sumguy

the last snow storm I decided to bus home instead of dealing with plows. our bus racks hold 2 bikes with slots for the tires and an extendable arm with hook to go over the front tire. It seemed like my bike was swaying from front to back (bus POV). It got bad enough that the driver and I went out and repositioned it. The bike is a 19" Raleigh Detour 3.0 hybrid with 700x35 tires (then). It looked like both tires wouldn't go all the way down into the slots at the same time. It seemed more stable with the front tire all the way down and the arm latched over it while the rear tire was only partially into the slot. Anybody else have problems?

Artkansas 

I looked at pics of the Raleigh Detour 3.0, it doesn't look like it's too long, so I don't understand the problem.

I carry both my Specialized Hard Rock and my Bacchetta Giro 20 recumbent on city buses. The only problems I've had were that one driver didn't like the seat back of my Giro 20 being in front of her, so we put it in the front rack, and one time in the rain, the windshield wiper hooked onto the handlebar of my Hard Rock and almost knocked it off the bus.

I even read the specs on the Sportworks carrier before I bought the Giro 20 to be sure it would fit.

Catgrrl70

Metro installed new bike racks that could hold three bikes at a time here. They were pulled from service shortly afterwards because the bikes could bounce off the racks. The older, heavier racks that can accomodate two bikes were re-installed while the new racks undergo re-configuration. I've not had a problem with the older racks very frequently. Most often it's a maintenance issue; the "tire holder" spring is broken, the rack won't unlatch to the down position, something on the rack is bent beyond usability, etc.

chrischross

Sounds like my bus system has the same two slot configuration that you have. The thing I noticed was that the back wheel went in to the slot all the way, while the front wheel did not, almost as if the front was engineered for smaller wheels (I have 700x25).

The bus driver indicated that they've never lost a bike and the back carriers don't seem to get much if any use. It's a bit unnerving watching your bike move around or if the driver has to break suddenly.

Just wish the weather would get back to less rain so I can proceed with my hybrid bike/bus commute.