, which is basically the national
standard rack. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avQ6ZHKvNgI That Trek
has a 41.7 WB. Go to :33 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETtnX_KScI8
A Volpe with fat tires.


Those aren't very fat tires. Also, look more closely and you'll see that
this bike already starts riding up at the ends. It does not sit firmly
on the bottom of the rail. That can make for an interesting scenario if
the bus has to suddenly swerve to avoid something (I always strap mine
down but never saw anyone else do that). My MTB was almost all the way
out of the slot with one wheel.

My MTB tires are 2.2" wire and they barely squeezed in. Most guys around
here ride on 2.3" or 2.4" tires which wouldn't fit. Newer 27-1/2" bikes
with 3" tires? Forget it.

At 0:50min they show a rack that's almost correctly designed. This is a
correctly designed rack:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y56n-JPGJ6Q


... Maybe Sacto is screwing with you and sending
you buses with the super-short racks.


It is El Dorado Transit. They have different racks, some semi-ok, some
don't work.

The best is what I once saw in Europe. They simply hung a bike trailer
to the bus which could easily hold a dozen bicycles. That greatly
reduces the chance of being left stranded because the rack is already full.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

Bus bike rack too short, how to strap in a bike quickly? [update]
 

On 9/14/2018 12:26 PM, Joerg wrote:
On 2018-09-13 18:03, jbeattie wrote:
On Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 4:29:35 PM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
On 2018-08-24 07:35, Joerg wrote:
Couldn't believe it. Those great agency folks obviously didn't
test the bike racks for our local buses before signing the
contract. Long story short my 29er bike didn't fit in and neither
did my friend's. Luckily the driver was patient and helpful. We
had to load the bikes reversed so the hook goes over the rear
wheel. Not easy because of my panniers but worked, somehow. The
front wheels now rode up on the other side of the rack slot. We
both had bungee cords with which we strapped them down as hard as
we could. Oh, and the slot width barely fit my 2.25" wide MTB
tires barely squeezed in and I had to push down hard. The rack
looks like this:

https://ixquick-proxy.com/do/spg/sho...8df2678ec2064b





When we arrived another rider put his 26" MTB on there on even that
barely fit in (rear wheel rode up half an inch).

Does anyone know a better "strap down" method that is faster
than wrapping a bungee around rim and rack numerous times?


Today I did a road bike trip where I also used the bus. The bus had
a 3-slot rack but only the innermost slot was designed correctly
with one end open.

The two outer slots were the same as before, bad design, too short.
I know that Jay and Sir won't believe this but I tried and verified
it: My road bike did _not_ go into those outer slots. Luckily the
inner slot was free.

Hey, don't use my name in vain.


IIRC you raised doubts in another thread about it and wrote that you are
6'4", which is taller than I am.


Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* ... I didn't say the racks would work
for you. Nothing works for you.


As I wrote the open channel slot in the rack worked and that's how the
all should be designed.


Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* Â*Â*Â* ... I said you complain a lot about
supposed bad government and do nothing about it.


Which is not true. I wrote that I am in contact about the matter with
the planning and marketing manager of our transit agency.


You are probably complaining about the SportWorks DL2/3 which even
for the closed-end models is sufficient for bikes with wheelbases up
to 44 inches. 44" wheelbase is long.


It's not. A large (L, not even XL) 29" MTB like mine is about 46" axle
to axle. This is the 21st century, not the 20th.


Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* ... A 62cm Surly Steamroller has a
39.7" wheelbase. I don't know why that rack doesn't work for your
bike.


It's probably a different (and mis-designed) rack because that's about
the axle distance of my road bike and it did not fit in.


Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* ... They work for odd shaped bikes around he
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/93/248...3cdf194b2f.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...rying_bike.jpg



My road bike measures 39-1/2" axle to axle. That is not outlandishly
large and should fit. But it did not.

This sounds more and more like an operator problem.


--
- Frank Krygowski

Bus bike rack too short, how to strap in a bike quickly?
 

On 8/24/2018 7:27 PM, wrote:
On Friday, August 24, 2018 at 10:25:58 AM UTC-5, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Friday, August 24, 2018 at 10:35:42 AM UTC-4, Joerg wrote:
Couldn't believe it. Those great agency folks obviously didn't test the
bike racks for our local buses before signing the contract. Long story
short my 29er bike didn't fit in and neither did my friend's. Luckily
the driver was patient and helpful. We had to load the bikes reversed so
the hook goes over the rear wheel. Not easy because of my panniers but
worked, somehow. The front wheels now rode up on the other side of the
rack slot. We both had bungee cords with which we strapped them down as
hard as we could. Oh, and the slot width barely fit my 2.25" wide MTB
tires barely squeezed in and I had to push down hard. The rack looks
like this:

https://ixquick-proxy.com/do/spg/sho...8df2678ec2064b

When we arrived another rider put his 26" MTB on there on even that
barely fit in (rear wheel rode up half an inch).

Does anyone know a better "strap down" method that is faster than
wrapping a bungee around rim and rack numerous times?

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

You should look into getting a few Cohglans Arno Straps. They are like super long nylon toestraps and have a metal buckle that does not fall apart when reefed really tight. I'ved used them to secure a recliner rocker chair to my rear bike rack. I also use them for fastening everything to the bike when touring. In addition to that I use them for holding the rolled up sleeping bag, tent etcetera instead of having to fumble with laces etcetera. Here's a link to an actual card with two Arno straps on it.

https://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/...9227/cat101260

You can get them in lengths of 36" to 60". The straps are 3/4" wide.

Cheers

Never knew those had such an official formal name. Coghlans Arno Straps. I always just called them "straps with buckles on the end".


"Cam straps"

https://www.google.com/search?q=cam+...nt=firefox-b-1

Bus bike rack too short, how to strap in a bike quickly? [update]
 

On 2018-09-14 12:28, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 9/14/2018 12:26 PM, Joerg wrote:
On 2018-09-13 18:03, jbeattie wrote:

[...]


... They work for odd shaped bikes around he
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/93/248...3cdf194b2f.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...rying_bike.jpg



My road bike measures 39-1/2" axle to axle. That is not outlandishly
large and should fit. But it did not.

This sounds more and more like an operator problem.


If the bike doesn't go in then it doesn't go in. It's that simple.

At the first time the bus driver (himself a cyclist) came out and tried,
then scratching his head what we could do.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/