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Front bike rack on buses, heavy bikes



 
 
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  #1  
Old September 17th 17, 03:54 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
Joerg[_2_]
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Posts: 6,016
Default Front bike rack on buses, heavy bikes

Thinking about doing rides farther away without carting the bike there
in my car. Or riding out farther and using a bus for some of the way
back. Buses out here have racks for two bikes up front, like this:

http://www.sacbike.dreamhosters.com/...us_No_2395.jpg

Unfortunately the top-holding bar goes over the front wheel where the
emergency dynamo is on my road bike instead of over the seat. Ok, I can
remove that dynamo. However, both my road bike and my MTB are
"rear-heavy" with panniers that contain lots of water, tools and such.
Are they still safe in those racks?

The other question is, El Dorado Transit and others state to "remove
panniers and other baggage to allow safe operation of the bus". My
panniers look detachable but they are not, there is a lot of stuff
underneath that bolts and cinches them in place.

What's your experience?

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/
  #2  
Old September 17th 17, 04:08 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
Ned Mantei[_2_]
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Posts: 81
Default Front bike rack on buses, heavy bikes

On 17-09-17 16:54, Joerg wrote:
Thinking about doing rides farther away without carting the bike there
in my car. Or riding out farther and using a bus for some of the way
back. Buses out here have racks for two bikes up front, like this:

http://www.sacbike.dreamhosters.com/...us_No_2395.jpg


Unfortunately the top-holding bar goes over the front wheel where the
emergency dynamo is on my road bike instead of over the seat. Ok, I can
remove that dynamo. However, both my road bike and my MTB are
"rear-heavy" with panniers that contain lots of water, tools and such.
Are they still safe in those racks?

The other question is, El Dorado Transit and others state to "remove
panniers and other baggage to allow safe operation of the bus". My
panniers look detachable but they are not, there is a lot of stuff
underneath that bolts and cinches them in place.

What's your experience?


The Swiss way is to have hooks from which you hang the bike by the front
wheel. This is common on both buses and on trains. And that means
removing panniers. The exceptions would be some local trains, where
bikes are just leaned against a padded area that is meant mainly for
people standing during rush hour, and a few trains in which the hooks
are only a bit above waist height.

All in all I'm a big fan of being able to travel with my bike by train.
An hour or two brings me to the mountains, and I don't have to end my
ride where it started. A yearly bike pass costs about $220.

Ned
  #3  
Old September 17th 17, 05:34 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
Joerg[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,016
Default Front bike rack on buses, heavy bikes

On 2017-09-17 08:08, Ned Mantei wrote:
On 17-09-17 16:54, Joerg wrote:
Thinking about doing rides farther away without carting the bike there
in my car. Or riding out farther and using a bus for some of the way
back. Buses out here have racks for two bikes up front, like this:

http://www.sacbike.dreamhosters.com/...us_No_2395.jpg


Unfortunately the top-holding bar goes over the front wheel where the
emergency dynamo is on my road bike instead of over the seat. Ok, I
can remove that dynamo. However, both my road bike and my MTB are
"rear-heavy" with panniers that contain lots of water, tools and such.
Are they still safe in those racks?

The other question is, El Dorado Transit and others state to "remove
panniers and other baggage to allow safe operation of the bus". My
panniers look detachable but they are not, there is a lot of stuff
underneath that bolts and cinches them in place.

What's your experience?


The Swiss way is to have hooks from which you hang the bike by the front
wheel. This is common on both buses and on trains. And that means
removing panniers. ...



That would be a no-go for me so I'd have to use my car like I do now.
Especially on an MTB you can't have panniers that are just slung over
the rack. Everything must be bolted and cinched in place or it goes
flying on the trail.


The exceptions would be some local trains, where
bikes are just leaned against a padded area that is meant mainly for
people standing during rush hour, and a few trains in which the hooks
are only a bit above waist height.

All in all I'm a big fan of being able to travel with my bike by train.
An hour or two brings me to the mountains, and I don't have to end my
ride where it started. A yearly bike pass costs about $220.


We don't have deals like that here but public buses have come a long way
in the last five years for our county. Light rail allows bikes inside so
no problem. Buses unfortunately not. The other challenge is that you
can't count on availability for the way back. If both racks are occupied
you are screwed, have to pedal back and be late. So I'd only use it for
the way out even though that's downhill.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/
  #4  
Old September 17th 17, 05:56 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
[email protected]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 3,345
Default Front bike rack on buses, heavy bikes

On Sunday, September 17, 2017 at 9:34:56 AM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
On 2017-09-17 08:08, Ned Mantei wrote:
On 17-09-17 16:54, Joerg wrote:
Thinking about doing rides farther away without carting the bike there
in my car. Or riding out farther and using a bus for some of the way
back. Buses out here have racks for two bikes up front, like this:

http://www.sacbike.dreamhosters.com/...us_No_2395.jpg


Unfortunately the top-holding bar goes over the front wheel where the
emergency dynamo is on my road bike instead of over the seat. Ok, I
can remove that dynamo. However, both my road bike and my MTB are
"rear-heavy" with panniers that contain lots of water, tools and such.
Are they still safe in those racks?

The other question is, El Dorado Transit and others state to "remove
panniers and other baggage to allow safe operation of the bus". My
panniers look detachable but they are not, there is a lot of stuff
underneath that bolts and cinches them in place.

