Locking release lever for securing a bicycle on a bicycle rack

A method of converting one or more ratcheting mechanisms of a bicycle rack from a first configuration in which the one or more ratcheting mechanisms are associated with one or more non-locking release levers to a second configuration in which it the one or more ratcheting mechanisms are associated with one or more locking release levers, the method comprising:

• removing the one or more non-locking release levers from the bicycle rack at least in part by removing the one or more non-locking release levers from the one or more ratcheting mechanisms;
• and
• attaching the one or more locking release levers to the one or more ratcheting mechanisms of the bicycle rack, wherein a given locking release lever of the one or more locking release levers, when attached to the ratcheting mechanism, includes at least:
• an anchor that is fixedly secured to a given ratcheting mechanism of the one or more ratcheting mechanisms of the bicycle rack;
• a swing lever with a first end and a second end, the first end being at least one of connected with or integral with the anchor, the swing lever configured to be swung between a first position which causes to the given ratcheting mechanism to be engaged and a second position which causes the given ratcheting mechanism to be disengaged;
• and
• a lock at least one of connected with or integral with the second end of the swing lever, the lock including at least a bolt, the lock configured for being locked when the swing lever is in the first position, the bolt of the locked lock extending from the lock and preventing the swing lever from moving into the second position and disengaging the given ratcheting mechanism.

A locking release lever, the locking release lever being one of one or more locking release levers configured for at least one of engaging or disengaging one or more ratcheting mechanisms of a bicycle rack, the one or more ratcheting mechanisms configured for securing a bicycle on the bicycle rack when engaged and for freeing the bicycle when disengaged, the locking release lever comprising:

• an anchor that is fixedly secured to a given ratcheting mechanism of the one or more ratcheting mechanisms of the bicycle rack;
• a swing lever with a first end and a second end, the first end being at least one of connected with or integral with the anchor, the swing lever configured to be swung between a first position which causes to the given ratcheting mechanism to be engaged and a second position which causes the given ratcheting mechanism to be disengaged;
• and
• a lock at least one of connected with or integral with the second end of the swing lever, the lock including a bolt, the lock configured for being locked when the swing lever is in the first position, the bolt of the locked lock extending from the lock and preventing the swing lever from moving into the second position and disengaging the the ratcheting mechanism;
• and
• wherein when the one or more ratcheting mechanisms are disengaged one or more movements of one or more holding arms associated with the bicycle rack are restricted to movement in one direction and wherein when the one or more ratcheting mechanisms are disengaged the one or more movements of the one or more holding arms associated with the bicycle rack are freed for movement in at least two directions.