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How do you transport your bike?
OptionResults
Hitch rack25 Votes - [15.24%]
On top of vehicle rack20 Votes - [12.2%]
Rear spare tire rack5 Votes - [3.05%]
Rack in bed of truck12 Votes - [7.32%]
Inside vehicle58 Votes - [35.37%]
Why rack it when you can ride it?1 Votes - [0.61%]
Trunk mount rack (removable)29 Votes - [17.68%]
Shove in back of SUV3 Votes - [1.83%]
I ride it. :)3 Votes - [1.83%]
Either trunk mount rack or inside vehicle - depends on gear, no. of bikes5 Votes - [3.05%]
layed down in truck bed2 Votes - [1.22%]
Rack inside vehicle1 Votes - [0.61%]
This is a multiple choice poll.

2009-03-21 7:32 AM

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Expert
1010
1000
Greer, SC
Subject: How do you transport your bike?

After taking my bike to my LBS, I noticed most people do not rack their bikes on top as I do.  I know it might not be the smartest way to rack a bike, but I use my rack for other things as well (skis, snowboards, etc) and the top works for me.  Other than a bike / garage encounter is there anything else I should worry about?  Could I damage or weaken the bike in anyway?



2009-03-21 7:34 AM
in reply to: #2031541

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Pro
4828
2000200050010010010025
The Land of Ice and Snow
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?
I have a Yakima bike rack on top of my Matrix.......fantastic way to get my bike around....other than , you know.....riding it!!!!    
2009-03-21 7:41 AM
in reply to: #2031541

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Extreme Veteran
745
50010010025
Colo Springs, CO
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?

I see tons of bikes on roof racks around here. Just yesterday, there were three vehicles in a row on the freeway as I was going to work (and they weren't all together, one was my hubby, the other two got on at different places.) I also see a lot of hitch/spare tire racks.  I sometimes jut put mine in the back of my SUV or the back seat of my truck, just because it's a little faster for a lunch-time ride to pull it out and go (rather than put the front wheel back on. Those seconds matter!)

And my hubby solved the garage problem with roof racks by filling the garage with his woodworking power tools, so we have never parked a vehicle in the garage. Although there was the one time he forgot about the roof rack and drove thru the Taco Bell drive-in. But it only broke the rack, not the bike, luckily.

2009-03-21 9:37 AM
in reply to: #2031541

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Expert
2189
2000100252525
Dodge County, MN (out in the corn)
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?
If I'm only hauling one bike, I pop the front wheel off and put it in the trunk.  The back seat in my car folds down so it fits pretty well.  If we are both taking bikes somewhere, we use the trunk-mount rack (Saris Bones 3). 
2009-03-21 9:41 AM
in reply to: #2031541

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Master
2073
20002525
The Redlands, FL
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?

We transport our bikes (2) inside our SUV (Honda CR-V)....we had a rack inside...we only need to remove the front wheels....

But if we travel with 3 bikes....we use our truck and use a rack inside the bed....

2009-03-21 9:41 AM
in reply to: #2031541

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Alpharetta, Georgia
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?

If we're taking my Acura I have a removeable trunk bike rack. The Tacoma was fitted with the attachments where you can take the front wheel off and stick 'em securely in the bed.

If my backseat folded down I'd just put it in the trunk. I know a lot of people who do that.



2009-03-21 10:14 AM
in reply to: #2031541

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Extreme Veteran
694
500100252525
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?
I use stainless steel lockable front wheel mounts in the bed of my Chevy pickup.  We can fit all four bikes and have lots of extra room for other stuff.  The locking part is great because we can stop and not have to worry about the bikes.
2009-03-21 11:53 AM
in reply to: #2031541

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Veteran
151
1002525
Oxford
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?
I considered one of those roof mount racks until I remember my brother telling me about the time he drove into the garage..... OUCH!
2009-03-21 12:03 PM
in reply to: #2031541

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Expert
770
5001001002525
Long Island, NY
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?

