Originally Posted by
rosefarts
I’m gearing up to embark on a drive across the country for work.
The plan is Lexington-Denver-Albuquerque-St George-Portland.
This will be a 2.5 week drive, with extended stops in most of the cities mentioned.
I’d like to bring both a gravel and MTB. I have the capacity on the rack but I worry. That’s a lot of miles behind the car. I could definitely get a cover for road grime, but that might catch a lot of wind (might not, behind a Highlander)
I guess that if it’s safe for 3 miles, it’s safe for 3000. It would be a lot of work to unload and load at every hotel along the way, but I can live with that.
Its a fairly daunting trip already and the bikes just add to it. I could ship the MTB but I kind of want to ride it several times along the way.
I’d have it locked on the rack except when unloading too. I do worry though, both are pretty nice and eye catching.
Just looking for ideas for people who’ve taken extended trips through various environments and crime levels.
When we travel, we're fortunate to have a full size pickup (pulling a travel trailer) with a canopy shell. We keep the bikes locked inside the canopy shell. Out of the weather, reasonably theft proof.
When traveling recently, I've seen hard shell covers for rear racks. Making a quick search for "enclosed bike carrier" I found this and it is kind of what I saw, but I would think there's others, maybe cheaper. That search will also give you soft sided options.
Enclosed Bicycle Hitch Carrier Holds an Easy Three Bikes - Let's Go Aero (letsgoaero.com)
I know I saw more than one type this past fall in the western US, both soft sided and hard sided/locked. They looked like they were for two bikes on upright "tray" type receiver hitch bike racks.
If I were traveling with two valuable bikes on a rear rack, I'd check into one of those. For the two bikes we generally travel with, a few hundred dollars would definitely be worth the protection from elements and theft.
To me a soft cover would be a minimum just to keep road grime and water off the bikes