Bents on Buses
 

One of the reasons behind my buying a Bacchetta Giro 20 was that by spec, it fit on the bike rack of a bus. The spec was the wheelbase specified for the Sportworks bus/bike rack.

But I've discovered that the 20" wheel makes things a little precarious as its smaller diameter moves the rear wheel to the very back end of the bike rack.

I've been trying to think of a way, besides converting the bike to a Giro 26, that I could make it fit on better. Been trying to imaging some kind of wheel chock that could fit into the groove of the bike rack and act as a spacer for the 20" wheel.

I thought of a tennis ball with a bungee cord through it to attach to the wheel as a spacer, but it didn't seem to fit well.

Anyone have this problem and come up with a solution?

I'm not entirely sure I understand the issue. My 'bent won't fit at all (long-wheelbase), but my LHT has issues due to a front rack.

The arm that swings over the front wheel won't go all the way. I used a bungie to hold everything, but that took extra time. I'm glad I rarely take the bus.

I use the bus racks all the time with my DF. I'm trying to picture your problem- is the swing arm pushing your Giro backwards because of the tension? Instead of trying to shim the front wheel, would it be feasible to immobilize the rear? Use one of those ring/wheel locks like the AXA Defender maybe?

I do have a couple of quick questions that you can give factual answers to:

1)When you put your Giro on the rack, is there still room for someone to use the other slot?
2)Do any drivers complain about the seat(back) impeding their line of sight?

Well, the problem is that the rear wheel is getting too near the end of the rack. Think of your DF on a bus rack. Now, swap out the front wheel for a 20" wheel. The radius is 3" smaller now. That means that your axle is 3" farther back with respect to the rack so your entire frame is 3" farther back in the rack and your rear wheel is 3" farther back with respect to the rack.

I suppose I can bungee the rear wheel, but still it means that the bike is putting more stress on the end of the rack than it should. A chock to move the bike forward with respect to the rack to make up for that 3" is the more elegant and correct way to solve the problem.


1) Yes.
2) Only once, that was a very short female bus driver. We put the bike onto the other rack. Problem solved. No other drivers have had any problems. Since the seat-back is almost perpendicular to their line of sight, it really presents very little impediment to their vision.

OP- did you even figure out a solution?

Nope. I even called the SportWorks people, but they had nothing to offer.