Folding Bikes - Packed a car with two folding bikes

I was able to fit two folding bikes, along with other random stuff. I know I couldn't do that with non-folding bikes, unless I used my roof rack. As a bonus, putting the bikes inside the car doesn't kill my car's mileage.

http://www.iamstuffed.com/photos/zp-core/i.php?a=packed-car&i=IMG_2002.JPG&w=300&h=225 (http://www.iamstuffed.com/photos/packed-car/IMG_2002.JPG)

http://www.iamstuffed.com/photos/zp-core/i.php?a=packed-car&i=IMG_2000.rotated.JPG&w=300&h=225 (http://www.iamstuffed.com/photos/packed-car/IMG_2000.rotated.JPG)

http://www.iamstuffed.com/photos/zp-core/i.php?a=packed-car&i=IMG_2001.rotated.JPG&w=300&h=225 (http://www.iamstuffed.com/photos/packed-car/IMG_2001.rotated.JPG)

One Downtube 9, and one Bike Friday Tikit.

Today, I bought my wife a new Dahon Boardwalk. We drove down to Playa Del Rey Beach with my Dahon Curve and her Boardwalk folded up and sitting behind the seats in my pickup truck. Suhweeet.

We can easily fit two Bike Fridays (Crusoe & NWT) in the back of our Toyota Yaris Liftback or our 4Runner with room to spare. In fact. they only take up 1/2 of the space behind the back seat in 4Runner as shown below.

The bikes mount via two quick releases each on a plywood board, and the front wheels go into homemade canvas wheel bags.

(The box on the right holds our Coleman stove/grill and two Rubbermaid containers go on top of it.)

With the Yaris, we just toss them in.

I can throw my BF Pocket Llama and Avernir Alloy in the tiny trunk of my Mustang! I find it's a lot easier when they are packed away in the bags.

Does anyone have any smaller to mid-sized car pics? Like a Honda Civic with a folder or two in the trunk?

Foldabletwo: If you get the chance, It would be great to see the Yaris in action!

This is encouraging. I hope to have two folders up and running in time for our vacation in August. But I've been a little concerned that two bikes and week's worth of luggage wouldn't fit in our lil' Saturn. I'm still not sure it will. My Tote-Cycle, especially, is a bit large even when broken down, but this gives me hope at least.

It's a VW Golf with the rear seat folded down.

The Birdy and Dahon Helios both fit behind the back seat of our '91 Civic AWD wagon.

If I take a front wheel off, I can fit two NWTs in the trunk of our Echo (sedan).

Another advantage is not worrying about bike theft when you leave the car/bike parked somewhere, cause the folder is hidden away in the trunk. :)

Another advantage is not worrying about bike theft when you leave the car/bike parked somewhere, cause the folder is hidden away in the trunk. :)

That is the precise reason why we put them in the trunk instead of leaving one in the back seat. :thumb:

Does anyone have any smaller to mid-sized car pics? Like a Honda Civic with a folder or two in the trunk?


Here's a shot of my Downtube IXFS in the trunk of my Hyundai Elantra. Have never tried to get two in there, but I think it could be done if a few wheels were popped off and moved to the backseat.

Today, I bought my wife a new Dahon Boardwalk. We drove down to Playa Del Rey Beach with my Dahon Curve and her Boardwalk folded up and sitting behind the seats in my pickup truck. Suhweeet.
I bet the weather was yucky out there today.....

I bet the weather was yucky out there today.....

Miserable. ;) About 65 degrees and sunny with about a 12 knot wind blowing in off the ocean. We maybe saw 20 people on the bike path during the hour and a half we rode.

I get 4 folders in my Citroen boot, GoBike & Brompton side by side (laying down) then Tools, bags behind them with 2 Stridas on top.
Whats more I get 4 folders in the front basket of my Long-John (http://www.flickr.com/photos/chop_and_his_crazy_world/520156309/in/set-72157600282333973/)! Beat that! LOL!

Bravely going where no folders have previously been! :thumb:

Chop!

