Amtrak Anyone?

[Tom Bastnagel]

I'm new to Cruzbikes in hopes of doing some touring. Only put 5 miles in the church parking lot on so far but finding it much easier to handle than my first recumbent, a Longbike Slipstream. My question is: Has anyone taken something like a QX100 on Amtrak successfully? I'd like to do the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) and/or the Katy in Missouri (partially!). So has anyone used the Capitol Limited or the Missouri River Runner walk on bike service with their Cruzbike? Many thanks to hearing about other folks experiences with Amtrak!!

 

[1happyreader]

not really what you asked about but I know dbyrne rode the train back and posted this on www.crazyguyonabike.com/dbyrne

 

[Mathew Fy]

Tom, that sounds like a great idea! I plan to do something like that someday.
Bike-the -Gap states "Only standard-sized bikes are permitted. No tandems, no trikes, no recumbents, no fat bikes (we assume)."
http://www.bike-the-gap.com/essentials/roll-roll-off-bikes-amtraks-capitol-limited-line/
Amtrak states "Recumbent... are prohibited."
https://www.amtrak.com/bring-your-bicycle-onboard

The QX100, however, is packable. Read the Parker's blog post:
http://cruzbike.com/blog/2016/09/14/maria-and-i-tour-victoria-british-columbia-on-our-cruzbikes/
http://cruzbike.com/DOWNLOADS/PackingQuestSuitcase.pdf
As long as you can get it down to 34" x 15" x 48" in a bag, it will go as carry-on baggage in certain passenger cars or as checked baggage.

 

[super slim]

This is the bike rack on an Amtrak Surfliner, with tight spacing, so a Cruzbike would be too long!

 

[Frisard]

So, I am thinking that folding the qx100 might work. The attached pic is from Kim Tolhurst prepared to board the train in Hong Kong. I folded mine in this manner, and it took all of 10 mins.
Went to Amtrak today and talked to station attendant. Showed her a picture of unfolded QX100. She said that it would be good to roll aboard. But looking at the Amtrak bicycle info, they say 70" longest, and 41" high. The length fits, if the cranks are pulled back all the way. However, the top of the riser tube is 46". May have a problem there? The attendant stated that the bikes are 'hung on the wall of the baggage car', so rise tube may not be a problem.
Only way to know is buy a ticket and see what happens.

 

[Frisard]

View attachment 3842

This is the bike rack on an Amtrak Surfliner, with tight spacing, so a Cruzbike would be too long!

Where did you get this photo on the Surfliner?

 

[super slim]

Surfing the internet!
I think it is the Surfliner, but definitely an Amtrak train

 

[DavidCH]

I guess if I wanted to get on a train with the Vendetta, all you would need to do is take the rear wheel off. Then if anyone got a bright idea of taking the bike, they wouldn't get very far

 

[Frisard]

Surfing the internet!
I think it is the Surfliner, but definitely an Amtrak train

After I posted the question I saw the pic in a story about Amtrak biking in NewYork, while "surfing the net". Additionally, what I found was a lot of different ways Amtrak is addressing bikes onboard. There is no consistency, which is not good for planning.
BTW, I found pics/stories where the Surliner has roll-on bike storage in the same compartment where the passengers sit. Very convenient.

 

[Kufman]

A Q can get very small in about 30 seconds. I don't have enough posts to upload a picture or else I would.

 

[Charles.Plager]

A Q can get very small in about 30 seconds. I don't have enough posts to upload a picture or else I would.

If you have the image on the web somewhere, type in the address:

http :// some.web.site / directory / hereIsMyImage.jpg and a kind soul will post it for you.