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Using a bike rack over long distances
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 2010-12-14 3:24 PM |
Extreme Veteran  578   Katy, Texas |  Subject: Using a bike rack over long distancesI am thinking about getting my training done while I a travel back home for the holidays. Last time I rented a bike, I wasn't really happy with what was available. This time I would like to take my bike instead. Do I run the risk of damaging my car or bike if I take the bike mounted on my trunk bike rack for a trip of approximately 1,000 miles? I own a saris Bones rack like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Saris-Bones-805-2-Bike-Trunk/dp/B000BT30RK |
| 2010-12-14 3:28 PM in reply to: #3248821 |
Extreme Veteran 750 Long Beach, Mississippi | Subject: RE: Using a bike rack over long distances I'd just be worried about theft... are you planning many stops along the way? Or are you planning on driving straight through? I don't think it'll damage your car any more than twenty 50 mile trips |
| 2010-12-14 4:01 PM in reply to: #3248821 |
Extreme Veteran 578 Katy, Texas | Subject: RE: Using a bike rack over long distances Hmm, I know that on one occasion I didn't pay attention to the front tire and it was able to rub on the top bumper. by the time I got home and noticed it it had rub away the paint down to the bare plastic. After that I started using a piece of velcro to fasten the wheel in line wioh the bike frame. My concern is with a 1,000 mile trip do I face the possibility of the bike rack mounts doing something similar to the trunk. Edited by x_caliber50 2010-12-14 4:02 PM |
| 2010-12-14 4:07 PM in reply to: #3248821 |
Elite 3090  Spokane, WA | Subject: RE: Using a bike rack over long distances I've been all over in my 5 years of tri and have used nothing buy the el-cheapo trunk mount rack I started with. The trick is securing the bike to the rack so it's not flopping around. I use velcro straps. The front wheel gets velcroed to the rack so it's not moving around. Then I just pick points on the frame that contact the rack and velcro that sucker down. It's not going anywhere and my longest trip was 600 miles roundtrip. |
| 2010-12-14 5:02 PM in reply to: #3248821 |
Master 2538 Albuquerque | Subject: RE: Using a bike rack over long distances Only thing that sucks about long distances with the bike on back like that is all of the bug guts on the bike later. |
| 2010-12-14 5:06 PM in reply to: #3248925 |
Regular 122 Augusta | Subject: RE: Using a bike rack over long distances abqtj - 2010-12-14 5:02 PM Only thing that sucks about long distances with the bike on back like that is all of the bug guts on the bike later. Just take the seat off, then wrap the rest of the bike in saran wrap. Works like a charm. |
| 2010-12-14 6:01 PM in reply to: #3248931 |
Regular 336 | Subject: RE: Using a bike rack over long distances Is the inside of the car an option? taking off the front and back wheel most bikes will fit even in the smallest cars, not sure how much luggage you are taking though. |
| 2010-12-14 6:43 PM in reply to: #3248821 |
Champion 19812 MA | Subject: RE: Using a bike rack over long distances I've brought mine bike plus some other bikes of my husband and daughter 1700 miles each way most summers. We've driven to FL with 3 bikes as well some 1500 miles. Key is to check if things rub and adjust them soon. We check bikes and hitch every stop. We have lots of us when we travel usually 5-7 so we take turns at gas stations to go inside to the facilities. I have started using pipe insulation that comes split around places that tend to rub and tape it with electric tape so bar tape or other parts don't rub against each other. We then use bungee cords to keep the bikes solid together instead of rubbing. We have had some issues but our technique has improved as we have practiced. It takes awhile to figure it out. It is easier if you bring only one bike. If you travel alone you will struggle with stops leaving bike on the car. We bring bikes into hotel room every night. If we stop to eat that we go inside we park so we can see the bikes out the window and will often back into the spot so bikes are visible easily from street. |
| 2010-12-14 9:17 PM in reply to: #3248975 |
Master 1681 Rural Ontario | Subject: RE: Using a bike rack over long distances grownassman161 - 2010-12-14 7:01 PMIs the inside of the car an option? x2. Less chance of damage, theft and you will save money. The bike on a roofrack / trunkrack really spoils a car's aerodynamics at highway speeds. Lets do some math. 2000mi distance there and back. Assuming your car gets 25 mpg that means you would burn 80 gal of fuel. A mounted rack with a bike will reduce fuel efficiency by about 30% at highway speeds. That means your 80gal goes up by an additional 24gal. Assuming the price of $3/gal - carrying that bike there and back will cost you an extra $72 in petrol. |