I get 4 folders in my Citroen boot, GoBike & Brompton side by side (laying down) then Tools, bags behind them with 2 Stridas on top.
Whats more I get 4 folders in the front basket of my Long-John!


Impressive! You deserve a prize.

I bet the weather was yukky out there. Miserable. ;) About 65 degrees and sunny with about a 12 knot wind blowing in off the ocean. We maybe saw 20 people on the bike path during the hour and a half we rode.

I live in a place where today is the second day in about 6 months where temps have been above 60.

65 and only a 12 knot wind sounds pretty nice from here:D

I grew up in SoCal and was spoiled by warm temps and dry days. Assumed brown or yellow skys were normal...:( I used to sail tiny sailboats in Playa del Rey before Marina Del Rey was built. You knew it was winter when the temperature dropped below 70.

Now I prefer to live where you can't see the air, but the reality is that lately if it's warmer than 55 it's now T-shirt weather. :rolleyes: You learn to appreciate even the smallest improvement in the weather...

I love the easy transport of folding bikes combined with the security of being able to have them locked in your vehicle when you want to run errands, buy a latte, or be on vacation in a strange city. On longer road trips I almost always travel with a folder now since I might have a chance to use it :)

Nice to be able to have the chance to ride your folder(s) rather that wishing you had a bike with you...

Well said, Pine Cone. Been there, done that. I grew up in Iowa, where there are only 2 weeks of decent weather...one in the spring and one in the fall.....in a good year!

OK - I promised I would post a picture of two Bike Friday's inside our Yaris Lift Back. We took them to downtown Portland earlier today for a ride around the bike path along the Willamette River.

My GREEN NWT is to the back of the car, and there is a dark green towel between it and my wife's Blue Pocket Crusoe (to keep from damaging the powder coat). You can also see our equipment bag and our helmets. There is still lots of room for luggage.

I lay the bikes down because the is less chance of damaging the insides of the car, but there would be lots more available floor space if stood the bikes up against the back of the front seats.

Does anyone have any smaller to mid-sized car pics? Like a Honda Civic with a folder or two in the trunk?

Read this thread ages ago, but today suddenly decided to see how my Mezzo fits in the back of my car. I had to take the seat off, and the cover off the back section, but it is a very small Ka (http://www.ford.co.uk/spg/getImage.asp?imageName=SPG_3_28_0_224.jpg&filename=KaStyle_lrgallery_final.jpg)

Read this thread ages ago, but today suddenly decided to see how my Mezzo fits in the back of my car. I had to take the seat off, and the cover off the back section, but it is a very small Ka (http://www.ford.co.uk/spg/getImage.asp?imageName=SPG_3_28_0_224.jpg&filename=KaStyle_lrgallery_final.jpg)

I have tried a mezzo and a Brompton and a Mezzo in the boot of an older nissian Micra. Neither fitted in any way with out the seats folding down or dismantling the bike !!!

My old Diblasi fitted really well being long and very thin.Sorry I have no photo of it in car ,but I include a sideon view of a Downtube,a Giatex and the Diblasi. I think 2 Diblasi's would still fit ok, and looking at this proberbly 2 Giatex's . The Diblasi is not a great ride though. I suppose a "carry me" may also fit in twice easily ?

One of the stronger selling points of the folding bikes I own was the possible placing them into the rear seat of a classic 1960s Mini Cooper. My father owned one during the 1960s & I really miss his. While I never did get the chance to try this idea out completely in real life & the present day, I did take one bike to a car show to get a idea if this will work. I lifted the bike up and matched it to the rear of the Mini. It seemed to work out. The owner of the Mini thought the bike would fit inside, too.

Just saw this yesterday on the Bike Friday web site.

http://www.bikefriday.com/smartcar

The WINNER of the packing bike into small car contest!

Just saw this yesterday on the Bike Friday web site.

http://www.bikefriday.com/smartcar

The WINNER of the packing bike into small car contest!

-1 for blocking the rearview mirror...perhaps even a disqualification. Must await judges' decision.

