There are many ways to transport your bike. One is to take the front wheel off (and perhaps the back wheel, as well) and put the frame in your car, van or SUV. If you have a rooftop luggage rack, you could tie it to that (put a sheet of cardboard or other protective material under it to avoid scratching the roof).
You could also make an inexpensive roof mount yourself. See these plans for a relatively cheap but very rugged example. You'll need a roof rack to mount it on - if your car doesn't have one built in, you can get an aftermarket system for your vehicle such as Thule or Yakima.
There are also many makes of bicycle-specific carriers available commercially, including hitch mounts, roof mounts, spare tire mounts and trunk mounts.
Hitch mounts are easy to load and unload, but you have to watch out backing up. If you have an exceptionally long bike, like a LWB recumbent, it may stick out on the sides, as well, so be careful not to get dinged in the parking lot. You need hitch hardware on your vehicle to use the carrier.
Roof mounts get the bikes out of the way, but are awkward to load and unload. Watch for low ceilings (e.g. enclosed parking lots). And don't forget they're up there and drive into the garage before removing them!
Spare tire mounts are the cheapest style, but also generally the most poorly made. Don't overload them and watch out for rusting and breakage. After a tiring ride and long drive home, though, you can drive right into the garage and leave unloading for tomorrow.
Trunk mounts are very versatile - you can use them front or back, on virtually any kind of vehicle. They are easy to load and unload. Fabric straps tend to wear out, eventually, so keep an eye on them. There are many variations in price and quality in this category.
If you leave your car and bikes out overnight in a parking lot, be sure you have a mechanism for locking the bikes onto the carrier. If the carrier you choose can be removed from the car easily, like a trunk mount, be sure the bikes are locked to the car itself or make other safe arrangements for the bikes.
Prices vary considerably among types and brands, so shop carefully before you buy.
Carrier Manufacturers Draftmaster Hollywood Racks ProLine Racks Rocky Mounts Swagman Thule Yakima |
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On-Line Rack Retailers Auto Anything Automotive Accessories Bike Rack Shops ORS Racks Direct Rack Attack Rack n Road Rack Warehouse |
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On-Line Bike Retailers Alfred E. Bike Bike Nashbar Bike Parts Bike Parts Place Bike Tires Direct Bike Trailer Shop Bike USA Blue Sky Cycling Cambria Bicycle Outfitters Cyclosource (Adventure Cycling Association) I Cycle USA Performance Bike REI Universal Cycles |
© 2010 - 2012 Bob Beach |
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