Charlie Gallop Wheel Base Length?

[Glenn Mackin]

Hi all,

I have a very quick question: Does anyone know the length of the wheel base on the 61cm Charlie Gallop? I checked the Riv website, and their geometry chart doesn't list wheel base data. When I called Riv, they tried to measure it but didn't have a 61cm handy, so they measured the 57cm and added a few inches, estimating at around 55 inches (which seems sort of high, but of course, I don't know).

I'd like a more precise number because I'm trying to get a car rack that can fit the Gallop that I ordered a few weeks ago. I'd like to make sure that whatever I get will fit. 1up's racks, for instance, are specced for up to 54 inch wheel bases, and if Riv's estimate is right, then even that rack might be a little short. 

I guess if anyone has a 61cm Charlie and a rack that fits it, that would be useful information too.

Thanks all!

--Glenn

[Gordon Stam]

I get 49 inches on my 61 cm frame.

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[Gordon Stam]

And Glenn, I use an Allen Deluxe Hitch Bike Rack to carry my bike around. Link:

https://allen.bike/collections/best-sellers/products/deluxe-hitch-rack

Mounted on the Fiat the Charlie sticks out half the wheel's diameter on the driver side and somewhat less on the passenger side. Not usually a problem but a few days ago a fellow in a Toyota pickup tagged the rear wheel while backing out of a space next to me. I yelled and he stopped and no damage was done except to knock the bike askew. No harm, no foul. And I learned that a bike won't stay put on the rack by gravity alone if you don't cinch down the cradle straps when my Clem pitched off going down I-80 at about 70 mph. I was in the right lane an immediately pulled over onto the shoulder. Miraculously it was not harmed except for the relatively new Rivendell plastic saddle had one of the back corners ground off, as did a bit of one of the grips. And the rear rack got squashed a bit but I was able to bend it back into shape. The bike remained connected to the car by the voile strap around the pedal. Otherwise not a nick. As I said, something of a miracle. And the Riv saddle got replaced with an Ergon. More comfy.

I've included pictures of the bike on the rack in the folder below. It's more of a cheaper option in racks (I actually purchaed it at Walmart) but it's well built and works well for both bikes. I just have to make sure I don't forget to secure the cradle straps and mind where I park. Also it looks like the front wheel may be dangerously close to the ground but the hitch reciever (1 1/4") is even lower so it will hit before the wheel. It's a Fiat so I don't go off road. I do have a Jeep and the spare tire mounted version of the same rack for that. 

Overall I think it's a good product.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mgicFKOyMn9XFgsYRyrDr036-TS__txs

[Glenn Mackin]

Oh, thanks so much for the information! I'll need to think a bit about which direction to go. I had a Kuat Sherpa 2 rack, but even with the tray extender, it wasn't working very well with my fendered Platypus. I assume it would have the same issues with the Charlie that's coming my way. One advantage I have is that I don't haul bikes around too often--I have a lot of nice places to ride right near my house.

You're bike is beautiful, by the way.

[Roberta]

Ask Leah, Bicycle bell ding ding. She carries 55 platypuses and her 53 Charlie she can also carry her son’s L which I think is a 59.  I don’t remember the name of her rack, but it’s a DIRECT competitor to the one up by rack and I know she loves this one.  All of the  bikes have fenders.

[Tom M]

1Up used to sell a longer tray for the rack. We have one so we could carry our tandem. That doesn't answer your question, but if you like 1Up, that's a way, at extra cost, to make it work if the standard model is too short. I believe Leah's rack is made by Quikr (https://quikrstuff.com/shop/), which is founded by the same guy who started 1Up.

Tom in Alexandria, VA

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Tom and Roberta have it right - get the Quikr rack, cry about the price, pay it anyway and ride off in bliss. That rack does ANYTHING, and it can haul long, heavy e-bikes. It will certainly take your Gallop. It took my son’s 59 Clem L.

Leah

[Kim H.]

Hi Leah, 

Which Quik rack did you choose to accommodate your son's 59cm Clem?

A link would be excellent. 

Thank you. 

Kim Hetzel, who is loosing his strength to mount his Clem on top of his small car.

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[Glenn Mackin]

I'm pretty sure quikrstuff only offers the Mach 2, though they have it for 1.25" and 2" hitches. From what I have learned (I've done wayyyy too much research on this), quikrstuff does seem to be a significant improvement over the 1up. It also accommodates bikes up to a 56" wheelbase(!). If money were no object, I'd absolutely get one.... 

[Glenn Mackin]

Oh, I forgot to add the link, if anyone's interested (this is the link to the 2" hitch version, though as I said, they have a version that fits 1.25" hitches too): https://quikrstuff.com/product/mach2-single-rack-2-hitch-lv/

[Steven Seelig]

I'm a big fan of the 1UP racks.  I just bought the Super Duty as a single, and it is the one rack that you can fold up with my Tesla (yes, I know, Elon) without getting in the way of the hatchback.  I see others who can do the same with 2 racks at a slight angle.  Plus, it is industrial grade aluminum and is as solid a rack as I've ever owned.  Nothing rattles and the bikes are held firmly, both my road bike and my Rivendells.

https://1up-usa.com/product/super-duty

Steve Seelig, Washington, DC

[Leah Peterson]

Steve, do you have to use tools for the 1Up? The Quickr rack is tool-less, which may or may not matter. Both good racks.

On Jul 27, 2026, at 3:51 PM, 'Steven Seelig' via RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

I'm a big fan of the 1UP racks.  I just bought the Super Duty as a single, and it is the one rack that you can fold up with my Tesla (yes, I know, Elon) without getting in the way of the hatchback.  I see others who can do the same with 2 racks at a slight angle.  Plus, it is industrial grade aluminum and is as solid a rack as I've ever owned.  Nothing rattles and the bikes are held firmly, both my road bike and my Rivendells.

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[Glenn Mackin]

Judging from the videos/reviews I've seen, it looks like the 1up racks use a special proprietary Allen key to attach the rack to the hitch and to attach any add-on trays to the base rack. It doesn't look particularly burdensome, but it's not tool-less in the way that the Quikr rack is. 

Anyway, since I only have a 1.25" hitch, many of the advantages of the 1up Super Duty are somewhat lost. I decided that the 1up quikrack was sufficient for what I'm looking for (my second place finisher was the Rockymounts High Noon FC, which also ticks all the boxes I needed) Here's to hoping that it works!