Transporting the Bike

http://www.rei.com/online/store/Search?storeId=8000&langId=-1&catal...

They range from $50 up to $150. If you're getting a hitch, they make hitch mount racks as well as roof
racks, but those are more $$.

I like REI for lots of stuff, and have used both Thule and Yakima racks in the past and like them both.

-Chris

I just spent $25000 on a minivan so I can take out all the seats so my bike can be as comfortable as possible.

I used to just take the wheels off and put it in the trunk of my Lumina. Now, I have a Matrix so I don't even have to take the wheels off; I just put the back seats down flat and slide the bike right in there. What car are you driving that you can't fit your bike in the trunk?

I'll be going to my first tri in June. The wife and kids will be coming to cheer me along. The amount of support they have given me should be the subject of its own thread.

We have a Taurus wagon, no hitch, but with the installed roof rack. The kids will fill four seats and leave precious little room for anything else. Well, we always threatened to strap THEM to the roof.

If you have a roof rack you can always wrap your bike in a blanket to protect it and then strap it down. I used to do this when I had my wagon and had no room in the car.

There is no shortage of options for transporting your bike.
Alot depends on what you have to work with and how comfortable you are with you bike. I can remove my frtont wheel and aerobars and manage to stuff my by in the trunk of one of the cars. In the other car I have to break it down to almost the frame.There is also the back seat but if you are travelling with anybody this may not be an option.
Truth be told the best option I have found so far is to invite some family to cheer me on (you know the ones with a van or a truck!)

Monty

If you have a roof rack all you need is trays to haul bikes up top. They're basically long, narrow strips of metal with a bracket to bolt on your front fork. I have a Thule roof rack and RockyMounts trays on a small sedan. Works great, wasn't very expensive.

Edited by CLLinIA 2004-03-18 5:22 PM

Thanks for the link, coredump! I just ordered a bike rack. And I think SIL will be happy that she doesn't have to haul my bike around all the time....

This may be of interest if you don't need your backseat. I had a dinky little Toyota Tercel for years, and there was no way that I was going to put my shiny new bike on a bike rack outside. I put a sheet over my back seat, took the front wheel off my bike and put it on a slant (almost diagonally) in the back seat (maybe this worked because I have a small bike). The front wheel went in the trunk. Nothing ever happened to my bike, but I couldn't leave the car for long because you could see the bike as clear as day (saying "take me!!")
Now I have a Matrix like Michel's and I can throw the whole thing in the hatchback. Had to wait ten years for this option!!!
Jen

hehe, and watch for tree branches and bridges! another thing to take into concideration if you are transporting your bikes upright on the roof is that you will use more petrol due to the loss of the cars aerodynamic effect, but u only need to worry about this if you are going long distances. My grandarents had trouble with this while 4WDing around aus.

.::aidan::.

and drive thru's and ATM's!

Saris Bones(for 3 bikes). Just got one for $109.00 locally and it will fit on all of my cars without a problem. It mounts on the rear of my SUV, my wifes Sequioa, my sports cars... It's just great! Definitely the Best Bang for you Buck.

http://www.sarisproducts.com/

Sheesh, you must have a huge garage ... and a personal oil well. Leave a little petroleum for the rest of us, eh?

Check out Rack Attack at www.rackattack.com. They advertise over on Road Bike Review, and seem to have great prices and selection. The comments in the forums on RBR have been very positive.