I get'cha (i have to let the air out and open the brakes on my Homer to 
take off front wheel--very annoying), but my guess is Bob's picture is on 
an Amtrak train.  Sometimes, you just don't have a choice and I'd like to 
know how to do it.  

Bob's description of NJTransit sounds a lot like our newer Philadelphia 
commuter trains-- no dedicated bike area, one can improvise.

I even took my bikes to a Philadelphia bus depot to get experience putting 
them on the bus rack before I actually needed to do it.  The drivers were 
quite nice about that.

Roberta

On Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 1:47:53 PM UTC-5 George Schick wrote:

> Plus, IMHO, having to remove the front wheel on bikes most of the time 
> would be a PITA.  First, there's the "lawyer tabs" that require unscrewing 
> the QR a bit.  Then, on some bikes equipped with caliper brakes wider tires 
> can't get past the brake pads even when the brake release tab is moved, 
> requiring some air to be bled out first.  Finally, there may be fender 
> contact issues with the front wheel removed if the bike is allowed to sway 
> back and forth with out the wheel intact.  I wouldn't want to do it very 
> frequently.
>
>
> On Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 11:43:23 AM UTC-6 Roberta wrote:
>
>> Hi, Bob :) , 
>>
>> How do you hang it from the back wheel?  You take the front wheel off 
>> first, then  lift up the back wheel?  I guess the bike is lighter without 
>> the front wheel.  I'm not sure I'd have the strength.
>>
>> When I hang mine from the front wheel, I "pop" the front wheel  up, like 
>> a wheelie, roll the bike close to the hook and then just need to lift it up 
>> a foot or so to the hook.
>>
>> Roberta
>>
>> On Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 3:35:18 PM UTC-5 Bob Ehrenbeck wrote:
>>
>>> As Allan noted, how you travel with a bike depends on the type of 
>>> storage the train cars have on your particular Amtrak line. 
>>>
>>> The below photo shows the situation for the Vermonter line that runs 
>>> between DC and Vermont. (It appears to be the same style as the Empire 
>>> Service trains that Allan rides.) The instructions state that when hanging 
>>> the bike from the rear wheel, the front wheel (and all bags) need to be 
>>> removed. When I took the Vermonter to ride in D2R2, I did just that. On the 
>>> return trip, however, the conductor said that I could leave the wheel on 
>>> the bike if it fit, and it did fit. The bike I had with me (a Rawland 
>>> rSogn), has an end-to-end length of 67" with both wheels on, and since my 
>>> 52 Clem H was an end-to-end length of 73", I'm pretty sure a Platypus would 
>>> fit in that vertical space with the front wheel removed.
>>>
>>> [image: Vermonter Bike Storage copy 2.jpg]
>>>
>>>
>>> It appears that Amtrak's Blue Water and Wolverine trains have the same 
>>> bike carry-on service as the Vermonter, so this should work just fine!
>>> https://www.amtrak.com/onboard/bring-your-bicycle-onboard.html
>>>
>>> Another possible option would be to drive to South Bend, Indiana and get 
>>> on the South Shore Line to reach Chicago:
>>> https://mysouthshoreline.com
>>>
>>> But it seems that as there is a construction project going on, they have 
>>> temporarily suspended  bringing bikes on board:
>>> https://mysouthshoreline.com/plan-your-trip/bikes-on-trains/
>>>
>>> I regularly take my bikes on NJT trains here in New Jersey, and similar 
>>> to what Roberta mentioned, as in most commuter lines there are open spaces 
>>> at the ends of each car, or sets you can flip out of the way, to store your 
>>> bike; perhaps the South Shore Line has a similar set-up?
>>>
>>> Bob E
>>> Cranford, NJ
>>> On Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 1:56:47 PM UTC-5 Joe Bernard wrote:
>>>
>>>> I'm ok with it! 
>>>>
>>>> On Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 10:52:46 AM UTC-8 George Schick wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Joe, is it OK if we start calling you Ralph Kramden ; )
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 12:39:15 PM UTC-6 Joe Bernard wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Yes, bus racks - my area of expertise - are a whole 'nother kettle of 
>>>>>> monkeys or whatever the idiom is. I've transported some longish 29er 
>>>>>> mountain bikes which barely fit the rack, and one of these days I'm 
>>>>>> going 
>>>>>> to collect a roadside garbage can with one! My Rivendell and any 
>>>>>> over-52cm 
>>>>>> Clem or Platy would not fit our buses. 
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 10:28:30 AM UTC-8 Roberta wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> forgot the "OMG" pics.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 1:25:30 PM UTC-5 Roberta wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I took my 55 Platy to get Amtrak's opinion and they said no to 
>>>>>>>> carry on (roll on) service.  All he did was look at the bike.  I know 
>>>>>>>> of 
>>>>>>>> one 50 Platy owner who went by train on a bike tour,  but I don't 
>>>>>>>> remember 
>>>>>>>> if she brought her Platy or her other bike on her wedding anniversary 
