how do you load your bike on the car?

[LilBolt]

We carry our bikes that way (except forks to the back) in the back of my Explorer and the back of bf's Saturn Vue (although, he has to drop his saddle a touch for the Vue). When carrying other gear, we slip wheel bags over the rear wheels to cover the cassettes and keep things a bit tidier. Front wheels go into wheel bags for their own protection. We've actually used this method with 3 bikes + gear, with bike in the middle fork toward the front.

[djgafi]

thank you girls.

yesterday i took some measurements and looks like with the bikes angled at about 45 degrees, like someone suggested earlier, they can actually fit even in a medium size car, which will work best for me here in europe.

here's the link where you can buy a fork mount, and build very easily your own internal-car-bike-carrier.

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-fork-mount-b...3A1%7C294%3A50

thanks to all for precious feedback!
now i'm on to the "appropriate" car search
:-)

[jobob]

We just toss them in here.

http://www.renault.be/nl/gamma-renau...nieuwe-kangoo/

Ow wow, we saw one of those yesterday on the freeway near us (near San Jose, CA). Cuuuuute!

They're not for sale in the US (yet?) - no clue how that one got here

But we still love our Honda Element. We can remove the back seats and roll 2 (maybe up to 4) bikes into the back, no disassembly required. Although if our bikes were any longer or taller that would be an issue. It's too bad the Element wasn't a couple of inches longer in the back compartment, but so it goes.

[jobob]

If you click on my blog link, there's a slideshow of how I made a mount for my bikes in the back of my Element (the slideshow is on the right, 3rd down). Doesn't require both seats up/down/out, and while it is maximized for space on a long long trip we take every September which requires lots of gear, you could modify to fit your situation.

Karen

Hey thanks! We'll check that out - we were discussing something like that just recently.

Yeah, the Element is a bit too tall for either of us (dh is about my height) to consider loading bikes on top. Plus one of us would be sure to drive them into something.

[RoadRaven]

You don't "load your bike on the car"...

You buy a bigger car and/or a trailer.

One bike fits in the boot of my sonata... with layers of padding

Two bikes can be lain in the back of the van with the seats down (again, well-padded)

3-7 bikes will fit in our trailer, with special holders so that no two bikes touch each other or move in transit.

;p

[sundial]

If you click on my blog link, there's a slideshow of how I made a mount for my bikes in the back of my Element (the slideshow is on the right, 3rd down).

Excellent! I just had to check it out cuz I'm an E person too.

I have several strategies. If it's me, and it may rain, I fold the seat up out of the way and roll the rear bike tire in first and angle the front tire 45 degrees.

If it's the mountain bike, I fold both seats out of the way and lay the bike flat.

If Mr. Sundial joins in the ride, and the weather is nice, I mount my Thule hitch rack and put both bikes on it.

If we both are going out of town with our bikes, or if it's going to rain, Mr. Sundial takes the pickup w/ camper shell with the RecRac system in it.

I don't trust myself to use a roof mounted system because I'll plow the bikes into the garage door.

[ClockworkOrange]

Unfortunatey I can't, I have a BMW Mini convertible and although I believe there is something you can buy, it costs a small fortune.

Fortunately, my partner and I moved to a place where whatever direction we go in, we can be off road.

Clock

[Tuckervill]

Excellent! I just had to check it out cuz I'm an E person too.

I have several strategies. If it's me, and it may rain, I fold the seat up out of the way and roll the rear bike tire in first and angle the front tire 45 degrees.

If it's the mountain bike, I fold both seats out of the way and lay the bike flat.

If Mr. Sundial joins in the ride, and the weather is nice, I mount my Thule hitch rack and put both bikes on it.

If we both are going out of town with our bikes, or if it's going to rain, Mr. Sundial takes the pickup w/ camper shell with the RecRac system in it.

I don't trust myself to use a roof mounted system because I'll plow the bikes into the garage door.

For two bikes on a quick trip, I just put up both seats, roll the bikes in on either side, and bungee them to the handle above the door. That keeps them from rolling around or touching each other. I admit, the rear car seat on the right has a chainring tattoo on the side. I haven't tried to get it off but I'm pretty sure it will come off with some Simple Green. That fabric is indestructible.

karen

[sundial]

That fabric is indestructible.

Yeah, you're not kidding! I have an '05 E and it's survived the abuse from crates, 4 dogs, puppies, bikes, you name it.

I did put an Elemmat in my car so that I can shove bikes and paintings in it without worries.

[skinimini]

Unfortunatey I can't, I have a BMW Mini convertible and although I believe there is something you can buy, it costs a small fortune.

Fortunately, my partner and I moved to a place where whatever direction we go in, we can be off road.

Clock

No room in my mini for a bike and I'm too short to do a roof rack. I added this option when I bought the cooper. It wasn't that expensive, but it may be as an add on. I absolutely love it--so easy to load and unload.

[TxDoc]

Normally I carry the bike inside the car. I have a rack but inside it gives me the impression of being safer. I either take off the front wheel and fit the bike on the back seat, or take off both wheels and lock everything in the trunk.

[tulip]

With the right bike it's never an issue.

My thoughts exactly. I tuck two Bike Fridays inside the back of my VW Rabbit.

[sundial]

Tulip, how long does it take you to ride 10 miles on your Bike Friday?

[tulip]

Tulip, how long does it take you to ride 10 miles on your Bike Friday?

Same time it takes me to ride it on my Luna. I average about 14-15 mph, with cruising in the 17-18 mph range. Depends on the terrain, of course. Last month I rode about 300 miles in the Arizona mountains in a week on the Friday, and last week I rode 200 miles on it at Cycle Zydeco (4 days). I'm doing two centuries on it in May. It feels like a full-sized bike and rides like a full-sized bike.