Car-transport bike w/ full fenders?

[Ed Stillman]

Gearing up for a full season of brevets, I've mounted full fenders on my bike. In the past, I've transported the bike on a fork-mount roof rack, but I think it won't fit with the front fender. (Not to mention the aerodynamic mess it would be.)

Is there any consensus about the best way to transport bikes w/ fenders installed? Roof rack that allows both wheels, trunk rack? I could get a hitch installed, but that would get expensive. Or should I just trade the car in for a minivan? (I could sleep in it!)

[Lounging Longhorn]

If you are handy you can install a hitch yourself and they are
reasonably priced online. The model that fits my car is available for
about $120.

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[Rich Mulvey]

I use this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Thule-598-Criterium-Upright-Rooftop/dp/B000GT70DK

and it works great--very fast to load and unload the bike, and it's solid as a rock. The primary reason I got it was to deal with my kids' bikes, which because of the wildly varying wheel sizes and frame configurations were a pain to deal with with standard fork mount racks.

On Fri, Mar 27, 2015 at 1:03 PM, Ed Stillman <egsti...@gmail.com> wrote:

Gearing up for a full season of brevets, I've mounted full fenders on my bike. In the past, I've transported the bike on a fork-mount roof rack, but I think it won't fit with the front fender. (Not to mention the aerodynamic mess it would be.)

Is there any consensus about the best way to transport bikes w/ fenders installed? Roof rack that allows both wheels, trunk rack? I could get a hitch installed, but that would get expensive. Or should I just trade the car in for a minivan? (I could sleep in it!)

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[Mark Wooldridge]

Of course there's a consensus, but it depends on who you talk to. A trunk or hitch mount might be easiest, but not everyone wants to hang their bike by the top tube. A few racks clamp onto the wheel outsides over the tire so they won't work either. Another option is a tandem mount that raises the mount at the front like ATOC's topper mount. The wheel tray can be shortened for a single. Mark W Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

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From: Ed Stillman <egsti...@gmail.com>;
To: <ran...@googlegroups.com>;
Subject: [Randon] Car-transport bike w/ full fenders?
Sent: Fri, Mar 27, 2015 5:03:33 PM

Gearing up for a full season of brevets, I've mounted full fenders on my bike. In the past, I've transported the bike on a fork-mount roof rack, but I think it won't fit with the front fender. (Not to mention the aerodynamic mess it would be.) Is there any consensus about the best way to transport bikes w/ fenders installed? Roof rack that allows both wheels, trunk rack? I could get a hitch installed, but that would get expensive. Or should I just trade the car in for a minivan? (I could sleep in it!)

--

[George Swain]

I assume you're unable to do this or wouldn't be asking, but I'm a huge fan of traveling to and from brevets with my full bike with fenders in the back of my hatchback car. We have a Toyota Prius and a Subaru Outback. Both work perfectly. I have a roof rack as a fallback on the Subaru when we're packed to the gills as a family embarking on vacation, but only use it under those circumstances. I know too many people who have "garaged" a perfectly good bike by forgetting it's up there. 

I highly recommend the Prius as a rando vehicle. You'll feel slightly less guilty driving so far for events. You definitely don't need a minivan.

George

[AKThomas]

My rando vehicle (a VW Eurovan) has a hitch mounted rack.  It is much easier to use and more convenient than a roof or trunk rack. But, if at all possible, the bike(s) go inside the vehicle.

[Ed Stillman]

Rich- I've been looking at that and the similar Thule 'Big Mouth'. 

George- I actually have a Volvo wagon, so tossing the whole thing in there is easy when it's just me and the bike. But I'm often making the Dutchess County/NYC commute with two 50lb dogs in the back. And then some sense of noblesse oblige as a NYer w/ a car made me offer to drive riders to Cranbury next weekend. Fortunately the guy that took me only has clip on fenders, so I can fork mount his bike, with mine in the back.  (See you there?) 

[PatCH]

A small segue. As rock-solid as the Thule products are, they were no match for NYC thieves, who were considerate enough to lift the entire roof rack along with four Thule Sidearms without leaving a scratch on my car a couple years ago. Perhaps the thieves in Brooklyn have their sights set on bigger fish (like the entire car), but unless your car is garaged, I'd think twice. +1 on George Swain's Prius vote, which carried my bike for many brevets (and off which the Thule stuff was lifted), but I now have a minivan for other, diaper-changing-related reasons.

On Fri, Mar 27, 2015 at 3:32 PM, Ed Stillman <egsti...@gmail.com> wrote:

Rich- I've been looking at that and the similar Thule 'Big Mouth'. 

George- I actually have a Volvo wagon, so tossing the whole thing in there is easy when it's just me and the bike. But I'm often making the Dutchess County/NYC commute with two 50lb dogs in the back. And then some sense of noblesse oblige as a NYer w/ a car made me offer to drive riders to Cranbury next weekend. Fortunately the guy that took me only has clip on fenders, so I can fork mount his bike, with mine in the back.  (See you there?) 

[Steve Palincsar]

On 03/27/2015 02:01 PM, 'Mark Wooldridge' via randon wrote:

Of course there's a consensus, but it depends on who you talk to.

And yet another option is a wagon with enough interior space to allow the bike to lie on its side with both wheels on.  The VW Jetta/Golf SportWagen is large enough to carry my 60 cm bikes that way with the back seat folded down.

It's really much better to have the bike inside the car than up on the roof or hanging off the back, out in the weather.

[PatCH]

And as if on cue, an email from Competitive Cyclist just popped into my inbox to let me know about their Thule sale this weekend. Though one might be able to get just as good, if not better, prices elsewhere.

[Ed Stillman]

Yes, Pat. That email prompted this inquiry on a topic I'd been pondering for a while. 

