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.

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.