With the seats folded down, mine fits inside my Mustang with the wheels off.  It's a bit of  a pain taking it apart and putting it back together, but I hate bike racks and I love my car.

<---That one made it easier, as I could just wheel the bike in and bungee it to the side, but I sold it.

2009-03-21 12:24 PM
in reply to: #2031541

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Veteran
271
1001002525
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?
We mount ours in the bed of my Tacoma to the rails. If we carry a third bike, it gets bungeed between the two mounted ones.
2009-03-21 12:27 PM
in reply to: #2031541

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Davenport, IA
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?
If I'm using my company car I generally fit it in the trunk with the wheels off.  If I have to use my car (much smaller car) I have a removable trunk mounted rack.


2009-03-21 12:45 PM
in reply to: #2031541

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Regular
92
252525
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?
2X6 with fork mounts that lays in the bed of the truck.  cheap and works great!
2009-03-21 1:04 PM
in reply to: #2031541

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Expert
1123
1000100
Falls Church, VA
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?
I put mine in my trunk until tomorrow when my yakima roof rack arrives (well ups probably won't deliver it tomorrow, since they won't drop it off at my place without a signature), but no more will I take off both my front tire and seat to get my bike in my car.  I also got king cobra mounts so I don't need to take the front wheel off to get it up there, f'all that mess.  Plus if I want to get a bike with a through axel front fork instead of QR, I can still transport it. 
2009-03-21 1:14 PM
in reply to: #2031541

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Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?
Last attic sale from REI I got a Thule 2 bike trunk mount (removable) rack with the anti-sway piece for $19.93, I think this thing was regularly $130. I couldn't pass it up
2009-03-21 1:27 PM
in reply to: #2031541

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Master
1376
1000100100100252525
Chicago
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?
If it is just me, I will put it on the inside of my SUV, othewise I have Thule hitch rack that I put the bikes on. 
2009-03-21 2:08 PM
in reply to: #2031541

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Science Nerd
28760
50005000500050005000200010005001001002525
Redwood City, California
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?

If I have the rack on the car (I take it off in the winter), I put them on the roof.  If the rack is not on the car, they can go inside.  But, that's kind of a pain because I have to fold down one of the seats to fit it in the back of my Golf.  I don't have a garage, so I don't have to worry about the bikes on the roof.

I've used the trunk-mounted rack before.  I was not a big fan.  The rack moved a lot no matter how much I tightened the straps.  I was also worried about people hitting my bike - happened to two people I know.



2009-03-21 2:24 PM
in reply to: #2031541

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Champion
10157
500050001002525
Alabama
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?

Slight hijack.....how much does it cost to ship a bike?  Say from Alabama to St George, Utah?  Are the  bike shipping services cheaper than paying the extra luggage fee to take it with you on an airplane?

~Mike

2009-03-21 3:03 PM
in reply to: #2031907

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Master
1686
1000500100252525
Royersford, PA
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?
Slight hijack.....how much does it cost to ship a bike? Say from Alabama to St George, Utah? Are the bike shipping services cheaper than paying the extra luggage fee to take it with you on an airplane?

Tri Bike Transport did a great job for me and it was cheaper than buying a bike box paying the fees on the plane, then renting a large enough car/rack to get it back and forth all week.

It was also great to go to the transition area pick up my bike, check it in, and then after the race roll it over and check it in for the return trip before I headed home, no hassles, no worries and it was less then the luggage fees from Philly to Phoniex and back.

For the OP, I normally just put my bike in the back on my Vibe. I put down the back seat and have plenty of room to lay the bike down without having to pull off a wheel. Used to put it in the backseat of the Tercel after I pulled the front wheel off.
2009-03-21 3:17 PM
in reply to: #2031541

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Expert
750
5001001002525
Harrisburg, PA
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?
Yakima King Joe 2. Had an old and cheap rack I bought at Sears years ago. But since I went to my Felt carbon road bike, I wanted a more substantial rack.