| 2010-12-14 10:28 PM in reply to: #3248821 |
Veteran 139 Overland Park, KS | Subject: RE: Using a bike rack over long distances I have a similar bike rack. I just make sure my bike is secure and rather than velcro I use a bungee cord to secure the front tire. |
| 2010-12-15 7:35 AM in reply to: #3249167 |
Extreme Veteran 578 Katy, Texas | Subject: RE: Using a bike rack over long distances mgalanter - 2010-12-14 9:17 PM grownassman161 - 2010-12-14 7:01 PMIs the inside of the car an option? x2. Less chance of damage, theft and you will save money. The bike on a roofrack / trunkrack really spoils a car's aerodynamics at highway speeds. Lets do some math. 2000mi distance there and back. Assuming your car gets 25 mpg that means you would burn 80 gal of fuel. A mounted rack with a bike will reduce fuel efficiency by about 30% at highway speeds. That means your 80gal goes up by an additional 24gal. Assuming the price of $3/gal - carrying that bike there and back will cost you an extra $72 in petrol. That's really a great point. It's just going to be me traveling so I probably could just take the wheels off and put it in the trunk. Definately going to see about that. |
| 2010-12-15 8:09 AM in reply to: #3248821 |
Veteran 122 Lubbock, TX | Subject: RE: Using a bike rack over long distances Like others have said, securing it so it's not bouncing around is important. I've got an $85 bike rack for my car and I've been 900+ miles with it on trips with no problems. |
| 2010-12-15 9:10 AM in reply to: #3248821 |
Member 33 Northern NJ | Subject: RE: Using a bike rack over long distances Best option is partial disassemble & carry in car, the longer the distance more beneficial this is... If you prefer the rack consider this: I also have a Saris rack, but I made some modifications to improve it- - replaced cheapo plastic screws (strip easily) with aluminum ones from Home Depot - put "booties" on the feet to protect car's paint (used micro fiber towels & some electrical tape) - if you loop a bungee from the forward pedal through the front rim & back it will keep your wheel from rotating and your pedals from rotating and scratching the bumper. - then I use additional 2 bungees to secure bike to rack. - definitely stop and adjust everything after driving a little while |
| 2010-12-15 1:10 PM in reply to: #3249167 |
Elite 3090 Spokane, WA | Subject: RE: Using a bike rack over long distances mgalanter - 2010-12-14 9:17 PM grownassman161 - 2010-12-14 7:01 PMIs the inside of the car an option? x2. Less chance of damage, theft and you will save money. The bike on a roofrack / trunkrack really spoils a car's aerodynamics at highway speeds. Lets do some math. 2000mi distance there and back. Assuming your car gets 25 mpg that means you would burn 80 gal of fuel. A mounted rack with a bike will reduce fuel efficiency by about 30% at highway speeds. That means your 80gal goes up by an additional 24gal. Assuming the price of $3/gal - carrying that bike there and back will cost you an extra $72 in petrol. YMMV--literally. As I posted earlier, I've logged some serious miles with bikes on a trunk rack--usually two at a time. My Civic usually gets around 40 hwy. With the bikes on, it barely dips under 40. I've checked. 2-3 mpg reduction--conservatively stated. There's no way it drops all the way under 30 (-30% would be 28) Edited by zed707 2010-12-15 1:17 PM |
| 2010-12-15 2:07 PM in reply to: #3248821 |
Expert 1168 Vancouver (not Canada) Washington (not D.C.) | Subject: RE: Using a bike rack over long distances One thing not mentioned is aero wheels being a problem. We followed several cars back from a duathlon. Several cars with deep rim wheels or disks that were really being blown and stressed in the wind. I would suggest at least removing the wheels, zip tying the chain and hauling the wheels in the car. |
| 2010-12-15 2:12 PM in reply to: #3248821 |
Champion 5781 Northridge, California | Subject: RE: Using a bike rack over long distances We've done 1000 mi r/t with two bikes on a trunk rack when my wife and I both raced at Vineman last summer...no issues. I'm always paranoid about getting rear ended, though...usually tie a red flag onto the outside bike just for a bit of peace of mind... When it's just me racing and it's a long drive, then, yup, off comes the front wheel and the seat and the bike goes in the car with our luggage. Fortunately, in my car (Pontiac Vibe), I can actually stand my bike up against one side of the cargo compartment with the rear seats down. (Just have to remember to protect the luggage from the drivetrain.) |
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