Securing bike to car bike rack
06-26-17, 12:17 PM
#1
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Securing bike to car bike rack
I have a bike rack that sits on the trunk of my Honda Civic. I wanted to load my bike on, go to work, and then ride a trail after my shift. I am worried because my bike rack just sits on my trunk that someone could steal the whole thing right off. Any suggestions?
06-26-17, 12:25 PM
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You have a few choices, though the best one might be to bring the bike inside while you work.
However, if the parking area is relatively secure, you can lock the bike to the car with a cable. One way is to run the cable to a chassis element of the car, ie the tie down loops on imports. Another way is to improvise a bent piece of sheet metal that can be trapped under the trunk lid (often one of the hooks like what's holding your rack on, can serve, but this needs to be checked).
Then you can lock the bike to the trapped anchor.
Depending on the area, I'd add a secure lock to the bike itself, ie. a U-lock holding the wheel to the frame, so the bike won't be as tempting as a quick grab and ride opportunity.
However, if the parking area is relatively secure, you can lock the bike to the car with a cable. One way is to run the cable to a chassis element of the car, ie the tie down loops on imports. Another way is to improvise a bent piece of sheet metal that can be trapped under the trunk lid (often one of the hooks like what's holding your rack on, can serve, but this needs to be checked).
Then you can lock the bike to the trapped anchor.
Depending on the area, I'd add a secure lock to the bike itself, ie. a U-lock holding the wheel to the frame, so the bike won't be as tempting as a quick grab and ride opportunity.
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06-26-17, 12:58 PM
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FWIW - many hitch style racks have integral cable locks
06-26-17, 02:05 PM
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06-26-17, 03:08 PM
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No great choices.
One of my cars had a built in tow hook just under the bumper and welded to the frame. I used to loop a cable lock thru that.
It's really just a nuisance lock to prevent somebody from casually stealing the bike. Anybody serious who wants the bike is going to get it.
That's pretty much the case with any mounting system - hitch and bike tray, roof system, etc... although I was once able to U-Lock AND cable lock a bike to my roof Thule. That plus the fork lock pretty much meant they would have had to spend some time defeating 2-1/2 locks.
Best solution is store the bike in the car.
One of my cars had a built in tow hook just under the bumper and welded to the frame. I used to loop a cable lock thru that.
It's really just a nuisance lock to prevent somebody from casually stealing the bike. Anybody serious who wants the bike is going to get it.
That's pretty much the case with any mounting system - hitch and bike tray, roof system, etc... although I was once able to U-Lock AND cable lock a bike to my roof Thule. That plus the fork lock pretty much meant they would have had to spend some time defeating 2-1/2 locks.
Best solution is store the bike in the car.
06-26-17, 03:14 PM
#7
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Not ideal, but have you tried fitting it in the backseat with front tire removed? Maybe rear if you have to?
06-26-17, 03:16 PM
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My advice is dependent, of course, on your bike size and type of Civic.
If it's a hatchback, I wonder if it's smaller than an Impreza hatchback? The reason I ask, is that I can get my 54cm (i.e. "medium") road bike inside my Impreza with both wheels on. Front wheel off, I bet that almost any size bike would fit inside.
If it's a sedan (oops, just saw that it is a sedan.... will leave the above in anyway), if the rear seat folds down you should try getting the bike inside through the trunk with or without the front wheel.
Also, I've fit many a bike in the back seat of small cars with the front wheel off. You might want to cover the seat with a blanket or seat cover if you try that.
Just throwing ideas at you.
I have both a hitch rack and a rooftop rack also. The hitch rack can lock to the receiver (locking pin) and the bike locked to the rack. My roof top rack locks to the crossbars and locks the bike with the same lock (Yakima Fork Lift). My factory crossbars I haven't looked into locking them to the car, but the Yakima crossbars I have lock in place.
If it's a hatchback, I wonder if it's smaller than an Impreza hatchback? The reason I ask, is that I can get my 54cm (i.e. "medium") road bike inside my Impreza with both wheels on. Front wheel off, I bet that almost any size bike would fit inside.
If it's a sedan (oops, just saw that it is a sedan.... will leave the above in anyway), if the rear seat folds down you should try getting the bike inside through the trunk with or without the front wheel.
Also, I've fit many a bike in the back seat of small cars with the front wheel off. You might want to cover the seat with a blanket or seat cover if you try that.
Just throwing ideas at you.
I have both a hitch rack and a rooftop rack also. The hitch rack can lock to the receiver (locking pin) and the bike locked to the rack. My roof top rack locks to the crossbars and locks the bike with the same lock (Yakima Fork Lift). My factory crossbars I haven't looked into locking them to the car, but the Yakima crossbars I have lock in place.
06-26-17, 05:09 PM
#9
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Every single workplace in the history of workplaces has at least a closet that will fit a bike. Have you asked a co-worker where yours is?
06-26-17, 08:16 PM
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Get to work. Remove bike and lock it to a bike rack using legit U locks. Remove from rack when you leave. Place back on car. Done.
