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Transporting my new lightweight carbon toy

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  • July 14, 2014 at 10:16 pm #21905
    PurpleDog

    Now I’ve bought a shiny new Trek Emonda, made from gossamer thin eggshell carbon, I was wondering how I get it to all the events I’m undoubtedly going to want to ride in?

    I have a convertible so no roof racks, and no room to carry it inside if I want the roof closed so that’s a dry-weather only option. I have a towbar with a ‘hang by the top tube’ type rack, but they’re not advised as I understand it?
    … leaving the wheel-clamp towbar types like the Thule Ride-On 9502 and similar as the only apparent option, but they still need strapping around the tubes as well, so is that just as worrisome?

    All the thousands of carbon roadies out there must be transporting bikes by the thousand – how do you all do it without risking your ridiculously expensive faberge bikes?

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Viewing 15 replies - 16 through 30 (of 36 total)
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  • July 15, 2014 at 3:53 pm #803963
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    SamShaw

    Add Chris Hoy to that too,
    Add Chris Hoy to that too, saw him getting into his RS6 estate at the velodrome!

    July 15, 2014 at 3:52 pm #803961
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    SamShaw

    Boonen drives an estate. He’s
    Boonen drives an estate. He’s not daft.

    July 15, 2014 at 3:42 pm #803959
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    700c

    +1 on an getting an estate.
    +1 on an getting an estate. Even a large saloon or hatch would transport the bike no problem and wouldn’t necessarily look any less stylish (and wouldn’t show people you’re having a mid life crisis!)

    Either that or invest in a second, old large car in which you could transport the bike (though that’s not very green I suppose)

    July 15, 2014 at 3:38 pm #803957
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    mikeakelly

    If you’re serious about
    If you’re serious about looking after your bike(s) – just get one of these:

    http://www.thule.com/en/gb/products/carriers-and-racks/bike-carriers/towbar-mounted-bike-carriers/thule-euroclassic-g6-928-_-928003

    It fits 3 bikes with total security (4 with an extension), is rock solid and doesn’t seem to hit my mpg much. Not cheap, but the only type I’ve used that really does the job.

    July 15, 2014 at 2:44 pm #803955
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    PurpleDog

    Looking at the Saris ones,
    Looking at the Saris ones, they appear to mount to something under the car – presumably the bracket my towbar is using? I might be missing something but I don’t want to be removing the towbar every time I need the bike rack.

    denerobt wrote:
    Have you looked at a Thule tow mount ?

    That’s looking like the best option I think… not sure if my seat mast is clampable (I bought the bike on ride feel, didn’t realise it had a seat mast rather than a normal seat post!) so something to investigate, but this is the option I think I need to take.

    oozaveared wrote:
    simplest thing is to buy the right car. Get an estate. Put the lovely bike inside.

    Ha ha!! Ditch my lovely convertible for an estate?!?!?! What sort of mid-life crisis do you think this is? I’ve got the convertible, the motorbike and now the carbon roadie – crisis complete and no going back! đŸ™‚

    July 15, 2014 at 2:35 pm #803953
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    oozaveared

    simplest thing is to buy the
    simplest thing is to buy the right car. Get an estate. Put the lovely bike inside.

    Did you know that if the bike is on the outside it’s not covered by your insurance? Get rear ended and the insurance will pay for the damage to the car but the bike (and this could be an expensive bike) is down to you.

    All kinds of cars are available from national and local outlets.

    July 15, 2014 at 2:35 pm #803951
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    oozaveared

    simplest thing is to buy the
    simplest thing is to buy the right car. Get an estate. Put the lovely bike inside.

    Did you know that if the bike is on the outside it’s not covered by your insurance? Get rear ended and the insurance will pay for the damage to the car but the bike (and this could be an expensive bike) is down to you.

    All kinds of cars are available from national and local outlets.

    July 15, 2014 at 2:35 pm #803949
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    denerobt

    Have you looked at a Thule
    Have you looked at a Thule tow mount ? It has a bar that rises and the wheels get strapped too. The seat tube gets strapped and there is nothing on the top tube. if I’m not flying and using the bike box alan, I use the towbar Thule – and my bike is full carbon too. Make sure you’re insured BTW.

    July 15, 2014 at 1:59 pm #803947
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    Swami Dave

    Costco are/were selling Saris
    Costco are/were selling Saris Bones 3 for cheapness. OK, it’s a top-tube hanger but it also holds the seat tube so it’s anchored in place. I use one for my carbon Cannondale and have no problems with it.

    July 15, 2014 at 1:45 pm #803945
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    Gkam84

    Rutland are one of the few
    Rutland are one of the few Saris dealers in the UK

    http://www.rutlandcycling.com/advancedsearch.aspx?Term=SARIS

    July 15, 2014 at 1:39 pm #803943
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    PurpleDog

    bikemadjo wrote:my partner

    bikemadjo wrote:
    my partner and i bought one of these about a year ago and it has been perfect for transporting our carbon bike around. it holds the wheels so there is less chance of frame damage.

    http://www.saris.com/product/eu-thelma-2

    it is a bit pricey, but it’s better than a broken top tube.

    Looks great – and so do some other Saris offerings, thanks. Unfortunately I can’t find much for sale in the UK. I’ll ask around…

    July 15, 2014 at 1:37 pm #803941
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    PurpleDog

    oldstrath wrote:Er – ride the

    oldstrath wrote:
    Er – ride the bike?

    Kind of restricts me to the annual local event… I’m not riding 50 miles to get to a challenging 65 mile sportive, then riding 50 miles home again!!!

    I’m not one of the “I’m really good at cycling so I bought a great bike” brigade… I’m more “I spend all my time at work and I’m getting on a bit, so I have the money for a great bike but no time to ride it” kind of hated middle-aged poseur! đŸ™‚ If I choose an event, it’s because it’s a challenge – which means an extra 3 miles would probably be too much…

    July 15, 2014 at 1:20 pm #803939
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    oldstrath

    Er – ride the bike?
    Er – ride the bike?

    July 15, 2014 at 12:55 pm #803937
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    denerobt

    You gas mileage will suffer
    You gas mileage will suffer with a rear hitch mount rack over a roof mount ….

    I always thought it was the other way round as the aerodynamics of a big bulky object on top of the roof would easily outweigh the extra weight of a towbar carrier at the rear end of a car ? But then, I still shove a newspaper down my front for the desents so I’m probably WAY outta touch.

    July 15, 2014 at 9:10 am #803935
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    bikemadjo

    my partner and i bought one
    my partner and i bought one of these about a year ago and it has been perfect for transporting our carbon bike around. it holds the wheels so there is less chance of frame damage.

    http://www.saris.com/product/eu-thelma-2

    it is a bit pricey, but it’s better than a broken top tube.

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