10
votes
Accepted
What criteria should a cyclist consider when shopping for a car, partly to transport bikes to trails?
I'd say the most important thing is you need a hatchback.
This is not good:
This is better
If you take the wheels and saddle off, pretty much any car of the second type will fit one bike. If the car ...
- 1,704
7
votes
Accepted
Please suggest a Hitch Bike Rack Theft Protection Solution
As suggested in the comments, removing the rack is by far the most secure option.
The hitch rack pin can be replaced with a locking pin. Alternately if the end of the hitch is accessible and sticks ...
- 49.1k
6
votes
Is it ok for the trunk bike rack to rest against the glass of a hatchback?
I purchased a trunk mounted Thule bike rack for my Lexus back in May.
Yesterday while driving the back glass exploded!
After opening the trunk it was obvious the pressure from the metal clips which ...
- 61
6
votes
Accepted
CdA of a bike without rider
There are, but measurements typically will be protocol-dependent (and vary slightly between different wind tunnels).
For example:
Here is a link to a comparison done at the A2 Wind Tunnel in North ...
- 13.8k
6
votes
Accepted
Rear bicycle rack for car with mini-spoiler
The spoiler does not preclude using a rear mounted rack.
I have an Audi hatchbach with a similar spoiler. I use a Yakima King Joe (model discontinued but Yakima and Thule offer functionally ...
- 75.5k
6
votes
Accepted
How do I use this style of hitch rack?
Yes you must get something like a strap to hold the bikes in place. Something that you can tighten down to retain the bike and will not loosen. Nylon webbing straps with a tensioner are usually ...
- 12.7k
5
votes
What criteria should a cyclist consider when shopping for a car, partly to transport bikes to trails?
I'm going to say that there is nothing car manufactures do to cater specifically for carrying bikes around. At best maybe a few optional accessories to support carting bikes and even then, they are ...
- 705
5
votes
What criteria should a cyclist consider when shopping for a car, partly to transport bikes to trails?
The bikes are far better loaded behind the car
Until you back into something or you get rear-ended...
Don't be so quick to dismiss roof racks if you're serious about hauling more than 2 bikes.
Good ...
- 10.6k
5
votes
What criteria should a cyclist consider when shopping for a car, partly to transport bikes to trails?
If carrying the bike(s) outside the car: the only criterion (for the car) should be the presence of a trailer hook. Non-trailer hooks solutions are not super convenient, especially if you want to use ...
- 17.6k
4
votes
How do I use this style of hitch rack?
I was hoping to find installation instructions for your rack with factory tie downs.
You have a Hollywood Racks HR600/610 from around 2000. 2002 was the last year for a Traveler rack with arms like ...
- 20.7k
4
votes
Makeshift car rack for a short drive?
It sounds like one of these situations where walking, at the sustained pace of 3 mi/h - 4.8 km/h will do the job.
Think about the time you will need to set-up the bike to fit in the car. Probably you ...
- 3,480
4
votes
Preventing my trunk-mounted bike rack from being stolen
Nothing is theft proof for a determined thief. The best you can do is make more difficult to steal than a similar item close to yours. If your rack is hitch mounted a small cable looped through the ...
- 18.4k
4
votes
Rear bicycle rack for car with mini-spoiler
They're probably worried about liability rather than anything else, but it is harder to get something to fit.
The gold standard option would be a tow-ball mounted rack, but you need a tow-ball and ...
- 57.3k
4
votes
CdA of a bike without rider
Just to add another reference / data point, this image is from an aerodynamics course presentation by Bert Blocken of Eindhoven University of Technology. In it he references wind tunnel test results ...
- 2,415
4
votes
Mini-van for bicycle
The first thing is to consider how big the bike is and how much effort you're prepared to put into prepping the bike for transport. A compact road bike with no mudguards* will fit in a small ...
- 57.3k
4
votes
Best way to mount a bicycle on a car to minimize interaction with police?
In my country (New Zealand), you can either get a "supplementary" license plate, which can temporarily be secured to the load.
Our road rules also specifically allow moving the existing rear ...
- 121k
4
votes
Best way to mount a bicycle on a car to minimize interaction with police?
Try to keep it inside the car. With the wheels off and possibly with the seatpost and handlebar dropped, it should fit.
The bike will be safer (from thieves, debris, vibrations on the rack, etc). The ...
- 29.2k
4
votes
What criteria should a cyclist consider when shopping for a car, partly to transport bikes to trails?
The main question to consider is what else is the car being used for, and how often does it carry bikes? Its rare for people to only use a car to carry bikes, and not wise to make lots of compromises ...
- 49.1k
3
votes
Mini-van for bicycle
If its just yourself and one road bike, it will fit into the back a majority of hatch back style cars. With the seats folded down and front wheel off, you would be surprised how much space even a ...
- 49.1k
3
votes
Rear bicycle rack for car with mini-spoiler
As small as your A1 is, a roof rack might be a good option for you.
You won't have any issue with the spoiler.
The car is short enough that you shouldn't have any issue getting the bike to the roof.
...
- 1,512
3
votes
Hitch mounted bike rack swaying
Manufacturers recommend a strap to stabilize a (class 1) hitch-mounted bike rack so it doesn't bounce or sway. For example see Stabilizing Strap for Hitch-Mounted Accessories, and especially the ...
- 659
3
votes
Preventing my trunk-mounted bike rack from being stolen
The metal brackets that clip on the edges of the trunk lid cannot be removed when the trunk is closed and locked, so no-one is going to casually unclip the rack and walk off with it.
I suppose ...
- 75.5k
3
votes
Is it ok for the trunk bike rack to rest against the glass of a hatchback?
I highly recommend that you put a piece of wide Duct Tape on the CLEAN glass where the bike rack rubber/suction cups will contact. This prevents dirt from getting under the rubber/suction cups and ...
- 31
2
votes
Transporting a Carbon MTB
I don't know the official recommendation, but the clamp could be problematic with a carbon DT.
Here's the thing, though: I don't think the clamp is strictly necessary. The purpose of the arm is to ...
- 4,272
2
votes
Can I carry my tandem on a bumper carrier?
Can you tow a trailer with your car? That would be the safest and most responsible way to move your tandem.
Second option would be to ride it there, over the course of a day with rest stops you and ...
- 121k
2
votes
Accepted
Can you open the trunk with the Saris Bones 2 trunk rack attached?
I have a different Saris rack that has one top foot and two lower feet like the one you show, but I didn't find it on their website now. It has six straps, two top, two side, and two bottom. I use ...
- 2,708
2
votes
Retrofitting a roof rack
I took @Christopher Hunter's comment above an an answer, thank you: I looked up Thule adapter and found a retail shop near my house. I visited that shop today and was told that adapting was not ...
- 121
2
votes
How to protect brake cable that runs beneath top tube while hanging bike on rack
Personally I wouldn't worry about it.
One solution is to use pool noodles over the rack's supports where they touch the bike. Pool noodles are cheap and flexible and can be cut with a sharp knife. ...
- 121k
2
votes
Please suggest a Hitch Bike Rack Theft Protection Solution
You can purchase a locking pin to replace the pin that retains the rack in the hitch "receiver". Or you can padlock, via cable or chain, the hitch to one of the chain loops on both sides of ...
- 53.4k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible