Bikes and Bike Racks
We were a little baffled by our first bike rack. It didn’t seem possible that 2 straps would hold our heavy used bikes. 2 straps, 3 ropes, and 4 bungee cords did not do the trick! We stopped repeatedly across the states of Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi trying to find the right approach only to stow 1 of the bikes in the basement. I’m sure everyone has seen the poor folks pulling a trailer with no idea of what is happening 40 feet behind them, at the end of that trailer. That was us.
A note of explanation: There are usually 2 storage areas under the living area of a 5th wheel. We call the side-access storage the basement, and basement type things find their way here. The front-access storage is what we call the garage, but for no apparent reason.
The rack company sent us a replacement for the first one that broke, somewhere in Mississippi. We still were spending half of our time preparing to hitch-up and go, trying to make 2 heavy bikes adhere to a rack on the ladder at the back of the 5th wheel. We quit locking the bikes, but no one would steal them. It was time for a trip to Goodwill.
Of course, the lure of bikes struck again several months later after the frighteningly delightful trip on the Hiawatha Trail on rental bikes. We were hooked, but no more rentals, no more used.
Down the road a bit we bought the very best Walmart could sell us at that particular store. The hunt for a rack was on!
A computer ordered ladder rack came in and went back. It was time to bite the bullet, spend the big bucks and get a hitch mounted rack which required the installation of a hitch receiver on the back of the trailer. Some good folks in Vancouver, WA took care of us with a very simple, non-invasive procedure – yes, it was akin to surgery. We’re ready to roll!
But not yet. We had to get rid of the “play” in the hitch and rack. Several weeks later, on a very quiet street, we discovered that more distance was needed between the bikes and the road. The old saying is true; it can all be fixed with money - and with the time and energy of a very determined husband. Russell was able to find and install a riser that solved this problem.
We are now the very proud drivers of a fine pair of bikes and a rock solid rack. More importantly, we have used these to take some spectacular geezer-type rides.
We were a little baffled by our first bike rack. It didn’t seem possible that 2 straps would hold our heavy used bikes. 2 straps, 3 ropes, and 4 bungee cords did not do the trick! We stopped repeatedly across the states of Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi trying to find the right approach only to stow 1 of the bikes in the basement. I’m sure everyone has seen the poor folks pulling a trailer with no idea of what is happening 40 feet behind them, at the end of that trailer. That was us.
A note of explanation: There are usually 2 storage areas under the living area of a 5th wheel. We call the side-access storage the basement, and basement type things find their way here. The front-access storage is what we call the garage, but for no apparent reason.
The rack company sent us a replacement for the first one that broke, somewhere in Mississippi. We still were spending half of our time preparing to hitch-up and go, trying to make 2 heavy bikes adhere to a rack on the ladder at the back of the 5th wheel. We quit locking the bikes, but no one would steal them. It was time for a trip to Goodwill.
Of course, the lure of bikes struck again several months later after the frighteningly delightful trip on the Hiawatha Trail on rental bikes. We were hooked, but no more rentals, no more used.
Down the road a bit we bought the very best Walmart could sell us at that particular store. The hunt for a rack was on!
A computer ordered ladder rack came in and went back. It was time to bite the bullet, spend the big bucks and get a hitch mounted rack which required the installation of a hitch receiver on the back of the trailer. Some good folks in Vancouver, WA took care of us with a very simple, non-invasive procedure – yes, it was akin to surgery. We’re ready to roll!
But not yet. We had to get rid of the “play” in the hitch and rack. Several weeks later, on a very quiet street, we discovered that more distance was needed between the bikes and the road. The old saying is true; it can all be fixed with money - and with the time and energy of a very determined husband. Russell was able to find and install a riser that solved this problem.
We are now the very proud drivers of a fine pair of bikes and a rock solid rack. More importantly, we have used these to take some spectacular geezer-type rides.
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