how to make a transition bike rack

Use a really long drill bit.

Holy cow, you're really serious about practicing your transistions, aren't you! :D

I think I understand the design you're going for and I would just measure and drill holes @ the same spots on the side support conduits and use a 1 1/2" bolt to cinch them together.  Maybe then drill a smaller hole down lower to attach a string to limit the amount they would open.  The cross bar could just sit in the crook.  Maybe a hole on each end of the cross bar to zip tie it to the side supports.  Storage would be simple as well since it would all fold up and all you'd have to do is cut a zip tie or two. 

This is what I'm attempting to make racesmith.com/triathlonbikerackpictures.html. Seems simple enough. I have drilled multiple holes trying to find the correct angles for the legs sit right.

Do you have a drill press available? If you do then clamp your work piece down in a vise. Carefully "eye" it up and drill straight down/ through. Rotate the piece about 30 degrees (45 is half a 90, and 30 is about 2/3 of that by eye) and drill the other set of holes.

To get them to line up at the other end lay the conduit on a table, get a block of wood and lay a pen / pencil on it and rotate the conduit so that the pencil "lines " up with the center of your hole and scribe a line, repeat for second hole, and drill.

If you don't have a drill press how about a doweling jig, if you don't have one of those, make one by taking a piece of 2x4 roughly 1" 11/2". Find the center of the end by drawing diagonals and drill as straight as you can. 

Glue/ screw this block to one that is about three inches long. Clamp the conduit in place following the procedure above for drilling and scribing.

You might consider doing the sribing first, but either way will work.

Hope this helps.
If you need more info PM me. 

Thanks for all of the advise. I used a regular drill bit to make apilot thru the top and bottom of the conduit the used a 3/4" hole saw to enlarge the holes. Although the holes are not alligned perfectly end to end I figured out the legs needed a slight bend in them to make the whole thing more sturdy. It works but need some improvent. I was able to hang 5 bikes on it with no issues. Pictures to follow