Yesterday, I took my bike on board the commuter train for the first time. I had some trouble with the bike hook. I couldn't lift the front end of the bike up that high! A nice guy helped me out, but he got off before I did and I had a difficult time getting my bike back down when I needed to get off.

I think that part of the problem was that I couldn't find a good spot to grab the front end to lift it up. The swaying train didn't help. The hook is also up really high - I couldn't reach it with my hand at all. Additionally, I commute on a Surly LHT; with my lock strapped to the rack and the other normal commuting gear the bike weighs in around 30 - 35 lbs, which is more than I am comfortable lifting that far over my head. I don't normally have trouble lifting or carrying the bike. I can load it into the car or carry it up stairs just fine, but lifting it over my head is another story.

I'd really like to take the train more. I can replace a 40 minute bumpy, noisy, usually-10-minutes-late bus ride with a quiet 10 minute train trip + 1.5 mile ride to my destination. Any advice on getting my front wheel all the way up to that hook?