Two bikes, one car

mark8191

Does anyone have experience transporting two carbon bikes in one car. I was thinking of removing front wheels and laying one of top of the other head to toe, separated by cardboard or a thick blanket.

Will the bikes be safe/ anyone else done this?

Car is a 5 door VW Golf hatchback.

Advice appreciated.

paulkilbourneassociates

Take out the wheels, and put in wheel bags. Put bikes minus wheels in padded bike bags.

pblakeney

An alternative while the wheels are off is to bungee cord hold them upside down on either side so they are not bouncing off each other. Padding as required.

MattFalle

they'll be fine as you suggested just make sure that they are bone dry when you put them in.

DeVlaeminck

Yes bikes aren't that fragile - should be fine

joe_totale-2

I was worried that there was going to be a link to some disgusting video

navrig2

I take both wheels off and stand the bikes upside down with a bungee connected to the dog grid to keep them upright. Just be careful with the RD as it can mark the headliner if greasy/dirty.

pblakeney

Large bin liners are good for covering the mucky bits.

laurentian

I have had many VW Golfs.

One of the main reasons for getting so many VW Golfs is that, with the rear seats fully folded down, front wheels and seatpost (inc saddles) removed from the bikes, they will fit in to the car, upright, one on the left, one on the right, with the handlebars either side of each of the headrests (they will not cause you or the passenger any problems) and the front drop outs on the "floor" created by the back of the folded down rear seats just behind the front seats.

Then use two short bungys to secure the crossbar of each bike to the handles above the rear doors to keep the bikes upright on a flexible "fixing". Luggage fits between the bikes and there's none of the security issues associated with a bike rack.

Done it loads of times

darrell1967

Our runabout is an old S Type Jag with 60/40 split rear seats. I can fold down the 60 part and get in 2 road bikes with their front wheels removed easily. I just put an old dust sheet in between them.

ugo.santalucia

I can fit two carbon bikes in the back of my Fiat 500... seats down, wheels off, a flattened cardboard box under and between the bikes... wheels on top of the pile in wheel bags (or one in one out if you only have one set of wheel bags)

captain_chaos

does the fact that they are carbon mean that's why they fit in a 500? Would aluminium bikes not fit? unsure why the material of the frame is important

mark8191

captain_chaos said:

does the fact that they are carbon mean that's why they fit in a 500? Would aluminium bikes not fit? unsure why the material of the frame is important

I only mentioned carbon as this is my first carbon road bike and am very much still in the honey moon period with it. I.e probably over cautious and treat it like its made of glass.

darrell1967

captain_chaos said:

does the fact that they are carbon mean that's why they fit in a 500? Would aluminium bikes not fit? unsure why the material of the frame is important

Everyone knows that carbon bikes fit into a Fiat 500 better than any other material. 🙄

My brother can’t get his ally bike in but his carbon bike fits no problem.

daniel_b

As already mentioned, if the cabin has the depth, front wheels and saddle off, lash one to each side of the car, preferably with oily bits not facing into the cabin. Use the central section for packing, but be wary of things that might fall over/slide and cause damage.

Dorset_Boy

A Chain Johnny on each drivetrain will help protect the car from the dirty oily bits of the bike:
https://tredz.co.uk/.White-Lightning-Chain-Johnny_52960.htm?source=aw&awc=6821_1627765223_a7a0795078ea18abcd722a3733137cba&utm_source=aw&utm_medium=648417

MattFalle

mark8191 said:

captain_chaos said:

does the fact that they are carbon mean that's why they fit in a 500? Would aluminium bikes not fit? unsure why the material of the frame is important

I only mentioned carbon as this is my first carbon road bike and am very much still in the honey moon period with it. I.e probably over cautious and treat it like its made of glass.

just make sure they are bone dry when putting then in and all will be well.

its just a couple of bicycles.

navrig2

One of the most efficient cars I have had for transporting bikes & people was a Mini Metro.

Because the steep rake of the rear hatch I could fit 2 mountain bikes in the "boot" area with seats up. The bikes were wheels off, upside down and wheels slotted into the gaps. Two bikes were also mounted on a rear rack resting on the hatch.

4 adults and 4 bikes in a Mini Metro with no anguish.

orraloon

navrig2 said:

4 adults and 4 bikes in a Mini Metro with no anguish.

🧐 My first company car was a Metro. I was lucky to fit myself in it, garage actually welded on some extensions to the front seat runners so I could shift the driver's seat back far enough to get my legs under the steering wheel.

4 people (plus 4 bikes)! Were you all Pidcock sized?

DeVlaeminck

I'm not driving a mini metro