Results 1 to 25 of 25
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Somewhere else
    Posts
    5,676

    Bike transport in winter

    Am I dumb to consider transporting a bike on a hitch rack for a 300 km drive in winter? Roads are currently pretty wet and dirty.

    I'm mostly wondering if the road grime etc is more than just a slight pain in the ass to clean off or if I'll do a disproportionate amount of wear and tear.

    Going to the inlaws for xmas and if I have the fat bike with me I can spend less time in the company of said inlaws.

    Sent from my SM-A505W using Tapatalk
    Goal: ski in the 2018/19 season

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    LV-426
    Posts
    21,126
    I contaminated Shimano disc pads on a salt spray hitch rack drive, and was never able to get them cleaned again - burning, alcohol, sanding - nothing worked.

    I won't do that again. Remove the pads at least, and get ready for hosing off the bike on arrival.
    Quote Originally Posted by powder11 View Post
    if you have to resort to taking advice from the nitwits on this forum, then you're doomed.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Somewhere else
    Posts
    5,676
    Good to know... thanks.

    There's a car wash near where I'm going I could do the low pressure soak and rinse at.

    No issues with drivetrain?

    Sent from my SM-A505W using Tapatalk
    Goal: ski in the 2018/19 season

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Bellevue
    Posts
    7,431
    Maybe wrap it up with plastic sheeting and tape for the drive? As long as you don't mind how it looks

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Southeast New York
    Posts
    11,766
    Muc Off makes disc covers for transport that work really well. They cover the rotor and caliper.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    LV-426
    Posts
    21,126
    Quote Originally Posted by Shorty_J View Post
    Good to know... thanks.

    There's a car wash near where I'm going I could do the low pressure soak and rinse at.

    No issues with drivetrain?

    Sent from my SM-A505W using Tapatalk
    The bike I'm willing to subject to the road slop is a 2008 singlespeed. Didn't have any issues with bearings anyway.
    Quote Originally Posted by powder11 View Post
    if you have to resort to taking advice from the nitwits on this forum, then you're doomed.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Somewhere else
    Posts
    5,676
    Quote Originally Posted by gravitylover View Post
    Muc Off makes disc covers for transport that work really well. They cover the rotor and caliper.
    Those look great... I wished I asked this question earlier as I leave tomorrow and can't get those in time.

    Might buy some anyway for next time.

    I think plastic wrap is the ticket for this trip.

    Thanks to everyone for the feedback.

    Sent from my SM-A505W using Tapatalk
    Goal: ski in the 2018/19 season

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Posts
    8,318
    I bought a pair of smallish tarps at Walmart or someplace when faced with a similar decision and it's worked out fine. I think the tires stuck out slightly the last time, so maybe 6 ft/2m square? Grommetted holes around the edges, sewn up with paracord.

    On our tray rack I just put the tarp down before the bikes, with about 80% of the tarp ahead of the wheel mounts so the front facing side and top are covered but there is enough left behind the tire/rack to secure it once tied. Complete coverage of 2 bikes takes both tarps (shingled) on our rack, but one is almost as good so I haven't used both yet. Might be worth setting it up to drain at the bottom, but I always feel like stopping upwardly mobile grime and spray is the priority.

    Bonus to a full wrap: it looks like it's not worth stealing.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    here and there
    Posts
    18,583
    Quote Originally Posted by gravitylover View Post
    Muc Off makes disc covers for transport that work really well. They cover the rotor and caliper.
    nice!
    watch out for snakes

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Somewhere else
    Posts
    5,676
    Quote Originally Posted by jono View Post
    I bought a pair of smallish tarps at Walmart or someplace when faced with a similar decision and it's worked out fine. I think the tires stuck out slightly the last time, so maybe 6 ft/2m square? Grommetted holes around the edges, sewn up with paracord.

    On our tray rack I just put the tarp down before the bikes, with about 80% of the tarp ahead of the wheel mounts so the front facing side and top are covered but there is enough left behind the tire/rack to secure it once tied. Complete coverage of 2 bikes takes both tarps (shingled) on our rack, but one is almost as good so I haven't used both yet. Might be worth setting it up to drain at the bottom, but I always feel like stopping upwardly mobile grime and spray is the priority.

    Bonus to a full wrap: it looks like it's not worth stealing.
    I'd be worried about blocking the tail lights with a tarp covering the entire bike.

    I used plastic bags and tuck tape to cover the brakes. Very dirty drive... the truck and bike both needed a wash when I arrived. Used low pressure soak and low pressure rinse and the bike is sparkling clean. Put some fresh chain oil in and ready to ride.

    I think I'm going to buy those Muc Off covers to save time for next time.

