Best way to transport the carbon lovely?

Aimless King

Finally caved in and bought myself a carbon road bike over the summer. The question for all you peeps out the now is...what's the best way of transporting it around on my car? Ideally I'd just pop the wheels off and place it very gently in the back(!), but I only have a small car, and there are times I might have to use the back seats for passengers!

I've already got a Thule bike carrier, but it is one of the old fashioned ones that clamps the down tube, and I'm not sure I'm all that comfortable with doing that on this bike? What do poeple think about the carriers that clamp at the fork ends? Are they stable enough?

Advice welcome!

pabloweaver

saris bones , excellent piece of kit , 2 mins to put on , 30 seconds to take off , holds bike in a nice sensible manner and if you shop around you may still get one with the locking kit to fasten the thing to your cars towing eyelet when away from the vehicle .

one of the best £100 purchases I have made for cycling stuff.

oh and its fitted every car I have tried it on and yes my bike is carbon !

Chrissz

If you already have a set of Thule bars get some front fork clamps and a wheel holder - personally I'd be very leary of fixing via the frame - I'd be too worried about dust and movement rubbing hell out of the frame!

(having said that - I am a little precious about my bike - it always goes inside the car on a blanket so it doesn't rub against the wheel or anything else in the car).

giant_man

The carriers that clamp at the fork ends? Are they stable enough?

I have a feeling they are only suitable for vans or estate cars, not saloon cars. Here you go:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Minou ... 360018238/

heatonrider

I had the same dilemma and went for the front fork holding option - check the fork drop outs are aluminium as the instructions said not suitable for that ... that said they get some hammer when you ride the bike!

Mister W

TBH I'd put it inside the car and make my passengers take the bus.

maddog 2

buy a focus estate?

Chrissz

giant mancp wrote:

The carriers that clamp at the fork ends? Are they stable enough?

I have a feeling they are only suitable for vans or estate cars, not saloon cars. Here you go:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Minou ... 360018238/

I used one for years on my old Capri (which I often used to hammer on the way to TTs as I was often late!) with no problems at all.

giant_man

Yeah which is a large hatchback in effect, I had two myself too.

ednwireland

thule roof rack and carrier i've had for years you take off the front wheel and clamp the fork and theres a ratchet for the rear wheel

an old version of this

http://www.thule.com/Thule/ProductPage____83145.aspx

hammerite

I have a tiny car which no one would want to sit in the back seats, so the frame goes in the back with the wheels off (on a blanket) and the wheels go in the boot - but I rarely do this.

If I drive our other car it's an estate, I put the seats down and leave everyone at home. The bike then has a blanket to lay on and a blanket on top.

We have a Thule tow bar mount rack too, but if I use that we're generally all taking our bikes, and there's little point me riding my best road bike when the rest of the family are on MTBs or hybrids!