Taking Bikes Pros & Cons

[Aidy P]

If someone wants your bike they will get it, I’d never leave my bikes on the rack unattended again. I had a rack cut off the towbar in less than 40 minutes, they actually cut through 4 locks and the towbar itself-13k of bikes and a rack gone. Was parked in a car park in daylight. Have been woken up twice with someone trying to get my bike off the rack during the night. I gave up and bought a van where they can be inside. You can get through most locks and wires with a Li Ion disc grinder in seconds which is the problem now.

I hope that was never in a campsite?

 

[NZCol]

The rack was taken off in a car park, van was parked backwards against a wall specifically with the lightboard touching it. Both other attempts were on sites - Rosetta in Peebles and Glenmore.

 

[sbmcd]

Any recommendations for bike covers for 4 mountain bikes On tow ball mounted rack would be appreciated. It does make sense that if you can’t easily see them, it is a bit of a deterrent. I have visions of a ‘balloon’ behind me as I drive down France in the motorway though if it’s not aerodynamic

Decathlon do a very large two bike cover which would easily cover 4 bikes close together. Flapping is a problem with covers at speed even if kept tight with bungees. I found if you are travelling fast best to take the cover off.

 

[sbmcd]

If someone wants your bike they will get it, I’d never leave my bikes on the rack unattended again. I had a rack cut off the towbar in less than 40 minutes, they actually cut through 4 locks and the towbar itself-13k of bikes and a rack gone. Was parked in a car park in daylight. Have been woken up twice with someone trying to get my bike off the rack during the night. I gave up and bought a van where they can be inside. You can get through most locks and wires with a Li Ion disc grinder in seconds which is the problem now.

If you put an expensive bike on the back of your van someone will try to steal it. Expensive battery bikes seem to be the main target on campsites from what I have been told.

 

[Moakesy]

Decathlon do a very large two bike cover which would easily cover 4 bikes close together. Flapping is a problem with covers at speed even if kept tight with bungees. I found if you are travelling fast best to take the cover off.

I use a tarpaulin and bungees, and think I’ll check out the Decathlon cover you mention.
I agree entirely about not using a cover on the motorway or fast roads.
If someone really wants your bike, they’ll get it. All you can do is try your best to make it difficult.

 

[Karlos]

Hi how did you make the quick release brackets ? great idea

Hi Jeff there's a thread on here that shows how to make the base plate out of an Ikea chopping board. Just cut some off one we had. Mrs K was less than pleased not that she cooks.

 

[Aidy P]

Decathlon do a very large two bike cover which would easily cover 4 bikes close together. Flapping is a problem with covers at speed even if kept tight with bungees. I found if you are travelling fast best to take the cover off.

Decathlon cover is out of stock. Does anyone else have a suggested cover that will fit 4 full size mountain bikes please? 3 x S & 1 x L bikes. Most covers seem to be for 2/3 bikes. The Thule 4 bike one has bad reviews.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

See alot of these on the backs of vans in France. Fiamma stuff is normally well made:

Fiamma Bike Cover S for 4 Bikes on Campers & Motorhomes | 08208A01-

A very practical bike cover for your campervan, motorhome or caravan. Made of waterproof and reinforced polyester, makes it ideal for any type of weather. Fiamma OEM Product Number: 08208A01-

www.thecampercoshop.com

 

[Tom]

To date we’ve always hired bikes when we’ve gone on tour with the van. Taking four full size bikes always seems a faff and a security risk. I was always concerned about parking up with them too on a rear mounted rack that we have as you can’t use a normal bay.

For the last three years we’ve just stayed on sites for a few days before moving on. This year we’re thinking of heading to Il de Rae and rather than doing so much of a grand tour. We’re planning on avoiding towns and cities.

Any advice on taking four bikes, security and general making it easier would be appreciated

Also any mistakes that you’ve learnt from would be good too.

I’ve got an Altera Strada tow ball mounted rack. Was thinking about getting an airsafe for the boot door to aid ventilation. Does anyone know if this causes problems with the rack fitted?

Thanks

To date we’ve always hired bikes when we’ve gone on tour with the van. Taking four full size bikes always seems a faff and a security risk. I was always concerned about parking up with them too on a rear mounted rack that we have as you can’t use a normal bay.

For the last three years we’ve just stayed on sites for a few days before moving on. This year we’re thinking of heading to Il de Rae and rather than doing so much of a grand tour. We’re planning on avoiding towns and cities.

Any advice on taking four bikes, security and general making it easier would be appreciated

Also any mistakes that you’ve learnt from would be good too.

I’ve got an Altera Strada tow ball mounted rack. Was thinking about getting an airsafe for the boot door to aid ventilation. Does anyone know if this causes problems with the rack fitted?