    Sent from my SM-A505W using Tapatalk
    Goal: ski in the 2018/19 season

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    northern BC
    Posts
    30,881
    I've plastic wrapped a bike for the long drive, get a roll of that stuff they use to hold together boxes on pallets
    Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Gapper Alley
    Posts
    97
    I use motorcycle chain lube on my winter commuter. Inside (steel frame), outside, any part that moves. It's messy to clean but has no rust. I would hit your bike with some of this thick, nasty bizness before the trip.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Hyperspace!
    Posts
    1,370
    Overthinking, just wrap in a blue tarp and go.
    Don't do this

    took forever to get them cleaned up

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Southeast New York
    Posts
    11,766
    If your bikes are behind an RV and really wind sheltered this works great https://www.swagman.net/product/swag...ntal-bike-bag/ I don't know that I'd use it on a suv or pickup because the wind will hammer it. There's also the blocking the license plate thing that some states here in the northeast have a problem with because it means the toll cameras can't get you.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Somewhere else
    Posts
    5,676
    I'm really glad I brought the bike.

    What better way to spend a cold dreary day than on some trails instead of with my inlaws or my crying son!



    Sent from my SM-A505W using Tapatalk
    Goal: ski in the 2018/19 season

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Treading Water
    Posts
    6,683
    Good decision to bring the bike. It’s not art to look at, it’s a tool to hammer with.
    I’ve driven my bikes through fuck all weather and they’re fine. Not gonna be worse than a rainy weekend at an East Coast bike park.


    Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
    However many are in a shit ton.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    cow hampshire
    Posts
    8,295
    Quote Originally Posted by XXX-er View Post
    I've plastic wrapped a bike for the long drive, get a roll of that stuff they use to hold together boxes on pallets
    Shrink wrap. That is a good idea, but...fucking single use plastic.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Posts
    465
    Didn't know where to put this, and this thread was at least slightly related.

    I have a pickup with a soft topper and I transport my bikes with a tailgate pad (no rear flap). Works fine for short jaunts but it's a pain for trips where other crap is in the bed, or for chaining it up when parked for beers. We're going to switch to a full on topper to for a number of reasons, which means goodbye tailgate pad. The logical bike dude solution is a hitch rack, but the truck is also our toddler transporter and mrs bw doesn't want to deal with a hitch rack on a daily basis, and I don't want to install it on the truck every time I ride. Not a lot of other great options for bike racks on trucks with toppers so I got creative.

    Stealing inspiration from the Thule Insta-gater and #vanlife I got a Rockymounts track and axle mount rigged up with some old snowboard ratchets and shelf brackets. Didn't want to bolt the track to the bed for flexibility reasons.

    It takes about a minute to load / unload my bike, which might get better with practice. I wanted to give it a shot before the hard shell comes in to assess pain-in-the-ass level. I know camper shells aren't thief-proof but it would be out of sight and locked behind the tailgate/window. Test drives are solid so far but we'll see. Just wanted to share in case someone else had a similar problem.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Montrose, CO
    Posts
    4,618
    I run a similar setup under my topper for when I'm towing the camper or want the bike out of sight. 2x6 slides into the bed slot (f150) with two Kuat dirtbags. I had them bolted down in my old beater but this gives me a lot more flexibility. Two bikes fills up most of the 6.5 bed though.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Posts
    465
    Nice, and yeah probably a bit cheaper. At some point I'll see if two bikes fit on this setup, but it's not a priority.

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    1,020
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Image1629735016.391283.jpg 
Views:	56 
Size:	242.7 KB 
ID:	383252

    Mine is a similar concept - just more ghetto. Kicking them at an angle keeps the bars out of the way of each other and makes more room for the doggo. I toss a bleed kit spacer thingy in the brake pads for those times I accidentally squeeze the binders on loading.


    Sent from my iPad using TGR Forums

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    2,648
    Discontinued but I picked up one of these on eBay and threw on a fork mount adapter.

    https://www.amaincycling.com/yakima-...azssqq5eqzwdwz

    With that said I end up using my tailgate pad most of the time or if quick solo trips just lay it in truck bed. I don’t have a topper though so make pad easy.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Last edited by VTskibum; 08-23-2021 at 03:14 PM.

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Vermont
    Posts
    1,484
    Quick trip to the plumbing section at the hardware store yields the parts for a mount. Cost about $6 a few years ago, probably more these days.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Image1629745762.941560.jpg 
Views:	52 
Size:	1.04 MB 
ID:	383278

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Posts
    465
    Quote Originally Posted by VTskibum View Post
    Discontinued but I picked up one of these on eBay and threw on a fork mount adapter.

    https://www.amaincycling.com/yakima-...azssqq5eqzwdwz

    With that said I end up using my tailgate pad most of the time or if quick solo trips just lay it in truck bed. I don’t have a topper though so make pad easy.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Holy crap I didn't know that existed! Basically what I was going for.

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    2,648
    Ha as soon as I saw yours was my immediate thought. Has been useful when I need it


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •