How to transport carbon fiber bike???

[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.

[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 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)