How to transport carbon fiber bike???

[michelem]

Okay, here's ANOTHER question from clueless me. How do you all transport your carbon fiber bikes? Currently, I transport my steel mountain bike on a trunk-mount rack, secured with bungee cords. The rack has really scratched up the trunk of my car as well as my bike. I am now looking at carbon fiber bikes. While I know I cannot expect a new bike to stay blemish free forever, I'd like not to overly contribute to any unnecessary scratches and scrapes. I don't think a roof rack would be too practical as I am kind of short - 5'2". I think I'd need a step ladder to get a bike on top of the car, and that's probably not too safe. Perhaps there are newer trunk-mount racks that are made with non-scratch materials (rather than metal, like mine)? I have a four-door Honda Accord and would be able to transport the bike in the back seat as long as nothing and/or no-one else is back there. Ideally I'd like something that could transport DH's and my bike at the same time. When we do that with my current rack, the bikes bump together, contributing to more bumps and bruises.

Thanks for putting up with all my newbie questions! :)

[SouthernBelle]

I fortunately have a pickup truck. So I built a rack using Delta bike hitch and a 1x4. I also loop bungees over the drops for a little extra security.

[Mimosa]

There was an article in a dutch bike magazin a couple of weeks ago. It stated that putting a carbon bike in on of those car bike transporters is a bad thing. The carbon fibers are made to sustain a force in a specific direction (the bike direction) and those bikeracks often have some contruction where an arm is fixated around a tube. This is not good for the frame.

-However- if you can fixate on a non carbon part of the bike (like the seatpost) then the problem is eliminated.

I put my carbon bike in the back of my car with some blankets under and over it.

[Grog]

I'm 5'4" and I could very easily put my road bike on a rack on a Honda Civic (hatchback). I'm sure you would be fine. Don't rule out that option just yet, go check it out at a rack store...

[SadieKate]

Just carry a little bitty short foot stool (can even be a folding one). I do this myself and have put full susp mtb bikes on the roof of a much taller Isuzu Trooper. As you know I only tower over you by one and a half inches.:p

A roof rack with a fork mount means you are lifting the weight of the bike minus one wheel. If you buy a rack that takes the entire bike, ask around and do your research (I know you will ;) ) because I've seen some major remodeling of cars and bikes from such racks failing.

Or get a hitch and a hitchmount where the bike sits on its wheels (or wheel and fork) also. I personally dislike racks that hang the bike from the top tube for many reasons, one of which being it trashes the bike paint.

PS - Sports Rack (or whatever it is called) on Arden Way has a large selection of rack stuff and frequently has 10% off (look on there website). Then there is always REI close to you.

[michelem]

Thanks! Of course, I keep forgetting that a carbon fiber bike is going to be SOOOO much lighter than my mountain bike! So, it shouldn't be so difficult/ awkward to lift the thing overhead. I already have a hard enough time hoisting this thing onto my trunk mount rack.

Does a hitch mount work with a sedan? I would think it might make for the bike obstructing view out the rear window, or place the bike to close to the exhaust. I suppose the best thing is to get my rear into a store and ask. I trust you gals more 'cause you're not trying to sell me anything! :)

[SadieKate]

Hitch mount depends on the car and rack combo. The trailer hitch adds to the cost and does make it a pain to use the trunk but it's more of a pain to use the trunk with your current rack. The selection of hitch racks is also fewer but gas mileage isn't as affected. Roof racks also mean the bikes don't get rear-ended. Pros and cons to both.

[melissam]

I couldn't resist weighing in on this one as:

1. I'm short (5' 1" on a good day)
2. I have a carbon fiber bike (Trek 5200 WSD, in case anyone's curious)
3. I put a hitch rack on my car, which is a sedan (again, if anyone's curious, it's an Acura TSX)

Where to start?

I didn't want a roof rack. Just my personal preference -- I'm short, and that kind of lifting motion tends to aggravate my lower back issues. Plus I've heard too many stories about bikes coming off the roof racks and/or people forgetting to take off the bikes before going into a carport/garage. Not to mention the fact that I didn't want to leave the roof rack on my car at all times.

No one made a hitch receiver for my car, so I finally bit the bullet and had a custom hitch receiver put on it. It's very, very stealth, which I like. It was very expensive, which I didn't like. ;)

I got a BVG hitch rack from Rack & Road (used to be called the Sports Rack). It allows the hitch to be locked to the car and the bikes to be locked to the hitch rack. It also allows for folding of the rack to get to the trunk, but with my TSX, it's not necessary, as the trunk door conveniently clears the rack.