Regards
T

One of the stronger selling points of the folding bikes I own was the possible placing them into the rear seat of a classic 1960s Mini Cooper. My father owned one during the 1960s & I really miss his. While I never did get the chance to try this idea out completely in real life & the present day, I did take one bike to a car show to get a idea if this will work. I lifted the bike up and matched it to the rear of the Mini. It seemed to work out. The owner of the Mini thought the bike would fit inside, too.


I can get my Curve D3 in my Mini ('06 model) without even folding the seats down. Fits perfectly. I'll have to take a picture for you.

22 Dahon Curves in a Prius (http://www.xtracycle.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/dahonblog.jpg) at Interbike.

tcs

I find it very handy to be able to grab my Helios out of the back of my VW Golf, but the fold isn't all that much help in all situations. It is awesome to be able to pack it is a suitcase for air travel though.

I have fit three regular non-folding bikes and their riders in the 2000 Neon that I used to own. I had to take the wheels off, fold down one side of the back seat, and pack everything carefully. I am not sure 3 bikes like my Helios would have fit any better or even as well.

It depends on the car (boat, plane, etc.) but, on my boat the folded width is the problem (narrow, but long hatch for the cockpit seat locker) so I have to leave it unfolded and take the front wheel off, My daughter's mountain bike fits just as well.

Bottom line... folding can be a big help, but it isn't always a big advantage.

22 Dahon Curves in a Prius (http://www.xtracycle.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/dahonblog.jpg) at Interbike.

tcs

It was actually 21, I believe. Fitting with the Las Vegas theme...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2167/2161311251_c8272ed296_m.jpg

Wife and I put our 2 Dahons in the car and went riding at the beach park.

I have done 3 Dahons before, and 3 people, in my Daihatsu hatchback.

In our US trip, we fit a Curve and a P24, plus 3 big suitcases with the rear seats down, and drove 1000 miles in 2 weeks, riding in the cities along the East Coast.

I have had 2 childrens bikes and two folding adults in the boot of an astra,along with 2 adults and two children. I needed to fold down one of the seats though. No picture, sorry.

There are two DT's in there.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa87/DVC45/IMG_0479.jpg

No need for a bike rack/carrier.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w157/Silberhorn/DSCN3248.jpg

Just for fun; This is a copy of an old print - so sorry about the quality - of my Steel framed touring bike fitting snugly in the back if my Reliant Rialto. For the benefit of non-UK readers, the Reliant was a three wheeled "car" made from fibre glass that could be driven using a motorcycle license. It was often the butt of many jokes and sometimes called a "plastic pig"! It was like Dr Who's Tardis in that it was bigger inside than out!

My current vehicle is just as compact (but has four wheels) and is a Nissan Micra. My Xootr Swift fits in there OK with the rear seats folded.

OTOH, I've never had a problem fitting my regular road bike (60 cm Cannondale) in the trunk of even small cars (like Civics and Corollas) or fitting two bikes in a car with the rear seats folded. And I can take the wheels off my Cannondale much faster than I can fold my folder. I certainly like the folder for use on mass transit or for air travel - but I don't see much if any advantage for travel by private car.

Here's a Bike Friday Pocket Sport (with drop bars and pedals still on) in the trunk of a Mazda Miata. Last year I tried to fit a Downtube 8HN in there but it wouldn't fit without some significant disassembling.

Have a DT 9FS & a Dahon MU P8. Both fits in my Jetta 2.5 sedan and my wife's Mazda3 HB. The HB can probably accommodate both folders standing on the wheels (With some creative bungee solution to hold them in place).

my new dahon boardwalk inside the trunk of my car. from the look of i there is still space for my citizen tokyo...

3 folders plus 16" bmx bike,plus still space 5 adults in vaxhall astra

i can fit a hooker and a geo prizm into MY geo prizm.

We were able to fit 4 Abio bikes in the trunk of a Mini but too bad we didn't take a pic.

Attached is a pic with 2 bikes & some other stuff.

TC