>>>>>>>> trip 
>>>>>>>> this summer.  Leah might know.  I wouldn't want to take a chance that 
>>>>>>>> they 
>>>>>>>> might say "no" when I roll my bike to the door.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> In my city/suburban train (Septa), I can bring any bike on the 
>>>>>>>> train, but there is no special place to store it, so I sit the end of 
>>>>>>>> the 
>>>>>>>> car and try to keep it out of the way.  In S. Jersey's River line, I 
>>>>>>>> can 
>>>>>>>> hang it.   I don't know about the rest of NJ Transit (I know one iBob 
>>>>>>>> member who does alot of NJT with bike, but not sure of storage 
>>>>>>>> situation.)  
>>>>>>>> On the Philadelphia bus system, Platy is too long and I'm afraid with 
>>>>>>>> one 
>>>>>>>> good bump, it would be road kill (yes, I'd tie it down if forced to 
>>>>>>>> take it 
>>>>>>>> on a bus rack).  You can see my 2019 Homer sits OK.  If I wanted to 
>>>>>>>> take a 
>>>>>>>> bike with me on Amtrak, Platy wouldn't be an option. Perhaps in other 
>>>>>>>> parts 
>>>>>>>> of the country, the bus racks are longer?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> So, how often would one need to take it on a train/bus/Amtrak?  For 
>>>>>>>> me, right now, little on Amtrak, but lots on busses.  I imagine the 
>>>>>>>> adventures I could have taking a bus/train one way and the bike the 
>>>>>>>> other 
>>>>>>>> direction.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Roberta  
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 12:44:52 PM UTC-5 Joe Bernard 
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> That's a good question, Brian. I'm a transit bus driver and 
>>>>>>>>> technically we have limits on what will fit on the bus but in reality 
>>>>>>>>> if 
>>>>>>>>> you've got stuff and you haven't convinced me you can't get that 
>>>>>>>>> stuff on 
>>>>>>>>> there..it's on there! My understanding (I've never been on Amtrak) is 
>>>>>>>>> the 
>>>>>>>>> bikes store vertically, my guess is if it's shorter than a tandem 
>>>>>>>>> it's 
>>>>>>>>> going to work. 
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Joe "I should plan a short Amtrak trip and see if they bounce my 
>>>>>>>>> custom" Bernard 
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 9:13:38 AM UTC-8 
>>>>>>>>> bmfo...@gmail.com wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Has anyone had their bike denied on Amtrak due to wheelbase 
>>>>>>>>>> length? The Amtrak I take occasionally has a 2" tire width limit in 
>>>>>>>>>> their 
>>>>>>>>>> fine print, but I have never had an issue even though all my tires 
>>>>>>>>>> are 
>>>>>>>>>> larger than that. I asked a conductor once and he basically said if 
>>>>>>>>>> its a 
>>>>>>>>>> standard bike (non-recumbent, non e-fat is what he mentioned) he 
>>>>>>>>>> didn't 
>>>>>>>>>> care. Obviously you can't assume every train official will be lax 
>>>>>>>>>> about it 
>>>>>>>>>> but I'm curious if anyone has had issues.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Brian
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 7:25:15 AM UTC-6 
>>>>>>>>>> allan....@gmail.com wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> It depends what type of bike-related service is available on the 
>>>>>>>>>>> Amtrak line you will be taking. The dimensions Joe cites are for 
>>>>>>>>>>> checked, 
>>>>>>>>>>> in a box. 
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> I occasionally bring a bike on the train  from where I live in 
>>>>>>>>>>> southern Vermont to New York City via the Albany Amtrak station. On 
>>>>>>>>>>> this 
>>>>>>>>>>> line there is only carryon service and there are only 4 special 
>>>>>>>>>>> bike 
>>>>>>>>>>> lockers available. The bike hangs from the rear wheel and the front 
>>>>>>>>>>> wheel 
>>>>>>>>>>> must be removed beforehand. It’s a bodged-up arrangement and I have 
>>>>>>>>>>> to lash 
>>>>>>>>>>> the frame with my own straps to keep everything from swinging and 
>>>>>>>>>>> damaging 
>>>>>>>>>>> the frame’s finish.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> I’ve taken both an Yves Gomez and a Trek crit bike. Both have 
>>>>>>>>>>> 650b wheels. I’ve never actually measured the vertical space 
>>>>>>>>>>> afforded by 
>>>>>>>>>>> the locker but without a front wheel it seemed that there might be 
>>>>>>>>>>> another 
>>>>>>>>>>> 8-10” available; I’ll bring a tape next time.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Allan, in snowy Marlboro, Vt.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> On Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 2:54:13 AM UTC-5 Joe Bernard 
>>>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Size and weight limit restrictions: 50 lbs. and 70" x 41" x 
>>>>>>>>>>>> 8.5". Your bike will be approximately 4-5 inches too long for 
>>>>>>>>>>>> Amtrak. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> On Monday, November 13, 2023 at 10:53:28 PM UTC-8 
