Attaching your bike to a Chicago bus - help!

It always happens on the rare occurrence that I attach my bike to the front of the bus that I feel like an alien from another planet.  To make matters worse, there are two key ways to attach the bike, which makes it even more stressful for me - I sweat with nervousness on those rare days (impossible downpour, too far from home and knackered, inner tube blew and I have no resources to fix it) that I am waiting for the bus.  One means of affixing the bike is easy - the one where you turn the clamp around and onto the wheel.  Of course, several times with my 2 U-Locks on the bike I have found the bike too heavy - so I have had to remove them and put them in my backpack sitting on the sidewalk while I do the Olympic weight lifting exercise of attaching my bike.  Meanwhile, people on the bus are getting a great view of my humiliation - what could be more entertaining?  They might even be cussing under their breath because they are in a hurry and I am holding them up.   "Silence all that thinking, man, and just get the job done!" - it requires expert precision as well to lift the bike AND get both wheels into the groove without the front wheel deciding to jiggle around in excitement.  "Focus, focus, this is a Zen moment!"  But the means of attaching the bike with the yellow grip on the end of the pulled out cable terrifies me even more - twice so far I couldn't even get it out at all or far enough to actually hook it onto the wheel, and the driver, irritated as hell, had to come out to assist me whose IQ just dropped 50 points.  Wow, this is more embarrassing than an occasional male problem of attempting sex but being too nervous to get it up!   Are Chicago bus employees taping us and then watching the videos later during coffee break?  Don't worry, I am not really that nervous and I am not about to start another conspiracy theory, but am I the only person on the planet who has struggled with those bloody yellow Dragon's Claws that I must wrestle with to stabilize my poor bike?

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Permalink Reply by Josh L. on August 7, 2013 at 11:53pm

Hi. I dont' really understand the difficulty. I too was nervous the first few times but now it's just always easy thought a bit awkward. I'm not sure I understand the two types...isn't the difference if there are two or one of the yellow things?

It seems like your anxiety is getting the best of you. People inside the bus cannot see you unless they are standing next to the driver.

Just take your time and go step by step.  How heavy is your bike?  Most bikes are around 25-30 lbs..you should be able to lift that! :)

Permalink Reply by Josh L. on August 7, 2013 at 11:56pm

Related to some of the earlier posts (which I just read) I can see that some people lack the strength to put the bikes in there. So sorry about my statement.

I actually marvel at the design of these. I probably use them 3x a month for various reasons and I have never seen a broken one.  And it's a mechanism that must bounce around a lot. It's mechanical, stretched, etc.  Brilliant engineering the way it holds the bikes firm.

Permalink Reply by Bez on August 8, 2013 at 12:57am
I'm not an expert on bus maintenance, but I would imagine that these are on the daily check list, at least in the warmer months. A bike coming loose because of bad maintenance while in traffic would be a nightmare for the CTA
Permalink Reply by Mark on August 8, 2013 at 2:55am

Ride to an end of the line stop where buses sit and wait before starting their next run.  Check with the driver to see how long until they leave and if you can practice there.  Try the north end of the Ashland bus run at 4200 N. Clark.

Elizabeth M. said:

Is there really a place you can practice? I am completely intimidated by these things and have biked home from Hyde Park to Logan Square in some nasty weather because I didn't want try this. The video is helpful but my bike is heavy and I would love to try it first in a stress free environment to see if I can even manage to heft the thing up there. 

Cameron 7.5 mi said:

There's a mock at CTA headquarters where you can practice.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 8, 2013 at 3:32am

Lots of folks ride bikes that weight considerably more than 25-30 lbs.  I have an easier time with the racks than most, since I'm 6'1". I can certainly sympathize with Julie H and other vertically challenged folks, as it's much more difficult for them to lift a bike onto the rack. That's a matter of leverage and upper body strength.  I'd hazard a guess that most women under 5'5" don't have the combination of leverage and upper body strength that would make the racks easy to use without some practice.  The average guy has a considerable advantage in this respect.

jolondon30 said:

Hi. I dont' really understand the difficulty. I too was nervous the first few times but now it's just always easy thought a bit awkward. I'm not sure I understand the two types...isn't the difference if there are two or one of the yellow things?

It seems like your anxiety is getting the best of you. People inside the bus cannot see you unless they are standing next to the driver.

Just take your time and go step by step.  How heavy is your bike?  Most bikes are around 25-30 lbs..you should be able to lift that! :)

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 8, 2013 at 3:32am

I've suggested that to a number of friends. Other potential locations: 95th St. red line station, Jefferson Park station, Howard station.... you get the idea.

Mark said:

Ride to an end of the line stop where buses sit and wait before starting their next run.  Check with the driver to see how long until they leave and if you can practice there.  Try the north end of the Ashland bus run at 4200 N. Clark.

Elizabeth M. said:

Is there really a place you can practice?

Permalink Reply by Josh L. on August 8, 2013 at 5:50am

I stand corrected..thanks.  Given different bike weights and peoples' sizes I can see how this could be difficult

Anne Alt said:

Lots of folks ride bikes that weight considerably more than 25-30 lbs.  I have an easier time with the racks than most, since I'm 6'1". I can certainly sympathize with Julie H and other vertically challenged folks, as it's much more difficult for them to lift a bike onto the rack. That's a matter of leverage and upper body strength.  I'd hazard a guess that most women under 5'5" don't have the combination of leverage and upper body strength that would make the racks easy to use without some practice.  The average guy has a considerable advantage in this respect.

jolondon30 said:

Hi. I dont' really understand the difficulty. I too was nervous the first few times but now it's just always easy thought a bit awkward. I'm not sure I understand the two types...isn't the difference if there are two or one of the yellow things?

It seems like your anxiety is getting the best of you. People inside the bus cannot see you unless they are standing next to the driver.

Just take your time and go step by step.  How heavy is your bike?  Most bikes are around 25-30 lbs..you should be able to lift that! :)

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