Good Cars for Bikes

**TsPoet** · 03-01-2010, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

The Mini Cooper is cool, but friends have one and it feels very small...not a lot of cargo room.

Check out a MINI Cooper Clubman. I traded my cooper in on a clubbie and Love it! I get 32 mph around town (turbo), I can put a DF bike in the back with the front wheel off (but not my recumbent). An adult can, in a pinch, climb in back using the extra side door.
Not really the answer for the OP, though.

**zoom-zoom** · 03-01-2010, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by TsPoet

Check out a MINI Cooper Clubman. I traded my cooper in on a clubbie and Love it! I get 32 mph around town (turbo), I can put a DF bike in the back with the front wheel off (but not my recumbent). An adult can, in a pinch, climb in back using the extra side door.
Not really the answer for the OP, though.

Yeah, the Clubman is really cool. We were ogling that at a recent auto-show.

**tangentgirl** · 03-01-2010, 11:55 AM

How long does it take to get trailer/roof racks situated on cars and then to get the cars onto the racks? Is it a one person operation? A long time ago I had a trunk rack and it was a pain in the <body part> to get on and off the car, to get the bikes on it, etc. Then I'd always be worried about the bikes or rack falling off. Granted, it was a pos rack that I borrowed (stole) from my mom, who probably got it at the Wal-mart, so perhaps there are better experiences out there.

Are there locking racks, so that if you stop for donuts you don't have to keep one eye on the car?

And, the Fit, you say? Hmm.

**Blueberry** · 03-01-2010, 12:00 PM

Yep - there are roof racks and hitch racks that lock. My Yak roof rack locks to the roof of the car, and then each fork mount locks. I've only ever left bikes on it overnight at my dad's house (in the middle of nowhere), but I don't worry about stopping to eat. My hitch rack has a cable lock. I worry a little more about that one - but still it's OK for stopping to eat.

That *is* the nice thing about the Element - at the MS ride and other similar events - just wheel the bikes inside and lock the car. Pretty cool.

**Biciclista** · 03-01-2010, 12:04 PM

of course if you are the least bit forgetful, be careful with a roof rack. I have heard many horror stories about expensive bikes being smashed by going under things that were TOO LOW...(drive throughs, garages)

**tulip** · 03-01-2010, 12:09 PM

Roof racks stay on the car. You don't take it off once it's on there, unlike a trunk rack.

Hitch racks typically stay on, too, although I understand they are fairly easy to remove.

Right now I can fit my regular bike inside my VW Rabbit with the front wheel off and the back seats down. I can fit my Bike Friday in the way back of my Rabbit without messing with the seats.

In fact, it would be a whole lot cheaper to get a really nice folding bike instead of a new car...something you might want to think about.

**Biciclista** · 03-01-2010, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by tulip

In fact, it would be a whole lot cheaper to get a really nice folding bike instead of a new car...something you might want to think about.

+++++ Good idea.

Thread: Good Cars for Bikes

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