And a neighbor of mine had a rack torn off the roof of his car by some eager Brooklynites. I double park at my door, unload the bike, then the dogs (sorry, girls), and then park in the building's garage. 

[David Eisenberg]

Another vote for the Pruis. Mine has carried mine with full metal fenders without a problem.  A bit of a challenge to fit more than  one bike inside but it can be done if you have enough padding to protect the bikes. 

Sent from my iPhone

[George Swain]

Hi Ed - Volvo wagon sounds perfect! The 50 lb. dog bit has me a bit stumped, though. 

I try to offer my ride sharing services to only one additional rider at a time and throw a wool blanket between the bikes. I'd just remove the front fender rather than buying a whole new rack, though, unless you really don't like the rack.

I won't be able to ride the Cranbury 200K this year. Out of town with the family. Have fun!

George

[George Swain]

The Prius is large enough to fit a full bike, lying flat with wheels and fenders on, as long as the rear seats are down. You can even fit a second bike with a wool blanket in between.

George

[Eric Nichols]

An easy solution for carrying a fendered bike on a roof rack is the Hurricane Fork-up Riser. I use one for my rando bike and tandem and they work great.
http://hurricanecomponents.com/riser

Eric

[Lynne Fitz]

when I had a minivan, and we moved past the child transport phase (soccer teams, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, related gear, you name it), I pulled out the rear bench seat and had the Perfect Bicycle Transport Vehicle. Up to 4 people and their bikes (a few front wheels had to be removed), but for rando, it was usually 3 folks and their fendered bikes, all standing up, luggage installed. I could even haul a tandem (captain's chairs in the second row) fully assembled, upright. Once, two tandems, but one had couplers. And gear. Can't forget the gear.

After driving it into the ground, the major requirement for the next vehicle was "carries a bicycle upright inside". I bought 2011 Honda Element. It has carried up to 3 folks and 3 bikes (a front wheel was removed), plus gear, for a brevet up in Olympia.

Having the Element has allowed for driving back to pick up a rider with a mechanical, as well as, of course, carpooling. And the bike is inside, with all the luggage and accessories, and NOTHING is going to fall off or be stolen.

[ripva...@gmail.com]

Thule makes a rack attachment that does not require removal of the front wheel.

 

I just throw the bike into the rear cabin of my truck or sometimes into the bed but that takes longer to secure properly.

[Randon Nerd]

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[Nigel]

My minivan makes a great Rando vehicle. I carry my fendered bike in it upright, with bags. I love the fact that when I arrive no assembly is  required and when I leave, just open the rear door and put the whole thing inside. 

I have taken it out of state with two other riders, 4 total bikes and gear with everyone and everything inside out of the weather and safer from theft.

I even used it as a mini RV on a brevet in  another state by taking out the rear seats and sleeping in it in a cot with the bike inside the van as well.

[Larry Parker]

MiniVans are the pinnacle of practical auto design. Versatile, they serve
well as family car, taxi, and almost-a-truck.
Their only shortcoming would be gas mileage when used by only one person,
but they are not all that bad, comparatively. Ours will do 22+ highway when
loaded. Get a crowd of 4 or more, with luggage or bikes, and they look a lot
better. As long as we have two cars (4 people in the household right now)
one of them will be a minivan. When it is just the two of us in a couple of
years, and my wife insists on owning a car, I will still want the minivan
for hauling bikes. Though I wouldn't mind having a classic Austin Healey
3000 for fun.

[Steve Palincsar]

On 04/03/2015 09:57 PM, Larry Parker wrote:
>
> MiniVans are the pinnacle of practical auto design. Versatile, they
> serve well as family car, taxi, and almost-a-truck.
> Their only shortcoming would be gas mileage when used by only one
> person, but they are not all that bad, comparatively. Ours will do 22+
> highway when loaded. Get a crowd of 4 or more, with luggage or bikes,
> and they look a lot better. As long as we have two cars (4 people in
> the household right now) one of them will be a minivan. When it is
> just the two of us in a couple of years, and my wife insists on owning
> a car, I will still want the minivan for hauling bikes. Though I
> wouldn't mind having a classic Austin Healey 3000 for fun.

They do have one or two other shortcomings. 1) They've grown far too
large. In recent years, widths have increased and wheelbases have grown
enormously. 2) Some designs have exceptionally poor performance on
certain crash tests.

[Jan Heine]

If you make a Rinko-style rear fender, then you can carry your bike with the wheels removed, and it'll take up only a little more space than a racing bike (the front fender sticks out a bit). For details, see the articles in the latest Bicycle Quarterly... It's basically just a split rear fender. (For Rinko, you also remove the handlebars, so the bike fits into a very small package.)

Jan Heine
Editor
Bicycle Quarterly

[Ed Stillman]

They do have one or two other shortcomings.  1) They've grown far too
large.  In recent years, widths have increased and wheelbases have grown
enormously.  2) Some designs have exceptionally poor performance on
certain crash tests.

And a 3rd shortcoming - They handle poorly for anyone that like to drive. The new generation of the Ford Transit Connect in passenger version is getting pretty well received on all those points, but also chided as over priced. 

Reality is that I've got 7-8 years until I get a new car; I'd rather spend my money on bikes. I think it's going to be Thule Criterium with the 20% off coupon I've got from REI. 

[Lounging Longhorn]

They would be a lot better if they were offered with 4 cylinder
diesels rather than the big gas V6s they have now. Why do you need to
go 0-60 in under 8 seconds in a minivan? 248HP and 120MPH top
speed??? Ridiculous.

http://www.caranddriver.com/honda/odyssey

Heck for that matter, the Chrysler/Dodge models now have 283HP.

http://www.caranddriver.com/chrysler/town-country