There are two things I don't like about my Yakima, though...1) one of the velcro straps used to hold the excess tie down straps broke, and after a short period of time and a couple of uses, and, 2) if I leave the rack on the back of my car and it rains, I noticed some rusty water coming out of the adjustment mechanisms.
2009-03-21 7:37 PM
in reply to: #2031541

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Extreme Veteran
365
1001001002525
Hattiesburg, MS
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?
I have a tool box on my truck so we just welded bike mounts ontop of the tool box.  So we just pop off the front wheel and put it in the cab and roll.    My dad also mad this bar that fits in the bed of trucks that can be adjusted to fit the bedwith.   So all you need to do is take off the front wheel and clamp it to the bars and go. 
2009-03-21 7:48 PM
in reply to: #2031907

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Extreme Veteran
745
50010010025
Colo Springs, CO
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?
Rogillio - 2009-03-21 1:24 PM

Slight hijack.....how much does it cost to ship a bike?  Say from Alabama to St George, Utah?  Are the  bike shipping services cheaper than paying the extra luggage fee to take it with you on an airplane?

~Mike

My LBS rents bike transport boxes (the nice ones) for $75/week. Frontier charges $50 each way for a bike.  Other airlines charge more ($75-$100 per flight.)  My searching of UPS and Fedex showed that it would cost a minimum of $118 each way (shipping from Colorado Springs to San Francisco, including extra insurance) and that was for UPS Ground, which could take up to 5 days (too long... and too $$$)


2009-03-21 8:11 PM
in reply to: #2031541

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Lafayette, CO
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?

I have a roof rack currently.  I did nearly destroy my mountain bike with a garage incident so now, if I'm parking in a garage (depends on where I'm living) I take the opener and hide it from myself when I leave with the bike on top so I have to think about why I'm looking for it when I get home. 

In a year or so I want to get a small SUV that will allow me to put it either inside or get a hitch mount rack.  

2009-03-21 8:38 PM
in reply to: #2031541

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Pro
6767
500010005001001002525
the Alabama part of Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?
I use a rear mount if I have to carry more than 1 passanger or bike.  I've used roof rack as well, but it's a lot easier with the SUV to get on the back.  I've mangled the mounts on a minivan going through a drive through, so it's another reason to use the hitch mount.  I'm also considering a trailer for my kayaks for the same reasons of ease of mount.
2009-03-21 10:46 PM
in reply to: #2031541

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Expert
795
500100100252525
New Mexico
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?
Depends on which vehicle:

Malibu: roof rack- great for the road bikes. The mountain bikes get a little heavy, and if you go into cities with parking garages, it can be a pain.

Pickup: Hitch Rack- Not as high to lift heavier bikes, easier in parking garages but makes the vehicle that much longer, so extra caution with backing.

Patrol Car: Trunk Rack - Roof rack would be impossible because of light bar, besides my patrol bike (Fuji Police Special) weighs about as much as a tank. Main dislikes are security (I can only cable lock the bike to the rack) and the fact it makes it hard to get to any equipment I might need out of the trunk.

For those trips out of town when I may or may not get a ride in, I'll just throw the folder into the trunk or the back seat.
2009-03-21 11:00 PM
in reply to: #2032521

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Veteran
385
100100100252525
Chaska, MN
Subject: RE: How do you transport your bike?

desertsix - 2009-03-21 10:46 PM  Patrol Car: Trunk Rack - Roof rack would be impossible because of light bar, besides my patrol bike (Fuji Police Special) weighs about as much as a tank. Main dislikes are security (I can only cable lock the bike to the rack) and the fact it makes it hard to get to any equipment I might need out of the trunk. QUOTE]

 

It would take some huge one's to steal a bike off the back of a police car...just saying....Plus it may stand out at the next race when it says "Police" down the side.....lol

 



Edited by KCD1974 2009-03-21 11:01 PM
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