Transporting bikes by car

stopped_clock

I do a fair bit of driving around the country, and I like to take my road bike with.

I've got a Golf, so I usually drop the back seats, take off the back shelf and put the bike in the boot/back-seat with the wheels off.

This is a bit cumbersome and uses a lot of space, so there must be a better way.

Is there a better way of getting the bike into the car that I've missed?
How secure are roof- or rear-mounted racks from thieves?
Is the bike likely to get damaged in a rack on twisty country roads?

Thanks!

Nietzschean

i don't know about a golf exactly, but i've gotten my bike with just the front wheel detached into any car i've tried where the seats can drop, far less cumbersome than having to take both wheels off... generally just takes a bit of fiddling first time with that car to figure out how to do it exactly. then after that know which way and its pretty quick.

Racks would be more convenient but i've never seen any secure enough you'd be happy to leave your bike on for a few hours while your not there....

Beasty

Can you get the bike in by only removing the front wheel? This is obviously much more straightforward than removing both.

I have used both roof and rear mounted systems. I don't think they are particularly risky provided you park in reasonably safe/secure areas (watch for height restrictions with a roof nounted system though:))

Some roofrack systems are lockable, and you can always put a cable lock on a rear mounted rack. These systems are designed for bikes and should not damage them.

bbosco

Beasty wrote: »

Can you get the bike in by only removing the front wheel?

Yes, I do this all the time with a Ford Focus. I don't even need to take the tray out. In fact, I can get it in with all the wheels on too but with the tray taken out.

Ryder

Have a Thule roof mounted rack. Very secure. It has a lock that would probably deter scummers in a public place/ prevent opportunistic theft.

Home:Ballyhoura

Thule do a one or two roof mounted models that actually lock with a key. They seem very secure altogether, one clamps onto the frame and cannot be opened up to take off the bike without unlocking it (can leave both wheels on) but the one I prefer is the one where the front wheel comes off, it clamps to your fork dropouts like a quick release and is locked in there until you get back! Best of luck...;)

EDIT: Ooops, Ryder beat me to it! Oh well....

ednwireland

my thule roof rack has locks for the roof rack and i have a rack that secures the forks, this has a key as well, so in theory you cant get the bike of easily

would i leave it in the middle of dublin NO, but deters opportunist skangers, and whenti think of it 3 thule bike carries and the roof rack wa about 350 quid so worth locking anyway.

DurtyMurty

Personally, I'ld be terrified to put a valuable bike on the roof in case I'ld forget about it and drive under a height restriction barrier somewhere

Could do a few practice runs with t'auld bike I suppose

Beasty

DurtyMurty wrote: »

Personally, I'ld be terrified to put a valuable bike on the roof in case I'ld forget about it and drive under a height restriction barrier somewhere

Could do a few practice runs with t'auld bike I suppose

I bought a hybrid a few years back. Took it from the shop to the car, and mounted it on the roof. Fortunately someone pointed out the height restriction at the car park exit before I set off:o

Esroh

I can get the bike with I wheel into the Boot or back seat of an Almeara but have a Towbar mounted rear Rack which is very handy. Have taken up to 3 bikes and they very secure. The bikes dont extend beyond the side of the car but you would have to check width on the Golf

If you have a towbar mounted rear rack it can be locked in place by replacing the clamp nut with a U lock. Then lock the bike to the rack with a cable lock.

Danbo!

What golf is it? I've an 01 golf and the bike (medium road bike) fits in with wheels on. However, for the first few weeks I owned the car I didn't realise that the 'arse' part of the back seats fold forward against the front seats, then you fold the 3 seat backs down flat, so level with the boot floor. You'll have to take off rear headrests if you have them. Ok so it still involves folding the seats down so still hassle, but no more taking wheels off.

hawkwing

I can get my roadbike into the back of a toyota corolla with both wheels on,i let down the back seat and then throw an old blanket over it if i am parking somewhere with it,you cannot see it at all when the partition thing is put back on that connects to the backdoor.

BostonB

Other than the solutions above, I think the obvious would be to Get a bigger car, or small van/MPV? Bit extreme, but if you were doing it a lot...

Beasty

BostonB wrote: »

Other than the solutions above, I think the obvious would be to Get a bigger car, or small van/MPV? Bit extreme, but if you were doing it a lot...

.... or a smaller bike!:)

BostonB

True
Full sized folder etc

gman2k

I had an E Class Mercedes saloon, and the racing bike could fit behind the front seats, with just the front wheel taken off!

dolanator

easiest thing you can do is buy a small van-sorted!

stopped_clock

I was away for the past week and couldn't get to the net, so sorry for not re-posting sooner. Thanks a million for all the replies.

tbh I never have that much trouble getting the bike into the car at the moment. My problem is that if I'm transporting the bike I effectively lose my back seats.

Beasty wrote: »

Can you get the bike in by only removing the front wheel? This is obviously much more straightforward than removing both.

Sorry yeah - I know I said I take both wheels off in my OP, but I usually only do this if I need space for bags etc - usual procedure is front wheel only.

Ryder wrote: »

Have a Thule roof mounted rack. Very secure. It has a lock that would probably deter scummers in a public place/ prevent opportunistic theft.

Home:Ballyhoura wrote: »

Thule do a one or two roof mounted models that actually lock with a key...

So it's looking like a Thule roof-mounted rack. I don't have a tow-bar, and don't fancy getting one fitted just for a bike rack.

BostonB wrote: »

Other than the solutions above, I think the obvious would be to Get a bigger car, or small van/MPV? Bit extreme, but if you were doing it a lot...

dolanator wrote: »

easiest thing you can do is buy a small van-sorted!

Yeah, I was considering getting a Nissan Navara pick-up there for a while. Trouble is, I can barely justify running the Golf at the moment! I'd have thought an estate would be the best bet (and would leave me with the back seats!).

Thanks again.

michaelm

I've been using a draw bar mounted rack for 3 years now and I can't praise it highly enough, takes seconds to put on/take off and keeps bike well clear of the car. If parking anywhere on a journey I always use my lock to secure the bike to the rack. The only downside of this system is, obvously, you need a draw bar - but this can have plenty of other advantages also.

tomasrojo

Airnimal Performance Sport is, allegedly, a good full-size folding road bike.

crashoveroid

Do what i done go and buy an estate i got sick of having to do lots fiddling to get the bike in so i decided to upgrade and buy something that was comfortable and had buckets of room.

Gavin

Take off front wheel and also saddle and then you only need to put one seat down !

alfalad

gman2k wrote: »

I had an E Class Mercedes saloon, and the racing bike could fit behind the front seats, with just the front wheel taken off!

Same as with my alfa, it effectively stands up in the back between the front and back seats, I take the front wheel off and turn the handle bars and it fits nice and snuggly! The rear wheel goes where a passengers feet would go if that makes it clearer. It also means i have full use of the boot and the back seat for a bags etc. The fact it's in the car also makes it a bit more secure and it I'm ever leaving the car for any amount of time I put the lock securing the bike either throught the two seat belts in the back or through the door handle if possible.