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Carrying a bike box on a soft rack?
I'm off to Mallorca in a few weeks and looking to take my own bike this time, rather than hire. The flight is sorted, along with a bike box alan, however the problem is transporting the bike box from the airport to the villa. With a toddler we need one back seat, so this rules out most cars. The next step up is to a people carrier or van such as a Partner or Berlingo, but this is an extra £600, for which I might as well hire a Dogma F12 for the week! There is no luggage storage available at the airport for the box, and I can't find hire companies which will provide roof racks or bike racks. My last option is to look at a soft rack - has anyone any experience of transporting a bike box on a soft rack? I can't see any reason why it wouldn't work, and the load is within the recommendations, but do hire car companies take a dim view when they see you fit one? Any other ideas?
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7 comments
I've done this a couple of times in France and Italy and driven 100s miles with soft rack, hard shell box on a hire car.
A few pointers
If you can, book the car on a card that takes off your excess. Makes the whole thing a lot less nerve racking.
I have a handirack. It's fine, but putting one if the thin micro fleece towels under it makes the world of difference. And make sure the car roof is spotless!
Also, tuck the towel (and straps) in well. Otherwise the flapping sound will drive you potty!
I use an additional set of proper ratchet clamp straps. Made me way more comfortable.
Don't inflate the rack till its rock hard. The recommended pressure is high and seems to be for an uneven heavier load that they were designed for (aka a boat)
My biggest stress was it would just blow right off. Strapping it carefully, thright holes, round wheels, was a misgmt for me. And I was still nervous it would fly back and leave a train of devastation... Ultimately I drove from Florence to alps. And it was fine.
All of that said, Majorca has great bike hire. And crmar hire in both soler and plaermo. The cost of a bike hire, esp by day (which with a kid in shikd seat I assume is your reality ie 1 bike day = 3 days child care..) maybe just worth it / easier.. Or if near to the airport, get a cab for your wife while you drive you, bike and kid? Should all fit in
Good luck. And enjoy the beautiful smooth roads over there!
On a related point, don't get your hire car from Goldcar (are they still there ripping people off?). Or if it's too late, don't sign anything..
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/may/05/goldcar-holiday-car-hire-c...
As above, not sure how long your transfer is but normally I travel in a taxi with bike box and family go in the hire car. Adds £50 to trip but saves a lot of pain.
Depending on the car you can sometimes fold the rear seats down to get the bike box in, wedge it at an angle, then fold a single seat back up for a child seat. Not ideal when your EasyJet flight arrives late, it's dark, everyone's hungry and pissed off, and the hire car doesn't have a split fold rear seat. (That's when we started using taxis).
Taxi or one of the many companies offering bike transport, like https://mallorcacycleshuttle.co.uk/mallorca-airport-transfers.html.
Or an estate car.
Can you not fold down one half of the rear bench, carrying the bike box upright or canted over?
Alternatively, a proper roof rack is usually a reasonably cheap option when hiring a car.
My old car was a suzuki jimny - one of the smallest cars there is. Believe it or not a bike box and two passengers still fit inside, so maybe just try it!
Cycle to the villa ?!
If you do put it on the car, photo/video the whole car in case of alleged damage post uk return.