On 2018-08-24 12:01, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Friday, August 24, 2018 at 2:17:27 PM UTC-4, Joerg wrote:
On 2018-08-24 10:11, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 8/24/2018 10:35 AM, 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?

I wouldn't fault the rack designer too much. Bikes come in such
incredible variety it's tricky to design even stationary bike
racks. And transit companies are seldom flush with funds. They
can spend only so much to accommodate the one percent with
unusual bikes.


In this day and age 27-1/2" and 29" bikes hardly represent 1%. And
yes, the designers are at fault. They should have tested or at
least hold a design review with actual cyclists attending. In
med-tech we are obligated to hold those and for good reasons.

Also, as I wrote even a simple 26" MTB didn't fit completely, the
rear wheel remained an inch above the rail floor. In my book that
constitutes a thoroughly botched design.


As to your question: I wonder if a velcro strap with rectangular
ring might work. They're fast to install and surprisingly strong.
See, for example:

https://www.amazon.com/Reusable-Cabl...g=UTF8&s=a ht




Thanks, but I do not trust plastic for this stuff. The Arno straps that
Sir mentioned seem to be the ticket here. Of course, there remains
the risk that a picky bus driver refuses to accept that mounting
method and we'd be stranded.

-- Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

Around here the bus drivers don't mind the few seconds it takes to
use a long Arno strap to secure the bike to the rack. I just loop the
strap around the top tube of the bike and then around the bus rack
and cinch the Arno strap tight. It takes just seconds and I usually
have it done whilst other passengers are getting on or off the bus.

Arno straps are really tough as are their buckles. I've never had an
Arno strap fail nor its buckle even when being used in the dead of
winter. I've had many a plastic buckle snap when being cinched in
winter's cold.


I'll have to cinch down the rim only because going over the frame won't
prevent the bike from sliding out sideways. Reason is that with a 29er
MTB one wheel rides on top of a slot rail end instead of down in the slot.

Probably the straps are some sort of Nylon material so I should be able
to cut one to 15" length and use a cigarette lighter to re-seal the cut
strands so they won't unravel.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/