Mounting Your Electra Townie: A Guide To Bike Rack Installation

The Electra Townie is a bike with a unique design, featuring a stem that is much higher than the seat. This can make it challenging to mount on a bike rack, as the bike may tilt downwards in front. One solution is to use a bike beam accessory, which creates a temporary top tube that you can hang the bike from. Another option is to use a standard Thule rack, with the arm positioned tightly in front of the front fender. Some users have also recommended the Saris Bones car rack, although this may require some trial and error to get the right setup.

Using a Thule rack

You can use a standard Thule rack to mount your Electra Townie. To do this, you'll need to put the arm down tight in front of your front fender.

The stem of the Electra Townie is much higher than the seat, so you may need to take the front wheel off to ensure there's enough clearance between the bike and the road. You can also try hooking the beam between the seat and the top tube to create a more level mount.

If you're using a Thule rack with a ledge under the left-hand arm, make sure the handlebars are to the right and the seat is to the left. This will allow you to strap the seatpost against the ledge to prevent the bike from swinging during transit.

Some users have also reported having to bend the forks of their Electra Townie to get it to fit on a bike rack, so be prepared for this possibility.

Using a Saris Bones rack

To put an Electra Townie on a Saris Bones rack, you'll need to purchase a Bike Beam accessory. This will help to counteract the geometry of the Townie's frame, which has a huge dip in the middle.

To set up the rack, hook the beam between the stem and the seat to create a temporary top tube. This will allow you to hang the bike from the rack. Make sure the bike is facing the right way on the rack, with the handlebars to the right and the seat to the left. This will ensure that the seatpost is strapped against the ledge on the left-hand arm, preventing the bike from swinging back and forth during transit.

If you're using a Thule rack, simply put the arm down tight in front of your front fender.

Note that you may need to bend the forks of the bike slightly to get it to fit on the rack.

Using a Bike Beam

To put an Electra Townie on a bike rack, you will need to use a bike beam to create a temporary top tube to hang the bike from. This is because the geometry of the Townie's frame is not suitable for a standard bike rack. The stem is much higher than the seat, so when you put the bike on the rack, it tilts down in front.

To use the bike beam, hook it between the stem and the seat. This will create a level mount for the bike. If you turn the bike the wrong way, there will be a bit of top tube to strap to the seatpost support platform.

It is important to note that the bike should be facing the right way on the rack. The handlebars should be to the right, and the seat to the left. This is because there is a ledge under the left-hand arm that is supposed to support the seatpost. By strapping the seatpost against the ledge, you can prevent the bike from swinging back and forth in transit.

The geometry of the Townie

To put an Electra Townie on a bike rack, you can use a standard Thule rack or a Saris Bones car rack with a Bike Beam accessory. The Bike Beam is necessary because of the unique geometry of the Townie, which features a huge dip in the middle. The beam is hooked between the stem and the seat, creating a temporary top tube to hang the bike from. This makes for a level mount, and you can strap the seatpost against the ledge to prevent the bike from swinging.

The position of the bike on the rack

To put an Electra Townie on a bike rack, you'll need to make sure the bike is facing the right way. The handlebars should be to the right, and the seat to the left. This is because there's a ledge under the left-hand arm that supports the seatpost. You'll need to strap the seatpost against the ledge to stop the bike from swinging back and forth in transit.

The stem is much higher than the seat, so when you put the bike on the rack, it will tilt down in front. You might need to take the front wheel off to get a safe amount of clearance between the bike and the road.

One user recommends using a Saris Bones car rack and Bike Beam accessory to carry an Electra Townie. Another user suggests using a standard Thule rack, with the arm down tight in front of the front fender.

If you're installing an Electra Townie White Alloy Rack, be aware that it might not fit all bikes. You may need to bend the forks to make it work.

Frequently asked questions