In the life of a cyclist, sometimes situations arise when it’s necessary to transport a bicycle over long distances. For example, if you decide to pedal somewhere far from the city, enjoying clean air and pastoral landscapes.
In general, the reasons can be very different, but the simplest way of transportation is by car. It’s only important to do this so that the bike isn’t damaged.
How to Transport a Bike by Car
So, let’s take a look at what methods of transporting a bicycle by car exist.
1. Inside the Car
If you have a large car with a spacious trunk, then everything is simple: you need to remove the bicycle wheel, turn the steering wheel so that it’s in one straight line with the frame.
In this form, the vehicle will easily fit into the trunk. Just pay attention to the fact that no objects in the trunk during shaking and jolting don’t damage important parts of the bike.
If it’s a city car, then the bike can be put in the back seat after removing the wheel and turning the steering wheel. In this case, you also need to take care of the safety of the attachments.
It’s also important to make sure that the bike is well secured and does not obstruct the view of the rear window. By using a bicycle cover, you’ll avoid contamination of the seat upholstery.
2. On the Roof of the Car
There are special roof racks for transporting a bike on the roof. Depending on the model, they can hold from one to three assembled bicycles. Most often, such roof racks are fastened to the frame, but they are also found with fastenings for the pedal, fork, or steering wheel.
All options hold the bike well, so you can be sure the bike won’t fly off anywhere on the road. While there are obvious advantages, this method of transporting a bicycle also has its drawbacks.
It will be difficult for someone to lift a heavy bicycle onto the roof, secondly, the aerodynamic properties of the car change, and thirdly, the driver needs to take into account the changed dimensions of the car, not to enter, for example, into a low gate.
3. On the Tow Bar
If your car has a towbar, you can use it to transport bicycles. But first, you need to install a special rack with bike racks on it. At first glance, it may seem that this structure isn’t strong enough.
But pay attention to the impressive and technological clamp, it has a very good grip on the towbar and can withstand significant loads – up to four adult bicycles.
You shouldn’t worry about access to the trunk either, since such trunks have a function that allows you to move the entire structure aside without removing the bicycles.
A serious disadvantage of this transportation option is that the bike can become very dirty from dust and splashes flying from under the wheels. On the other hand, a bicycle also gets dirty when you ride it on a dusty road.
4. Behind the Car
You can transport bicycles from behind without a towbar, in this case, the bike carrier is mounted using hooks and straps. Thule bike racks are more convenient in terms of loading and securing two-wheeled vehicles. The advantages of this setup are simple installation, easy access to bicycles, and a secure fit.
But you need to take into account that such a bike carrier is designed for only 1, maximum 2 bicycles. In addition, the device must be selected taking into account the characteristics of the car.
Fixed to the tailgate bike rack – these are structures that are attached directly to the surface of the body, which makes it somewhat difficult to use the storage compartment.
This bike carrier for transporting two-wheeled vehicles can be designed exclusively for sedans or have a universal design that adapts to almost any type of body. You can fix the bike carrier at the rear on the spare wheel – if available.
This method is the most convenient and creates a minimum of interference during operation. In all other cases, the very structure of the luggage compartment and the bumper are used – such support is less functional, but it is also quite convenient to use.
Any bike carrier of this type must include the following items:
● Brackets
● Connecting jumpers
● Mounting elements for fixing to the body
● Holders – their number corresponds to the number of bicycles
● Regulators that allow you to change the slope of the structure
● Accessories that make it easier to use the trunk
Final Thoughts
The most easily attached models are designed for mounting to a spare wheel.
In this case, a rigid metal frame made of a round pipe is put on it, which crimps the tire from the back and over its front part. A curved tubular element extends forward from the base, on which holders are arranged in a row.