Bike Transportation

steelo

Hi all,

I am well into the habit of driving about 30 minutes to meet up with a group of keen XC MTBers each wednesday evening at various locations around the area. We ride for 2-3 hours with a pub stop etc. and eventually I drive home. Most of the group also drive or ride to the meeting point but I definitely am situated the furthest from the usual trails.

The last time I joined up with them, a few weeks ago, I damaged some ligaments in my back as I lifted my rockhopper out of my car boot (hatchback). I am now quite unsure whether it's something I should be doing at all. I reach into the boot (back seats folded down) to lift the bike and drag/lift it out. The ligaments are healing (according to the osteopath) but I don't want to strain them by doing a similar lifting schoolboy error.

What alternatives can be suggested, and which are better methods of transporting a bike on/in/behind a car?

Some people in the group use an upright roof rack, but i'm not too keen on fitting roof bars to my sporty hatchback. I've considered a boot mounted rack but i'm nervous about the bike swinging against the paintwork. And I really am not keen on fitting a towing ball.

HELP!!!!!!

BernieG

So to sum up you don't want to put a rack on the roof of your car or the back and you don't want to put the bike in the car....doesn't give many more options really does it ?
:roll:

Suggest you ditch aforementioned 'sporty hatchback' for something more practical

steelo

It does sound a bit rediculous I know, but I want advice on good, protected, proven ways of transporting a bike using a car other than putting it in the boot.

If a roof rack is the way to go then fair enough, they just don't look safe!

Cps

Buy one of these

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/05/nice ... five-door/

job done!

steelo

I'd never get that in my car boot with or without the seats folded down, let alone on a roof rack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

nicklouse

steelo
get a towbar fitted. maybe a Stowbar (the ball is removable) and then a good rack like a thule europro 903 that supports the bike by the wheels.

no lifting etc...

best means of transporting a bike (or three) i have used. I use it on the back of the van so i can put more bikey stuff in the van rather than the bikes.

current car i am looking at can not take a tow bar due to the exhaust but a different version of the car can. so i am considering a custom exhaust just so i can fit a tow bar.

chillinuk

Just use a bike rack that hooks on the boot of the hatch, i have done this time and time again ,when carrying multiple bikes, with no issues. I pass the excess straps through the wheels and forks and tie them together, this secures the bike further, stops the wheels from spinning ( like you see on the overtaking lane of the motorway far too often).
This all depends on the 'sporty hatch' and if there is a rack to fit the motor, they normally tell you, but i can look at my instructions if you reveal the guise of this mystery 'sporty hatch'. I have a simple halfords one that does the job on my hatch (one of the cheapest i could find that looked stable).

landranger

Or what about this?

http://www.discountbicycles.co.uk/biz/product.php?xProd=3621&xSec=4052

I'm not too sure if it'll hang off a hatchback, but I'm sure a quick email to someone will tell ya. Oh and you'll get it cheaper somewhere else too.

steelo

The 'sporty hatch' is a Seat Leon FR, 56 reg. so its the new shape. Seat do a roof bar kit and bike carrier all fitted for just under £300 last time I checked. The other one I originally considered was a Saris Bones rack.

Dax

I use one of these on the back of my van.
It is tow ball mounted and the only one I have seen that will work with a swan neck tow ball.
It looks well suspect but it supported all 17.5 stone of me from the arms when I tested it.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOW-BALL-MOUNT-CA ... dZViewItem

miket-62

Having had my two bikes stolen and the Police saying that the Rack mount on my car might have attracted the thieves, I for one will be keeping my bikes IN the back of the car Bad back or not!
Words of wisdom! Be warned... Theiving scum look out for any tell tale sign of "decent stuff" to steal!

chillinuk

May i first commend you on a lovely choice in car. I decided off splashing out on that as my new motor as the boot hatch just seemed too small to put the bike through when i was not using a rack. I have found this site that may help you out with your problem.

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=139682

robmanic1

The roof mounted carriers keep your pride and joy out of harm's way, just be careful when driving on French roads when you come to Toll booths with very low barriers, DOH!

FSR_XC

Just ride to the meeting point!

steelo

Well in essence that is a fantastic idea, but by car I am usually 30-45 minutes away, and 50% of that is dual carriageway at 70(ahem)mph!

I think i'll just struggle with the car boot, old bed sheets, and pieces of foam - oh and carefully with the back!

gs3

I sometimes use a section of perspex (just slightly shorter than the bike) which I place into the car with the seats folded down forming a 'new' boot floor. To place the bike in the car simply lift the edge of the perspex onto the rear lip of the boot and place the bike onto it before sliding into the car. When bike is in far enough, lift the 'platform' back down and close boot. To remove bike, lift platform onto sill and slide bike back out. No effort, no strain and no damage to bike. I suppose it depends on type of car as well but works for me.