Date:         Mon, 14 May 2007 22:10:17 -0700
Reply-To:     Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Racks for Tandem Bikes?
Comments: To: BA <oddstray@oddstray.com>
In-Reply-To:  <56bi43ln9qb7b6uolqsh0scv9iir5sqgf0@4ax.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

BA typed:
> Wow.  I dunno ...
>
> We have three ways to carry our two single-rider bikes with our
> 'Esme'.
>

Hi B,

One of the things that we love about Vanagon camping is how easy it is
to convert from driving mode to overnighting mode, just by opening the
hatch, pulling out our gear, and making the bed. We sleep downstairs.
When I travel alone, I sometimes put my single bike inside, but if the
two of us are traveling, two bikes inside becomes a nuisance, making it
harder to pop into the kitchen to make a sandwich or set up for a quick
overnighter, so we use a hitch type bike carrier which plugs into a
receiver I had welded onto the front of Mellow Yellow to carry the two
bikes. The bikes get dirtier up front than they would if they were
carried behind the van, but our camping bikes are not fancy ones, and
not having them at the rear makes opening the hatch miles easier.

It bothered me no end to finally have a tandem and not see a way to
carry it that didn't cost three to four times as much as I paid for it.
The tandem I bought is 68'' long when the wheels are removed, and the
van is 68'' or so wide, so I'll just carry it crosswise back there.
Stephen pointed me to the not super-expensive Saris Bones bike rack
which straps to the rear hatch. That looks like it'll do the job quite
nicely should we decide to bring it along.

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR