General Cycling Discussion - Do You Strip Your Bike Before Hauling?

I am finally getting my hitch mount bike rack for my car next week. It may be a dumb question, but what do you need to take off of the bike to transport it? I have a seatpack, computer, and pump. Do I need to take any of that off or will they all stay on the bike at high speeds on the car?

They should all stay on. The only thing I would worry about was people stealing things at rest stops, or whenever you are parked and away from the car. I used to have a trunk rack, and I would remove a pedal (because I was afraid it would scratch the car), my seat, computer, and front wheel. It makes the bike less desireable (pardon the spelling...).

I guess would remove the items. You never know.

At a rest stop or a similar location, I would just take a u-lock and lock it so it goes inbetween the rear spokes and the seatpost. This would make it less wanted by theives. If you can't picture what I'm talking about, here's a pic that I dug up from a while back. Ignore the chain, just look at the u-lock's location. http://www2.freepichosting.com/Images/79998/2.jpg

I remove accessories such as computers, lights, seatbags, and pumps. Some of these things you don't want left out in a rainstorm, nor do you want stolen. Also, lock the bike to the rack, as it deter theft, or use a cable lock and secure the cable through a safty chain loop on the hitch.

On my recumbent for any kind of transporting all the accessories like computer, lights, etc are removed. This is so they do get bumped or thrown off from driving down the road.

If it is just around town I leave the seat, Camel Bak & Vision Day Bag on.

If I am travelling to a ride more then 30 miles out of town I remove the seat, Camel Bak & Vision Day Bag. The reason is in case of rain. The seat of a recumbent will act as a big sponge if it gets wet & as the Camel Bak & Vision Day Bag are attached to the seat they are of course removed with it.

I've hauled my bike on my roof rack at 70+ mph with the computer, seat pack, and frame pump on the bike. Haven't lost anything yet.