Bike racks on hire cars?

dave_o_brien

This is tangentially related to cycling...

I'm considering getting a car. I don't like driving, I've never been the type to enjoy a spin in the car or anything. I do, however, appreciate that they are practical machines that serve a purpose.

My question is that my usage will largely be to drive myself and one or two others to a race, go for a weekend break with my girlfriend, and maybe occasionally do a really big shop.

This would amount to 30-40 odd trips annually. Renting might just be cheaper.

Where do rental companies sit with regards fitting a bike rack to one of their cars? Anyone have much experience?

godtabh

Depends on how careful you are with the bike rack. Any damage caused by it it and you will be screwed. Might be better to buy a cheap run around

Zen0

Not quite answering your question, but some food for thought. We got rid of a second family car a year ago. Couldn't justify the running costs. The plan was to use hire cars or taxis on the odd times it might be needed. Haven't hired a car yet, just seems like a lot of hassle, so I suspect the concept seems better than the reality. That being said, it is likely to be cheaper than owning a car.

If carrying bikes is an issue, maybe the boot of a bigger hire car would work.

All that being said, having a car outside the door is very handy sometimes. If you do go down the hire route, I'd be interested to hear how it works.

Harrybelafonte

You wanna use a bike rack you'll need to rent a car with rails each time, as a car without rails needs a specific model of rack, i.e. the rack I had on the Lupo would not fit the Alfa I had before etc.

EDIT: Sorry, I'm only thinking of roof racks.

seamus

Hard shell bike box. Costs about the same as most bike racks and makes it much easier to load your bike neatly into a car. You'll also be able to put it in the boot of larger cars, or otherwise on the back seat of 99% of other cars.

nak

My husband and I use hire cars/GoCar for races and use one of the Hollywood bike racks. No issues so far.

godtabh

seamus wrote: »

Hard shell bike box. Costs about the same as most bike racks and makes it much easier to load your bike neatly into a car. You'll also be able to put it in the boot of larger cars, or otherwise on the back seat of 99% of other cars.

Any recommendations?

nak

seamus wrote: »

Hard shell bike box. Costs about the same as most bike racks and makes it much easier to load your bike neatly into a car. You'll also be able to put it in the boot of larger cars, or otherwise on the back seat of 99% of other cars.

Not as easy as a bike rack as you have to take the bike apart to get it in the box. I have used GoCar going to races by myself and was able to fit 2 bikes in the back of the car with the seats down and a mat over the seat backs to keep them clean.

smacl

I put the bike in the boot of the Kia Ceed on long journeys. Wheels, saddle and pedals off. 2-3 minutes at each end. You easily get two bikes in the boot of a medium sized car this way.

shaka

I wonder what are the insurance ramifications, hire company's can be difficult to deal with their terms and conditions. Might be worth asking will they cover it.

I was able to fit my bike in boot of my hatchback mondeo with front shell off. , back seats down and I could fit complete bike comfortably with another on top. Driving SkodaSuperb and can fit bike standing up behind front seats in footwell with front wheel off, very handy.

seamus

nak wrote: »

Not as easy as a bike rack as you have to take the bike apart to get it in the box. I have used GoCar going to races by myself and was able to fit 2 bikes in the back of the car with the seats down and a mat over the seat backs to keep them clean.

Agreed, and if you were taking a 45 minute trip, you could find yourself wasting 30 minutes at each end setting your bike up. Bonus of a bike box though is that you know you're not going to damage either the car or your bike (I managed to get a chainring imprint on the roof of my old car ). You also know the bike is more secure if you stop for lunch or whatever because it's in the car, and it doesn't look like a bike.

But it does incur a lot more overhead

Edit: OK, they're also about twice as expensive as a bike rack, but still

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-elsted-bike-box/

dave_o_brien

nak wrote: »

My husband and I use hire cars/GoCar for races and use one of the Hollywood bike racks. No issues so far.

Just to do some basic comparative maths, would you mind if I asked how much you spend annually on renting/membership? Ballpark figures will do. If you'd rather keep that private, that's fine!

nak

dave_o_brien wrote: »

Just to do some basic comparative maths, would you mind if I asked how much you spend annually on renting/membership? Ballpark figures will do. If you'd rather keep that private, that's fine!

GoCar is €5 per person per month. Used a car or van for cyclocross if too far to ride, worked out around €70 per trip all in (car picked up night before and returned within 24h). They sometimes have 20% off trips, and discounts apply if you spend over a certain amount/month.

Hire car from Avis varies, maybe €80 for weekend. No need for us to buy a car again; cargo bike takes care of food shopping.

We have never damaged a car with a bike rack. Toe straps are handy for locking wheels, bars etc in place.

Harrybelafonte

nak wrote: »

GoCar is €5 per person per month. Used a car or van for cyclocross if too far to ride, worked out around €70 per trip all in (car picked up night before and returned within 24h). They sometimes have 20% off trips, and discounts apply if you spend over a certain amount/month.

Hire car from Avis varies, maybe €80 for weekend. No need for us to buy a car again; cargo bike takes care of food shopping.

We have never damaged a car with a bike rack. Toe straps are handy for locking wheels, bars etc in place.

Is it still €50 to sign up. I have also considered doing this more recently. Between major rentals for trips home and vgocar for closer, it does make a certain amount of sense.
10% if you do over 100km one month and 20% for over 200 I think.

nak

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

Is it still €50 to sign up. I have also considered doing this more recently. Between major rentals for trips home and vgocar for closer, it does make a certain amount of sense.
10% if you do over 100km one month and 20% for over 200 I think.

It is €50, €15 credit for first trip. Discount applies to amount spent not distance. It's cheaper to use a hire car if doing more than city distances.