What's your experience?


The Swiss way is to have hooks from which you hang the bike by the front
wheel. This is common on both buses and on trains. And that means
removing panniers. ...



That would be a no-go for me so I'd have to use my car like I do now.
Especially on an MTB you can't have panniers that are just slung over
the rack. Everything must be bolted and cinched in place or it goes
flying on the trail.


The exceptions would be some local trains, where
bikes are just leaned against a padded area that is meant mainly for
people standing during rush hour, and a few trains in which the hooks
are only a bit above waist height.

All in all I'm a big fan of being able to travel with my bike by train.
An hour or two brings me to the mountains, and I don't have to end my
ride where it started. A yearly bike pass costs about $220.


We don't have deals like that here but public buses have come a long way
in the last five years for our county. Light rail allows bikes inside so
no problem. Buses unfortunately not. The other challenge is that you
can't count on availability for the way back. If both racks are occupied
you are screwed, have to pedal back and be late. So I'd only use it for
the way out even though that's downhill.


The problem with the train is that they only accept boxed bikes in the luggage car. Though I'm sure I remember just tying my bike against the wall none of my touring friends seem to remember that.
  #6  
Old September 18th 17, 03:45 AM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
[email protected]
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Posts: 6,374
Default Front bike rack on buses, heavy bikes

Buy 2 seats
  #7  
Old September 17th 17, 06:25 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
Sir Ridesalot
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Posts: 5,270
Default Front bike rack on buses, heavy bikes

On Sunday, September 17, 2017 at 12:34:56 PM UTC-4, Joerg wrote:
Snipped
That would be a no-go for me so I'd have to use my car like I do now.
Especially on an MTB you can't have panniers that are just slung over
the rack. Everything must be bolted and cinched in place or it goes
flying on the trail.

Snipped

That's funny. I use my MTB to tour on really rough dirt roads and trails in Northern Ontario and I've NEVER had to bolt my panniers to the bike rack to keep the panniers from bouncing off. I do use an Arno strap to secure them though. I like to be able to remove my panniers QUICKLY if setting up camp in the rain.

Cheers
  #8  
Old September 18th 17, 02:04 AM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
John B.[_3_]
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Posts: 5,697
Default Front bike rack on buses, heavy bikes

On Sun, 17 Sep 2017 10:25:57 -0700 (PDT), Sir Ridesalot
wrote:

On Sunday, September 17, 2017 at 12:34:56 PM UTC-4, Joerg wrote:
Snipped
That would be a no-go for me so I'd have to use my car like I do now.
Especially on an MTB you can't have panniers that are just slung over
the rack. Everything must be bolted and cinched in place or it goes
flying on the trail.

Snipped

That's funny. I use my MTB to tour on really rough dirt roads and trails in Northern Ontario and I've NEVER had to bolt my panniers to the bike rack to keep the panniers from bouncing off. I do use an Arno strap to secure them though. I like to be able to remove my panniers QUICKLY if setting up camp in the rain.

Cheers


Ah but you don't ride in California. It is very different in
California what with the autos swerving off the road when they see a
bicycle with bright lights. Well, except for the poor country folks in
their pickups who may even attack a bicycle.
--
Cheers,

John B.

  #9  
Old September 18th 17, 03:13 AM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
Jeff Liebermann
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Posts: 4,018
Default Front bike rack on buses, heavy bikes

On Mon, 18 Sep 2017 08:04:41 +0700, John B.
wrote:

Ah but you don't ride in California. It is very different in
California what with the autos swerving off the road when they see a
bicycle with bright lights. Well, except for the poor country folks in
their pickups who may even attack a bicycle.


Pickup trucks prefer to attack the bus, not the bicycle:
http://www.theslowlane.org/2011/04/accident-involving-bike-rack-on-bus.html
Notice how the crumpled bicycle rack cushioned the impact thus saving
the bus and bicycle from damage.

If you need to use tools to remove the bicycle, I suggest you do
something to make the bicycle fast and easy to remove:
https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/man-killed-trying-to-get-bike-off-detroit-city-bus


--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D
http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
  #10  
Old September 18th 17, 03:08 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
Joerg[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,016
Default Front bike rack on buses, heavy bikes

On 2017-09-17 10:25, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Sunday, September 17, 2017 at 12:34:56 PM UTC-4, Joerg wrote:
Snipped
That would be a no-go for me so I'd have to use my car like I do
now. Especially on an MTB you can't have panniers that are just
slung over the rack. Everything must be bolted and cinched in place
or it goes flying on the trail.

Snipped

That's funny. I use my MTB to tour on really rough dirt roads and
trails in Northern Ontario and I've NEVER had to bolt my panniers to
the bike rack to keep the panniers from bouncing off. I do use an
Arno strap to secure them though. I like to be able to remove my
panniers QUICKLY if setting up camp in the rain.


The trails I use make stuff in the panniers rotate as if it was a
washing machine. My panniers can tolerate rain and I've ridden through
rain for hours on end. I like bikes to have real trunks and permanent
ones so I can just throw everything I need for the trip in there and go.
Like with the car. If your panniers leak you could consider a plastic
sheet snippet for camping, weighs nothing and folds down to almost nothing.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/
 




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