Portable apparatus for retaining a bicycle

An apparatus to be used in conjunction with a sports rack attached to the roof of a vehicle, the sports rack having at least one elongated hollow rod, the apparatus to be used for retaining a bicycle, comprising:

• a. an upper elongated hollow rod having an exterior cross-section smaller than the interior cross section of the at least one elongated hollow rod of said sports rack and capable of insertion into said at least one elongated hollow rod of sports rack;
• b. the surface of the upper elongated hollow rod having at least one split adjacent one end and capable of having its exterior cross section expanded to a larger cross section at the location of the at least one split;
• c. a plug member located adjacent the end of said upper elongated hollow rod having said at least one split and capable of insertion into said upper elongated hollow rod to thereby increase the cross section of the upper elongated hollow rod at the location of said at least one split;
• d. means for drawing said plug member into said upper elongated hollow rod;
• e. a lower elongated rod rotatably attached to a clamping means at one end, the clamping means having clamps for retaining a bicycle;
• and
• f. a transverse separation member connecting said upper elongated hollow rod to said lower elongated rod in a manner wherein said lower elongated rod is spaced apart from said upper elongated hollow rod and said clamping means is positioned away from the vehicle when said upper elongated hollow rod is inserted into and retained within said at least one elongated hollow rod of said sports rack;
• g. whereby said upper elongate hollow rod may be inserted into said at least one elongated hollow rod of said sports rack and secured therein by a press fit formed from the expansion of one end of said upper elongated hollow rod when said plug member is caused to be inserted into it, and said clamping means can be attached to a portion of a bicycle for supporting the bicycle.