>>>>>>>>>>>> kiziria...@gmail.com wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> I ordered a 55 Platy in the last presale, was thinking of 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> taking amtrak to pick it up in person and bring it with me back, 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Oakland to 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> LA. Can someone confirm whether or not the bike will be accepted 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> on the 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> train without boxing it up? Please and thank you. Good luck with 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> your 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Platycisions Leah! 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Monday, November 13, 2023 at 7:13:48 AM UTC-8 Edwin W wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I am with George. Once you have more than a certain number of 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> bikes (a number you are certain to have opinions about), one of 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> them should 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> be a folder!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Great for train travel.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Great for guests (they fit all kinds of people).
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Great for conversation starter.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Can be stored in a closet, attic, under the stairs, etc...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Good luck!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Edwin
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Sunday, November 12, 2023 at 8:16:07 AM UTC-6 George 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Schick wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If I were in your situation I'd be tempted to get a folder.  
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> PBH would not be an issue because they have very long seat 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> posts.  Some 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> models are equipped with more upright bars such as you're used 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to using.  
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> They come with a variety of different types of gearing and 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ranges.  And, of 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> course, they are step-though by definition.  That could be your 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> travel bike 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and you'd be able to get around any issues that some trains 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> have with 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> carry-on bikes.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 3:27:55 PM UTC-6 Bicycle 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Belle Ding Ding! wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I have a question that is probably only going to be 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> academic. But maybe not. I’ve done crazier things. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Anyway, I have an 81 cm PBH. I sized up to the 55 cm 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Platypus (PBH range starts at 82 cm) and I love the fit. I 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> adore my bikes. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> You can’t have them, I won’t sell them, don’t even ask. BUT, 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> they are long. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Too long for buses and for Amtrak. I desperately want to take 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Amtrak to 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Chicago with my bike for the first time, but my bike is too 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> long. RivSister 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Kate says she can get her 50 cm Platypus on Amtrak if she 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> undoes her V 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> brakes and lets some air out of her tire. But, I’m 5’6” and I 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> don’t know if 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I could ride that little bike. I don’t have one locally to try.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Also, I’d want the lime olive, which would be very hard to 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> find. Anyway, thanks for participating in my thought 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> experiment. That might 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> be a real experiment. Probably not. There’s likely a limit to 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> how many 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Platys a girl can have.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Leah
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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