Incidentally, I think BikerZ has the same rack on her Audi TT, and if I remember correctly, her trunk clears the rack too.

So what's not to like? Well, the mechanism to secure the top tube to the rack has screwed up my decals. At first I thought I'd peel the decals off to make my bike more stealth, but er, no, that voids the warranty on the frame. I now use a piece of cloth between the top tube and the rack.

You also have to be careful with the amount of force used to secure the carbon bike to the rack. Too much, and you risk damaging the frame. Too little, and you risk having the bike flop around -- maybe it will fall off ... and damage the frame.

Would I do it again? You betcha! I still don't like the idea of hoisting my bike up on the roof. Having the hitch rack has allowed me to take my bike out & about so I can go on beautiful rides and meeting new & interesting people. ;)

Good luck!

-- Melissa

[melissam]

Here's a link to find hitch receivers for your vehicle (year, make & model):

http://www.etrailer.com/fitguide.htm

[Mimosa]

Just out of curiousity, they do sell these things (http://www.halfords.nl/NL/Fiets/Catalog/CategoryProductList.htm?categoryId=29&subCategoryId=26589) in the us??? You known the racks that you put on the hook at the back of your car for your trailer (can't seem to find the english word for it)

[Pedal Wench]

I just got a new car and the main requirement was that I can put my bike inside. I don't like hitch or roof racks because they all can cause problems with the bike (well, my forgetting they were up there and running into an overhang, or someone rear-ending me with the bike back there.)

So, I put mine inside my SUV. I got a truck bike rack: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=15284&subcategory_ID=4413 that expands to lock into the sidewalls of the SUV.

In my old car (Acura Integra hatchback), I would put down the back seats of my car and put down a blanket. I would remove the front wheel and just lift the bike into the back of the car. It would take less time than a bike rack since I just lay it down and go.

[SouthernBelle]

The one I built will work inside of a vehicle like PedalWench describes. If this is the type you are looking for, I'll be glad to take a pic or 2.

[alpinerabbit]

how about putting some pipe insulation foam around your top tube. They recommend it for packing your bike in travel cases too and can be gotten at any DIY?

[DarcyInOregon]

I have a carbon bike, the Trek Pilot 5.2 WSD like others in this forum.

When I purchased a new car last year, I didn't trade in my old car. I use my old Subaru as my mud car, and it has my bike rack on the back, and I also use the car to carry my dogs (who get muddy.) The bike rack is by Saris and everything that touches the bike is soft, like the straps are rubber and the tie-ons are fiber.

When I take the bike for longer distances by car, and I need to bring my invalid husband along, I go in the new sedan. I take both wheels off the bike and put it in the trunk so that thieves don't spot it when I am stopped for a meal.

Here is the link to the Saris bike racks and you can see for yourself how many different designs there are for the different types of vehicles, and how awesome the racks are.

http://www.saris.com/t-SarisRacks.aspx?skinid=1

Darcy

[Pedal Wench]

This is mine. I just added the ($14.95) wheel carrier fork for the front wheel. I'm loving it!

[michelem]

Wow! Thanks so much for all the great suggestions. I knew I could count on you! :)

This will keep me busy researching (you were right, Sarah!). This bike is gonna cost me more than my last two cars combined (oh, did I mention that my last two cars were given to me when the owners could no longer drive them ;) ), so I want to take good care of it.

From my quick peeks on the 'net, I'm liking the look of the Saris Thelma (thanks for that link, DarcyinOregon!). Unfortunately, it is not carried by REI or Rack-n-Road - I think that's the one you meant, Sarah - there's one on Arden and another in Roseville, which is closer to me). I found the correct trailer hitch thanks to melissam's link though.

I need to do some work today, so guess what I'll be doing tonight? :p

[SJCzar]

I have a Honda Civic and I use a Saris roof rack for my carbon bike. I'm 5'4" and I open the door and stand on the doorway to lift it up. It's so light that I never have any problem. I also have a Saris Bones rack that I've used for my other bike. It always stays put real well but I prefer the security of a locking roof rack. Luckily, my garage door opener remote does not work, so I've never had to worry about driving through the door with the bike on. I know that as ditzy as I am sometimes, that would have been a real possibility.