Thanks

Il de Rae is fantastic and very bike friendly. We don’t use a bike rack for security reasons. We have 2 American lightweight Montigue folding bikes. I take off the front wheels and fold them in two. They fit easily behind the front seats when traveling and we lock them to something suitable when on site. Had them for over 20 years and a great piece of kit.
Tom

 

[haydnw2]

Not much use for more than one bike, but I use a Bike Parka (https://bikeparka.com) if I ever need to leave mine outdoors, and it's really good. A big advantage is that it handles modern MTB geometry well (605b, wide bars, long wheelbase, etc). I'm still amazed that Fiamma use 26" hardtails with V-brakes in their current marketing material.

 

[Pete Roberts]

I saw a video on YouTube of some ratbag nicking a bike from the back of a car..Not sure how it was fitted but he did manage to get it off while the vehicle was in traffic.
At least with the VW bike carrier which is high up and does have a locking knob it would be very difficult to get it off in a short period of time..I think an extra visible lock on the outer bike as an extra deterrent would be best.

 

[Aidy P]

I saw a video on YouTube of some ratbag nicking a bike from the back of a car..Not sure how it was fitted but he did manage to get it off while the vehicle was in traffic.
At least with the VW bike carrier which is high up and does have a locking knob it would be very difficult to get it off in a short period of time..I think an extra visible lock on the outer bike as an extra deterrent would be best.

I’d hope that four full size bikes will be a bit of a challenge to remove if they’re chained together and to the carrier.

 

[Anthony1]

With bike racks BEWARE the Car lane height barriers on the Peage! Better to use the staffed Truck lanes.

Some of the height restriction barriers a hollow plastic poles hanging vertically (no plroblems going through them) some are concrete.

 

[Dave Wickham]

Like many say on this post, if a thief wants your bike he'll get it. I find the best solution when the rack is down with the bikes on is to reverse it right up to a wall or tree until its touching so that it becomes almost impossible to get the bikes or the rack as the scum have such limited room to work - this does not negate the need for additional security such as a tungsten wire cable that can be looped thru' the rear towing eye under the bumper and thru' the bikes frames (and wheels) and around the rack itself (you need a longish cable - around 2.5-3m is what I have). Photo just shows it securing the rack in the unused position. Sometimes fate lends a hand - a colleague at work caught a scum trying to steal his 2 bikes from his bike rack (on a car not a Cali) and the scum was despatched to hospital with an apparent broken arm and some 'unpleasant' facial injuries. So there is a god!

 

[Bill R]

Like many say on this post, if a thief wants your bike he'll get it. I find the best solution when the rack is down with the bikes on is to reverse it right up to a wall or tree until its touching View attachment 62337so that it becomes almost impossible to get the bikes or the rack as the scum have such limited room to work - this does not negate the need for additional security such as a tungsten wire cable that can be looped thru' the rear towing eye under the bumper and thru' the bikes frames (and wheels) and around the rack itself (you need a longish cable - around 2.5-3m is what I have). Photo just shows it securing the rack in the unused position. Sometimes fate lends a hand - a colleague at work caught a scum trying to steal his 2 bikes from his bike rack (on a car not a Cali) and the scum was despatched to hospital with an apparent broken arm and some 'unpleasant' facial injuries. So there is a god!

Great idea but when reversing to rest your bike rack against the tree, remember that your reversing sensors are telling you how close your bumper is to the tree, not your extended rack !
Yours truly forgot this last year with obvious consequence !

 

[Amarillo]

We hauled two Bromptons, two child's bikes and a double trailer around Europe with us.



Two long cables wrapped around the whole lot and the carrier.

The cables can be threaded through a wheel of the van at campsites to lock the bikes if no tree is available (just remember to unlock before driving away).

Two Bromptons and two children's bikes easily fit in the boot for something more secure.

 

[Dave Wickham]

Great idea but when reversing to rest your bike rack against the tree, remember that your reversing sensors are telling you how close your bumper is to the tree, not your extended rack !
Yours truly forgot this last year with obvious consequence !

Absolutely - don't rely on your sensors (I turn them off) and get 'er indoors to guide the van up to the wall/tree!

 

[Aidy P]

On a

We hauled two Bromptons, two child's bikes and a double trailer around Europe with us.

View attachment 62374

Two long cables wrapped around the whole lot and the carrier.

The cables can be threaded through a wheel of the van at campsites to lock the bikes if no tree is available (just remember to unlock before driving away).

Two Bromptons and two children's bikes easily fit in the boot for something more secure.

View attachment 62375

that is a lot of kit @Amarillo !!! We have an Ocean and are already limited for space inside. When the girls no longer want to come with us I think we’ll opt for a couple of folding bikes