06-27-17, 04:07 AM
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I used to carry a bike inside my Fiat Panda. Admittedly I had to take off the front wheel and lay the seats down, but it'd go in easily enough.
Failing that, I'd take the bike inside and put the carrier in the boot. You'd be amazed where you can store a bike and if your carrier doesn't come off easily and fit in your boot, buy a different.
Failing that, I'd take the bike inside and put the carrier in the boot. You'd be amazed where you can store a bike and if your carrier doesn't come off easily and fit in your boot, buy a different.
06-27-17, 08:14 AM
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Carry a 40 pound junker bike on the rack with your good bike, and use a couple locks (a U-lock and a cable lock would be best) to lock the two together. Now it's a 60-pound load to get off the back of the car; unless you're parking someplace really unsafe, that should deter potential thieves.
06-27-17, 09:13 AM
#13
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Just take it off lock it in the car?
.....
07-06-17, 02:51 PM
#16
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If you lived around here no matter what kind of lock you had on your bike if it is left out in the open it's gone.
04-29-18, 07:49 PM
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Get to work. Remove bike and lock it to a bike rack using legit U locks. Remove from rack when you leave. Place back on car. Done.
Slight upgrade to the above
Buy a couple of extra locks, bring them to work or near work. Lock all of them to a strong post. Keep lock keys in car. When you arrive at work simply lock bike up with locks which are already there waiting and after work, take bike (and keys) home by car.
Slight upgrade to the above
Buy a couple of extra locks, bring them to work or near work. Lock all of them to a strong post. Keep lock keys in car. When you arrive at work simply lock bike up with locks which are already there waiting and after work, take bike (and keys) home by car.
Last edited by WGB; 04-29-18 at 07:50 PM. Reason: grammer
04-29-18, 08:00 PM
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If you can, carry it inside your car. I was just involved in an auto collision where my car was rear-ended.
Guess what was in the back of my car?
Yep, my C60. I had just picked it up from the shop and was on my way to meeting my wife for dinner. I was stopped in traffic and BAM!
An inattentive driver, looking down at the cellphone was enough to put a major damper on what had been a previously great day.
Fortunately the bike can be repaired. The Thule T2 is toast, however.
insurance will cover it.
Moral of the story: if you can carry your bike inside your vehicle do it and save yourself a great deal of aggravation.
Guess what was in the back of my car?
Yep, my C60. I had just picked it up from the shop and was on my way to meeting my wife for dinner. I was stopped in traffic and BAM!
An inattentive driver, looking down at the cellphone was enough to put a major damper on what had been a previously great day.
Fortunately the bike can be repaired. The Thule T2 is toast, however.
insurance will cover it.
Moral of the story: if you can carry your bike inside your vehicle do it and save yourself a great deal of aggravation.
04-29-18, 11:26 PM
#20
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Cable locks, chains, u-locks, built in rack locks none of them will work worth a crap if somebody actually wants your bike. At best you can just stop a casual thief. .
04-30-18, 01:50 AM
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04-30-18, 07:33 AM
#22
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I know that both my 19" MTB and my 58cm road bike will fit in the trunk of a 4-door Civic or Corolla, if you fold the seat down, but not neccesarily at the same time.
A fresh -off-the-trail MTB may not be something you want to stuff in the back seat of your car, however, so I understand racking it.Depending on what your parking situation is at work, there are different levels of 'secure enough'
If you work in an office building / complex that has it's own parking area, it will have less exposure to casual by-passers.
Park near or facing the front entrance, where it will be very visible to people coming and going from the building, rather than off in a secluded corner of the lot.
The increased chance of being seen 'in the act.'
If you work at the mall, or park 'on-street,' then bring it inside, or stash it in the trunk.If you leave it on the car, use a security cable, and a large, high visibility padlock; like the kind they sell at Home Depot for locking up lawnmowers and generators and the like. Loop it through the bike frame, wheels, and the rack. Secure it to th tow loop under the bumper.
Nothing is going to be 100% theft-proof to a determined professional, but imho, that threat is pretty rare. Most of the time it's a 'snatch-and-grab' target of opportunity, and a couple of big cables and locks will send that type looking for easier targets.
A fresh -off-the-trail MTB may not be something you want to stuff in the back seat of your car, however, so I understand racking it.Depending on what your parking situation is at work, there are different levels of 'secure enough'
If you work in an office building / complex that has it's own parking area, it will have less exposure to casual by-passers.
Park near or facing the front entrance, where it will be very visible to people coming and going from the building, rather than off in a secluded corner of the lot.
The increased chance of being seen 'in the act.'
If you work at the mall, or park 'on-street,' then bring it inside, or stash it in the trunk.If you leave it on the car, use a security cable, and a large, high visibility padlock; like the kind they sell at Home Depot for locking up lawnmowers and generators and the like. Loop it through the bike frame, wheels, and the rack. Secure it to th tow loop under the bumper.
Nothing is going to be 100% theft-proof to a determined professional, but imho, that threat is pretty rare. Most of the time it's a 'snatch-and-grab' target of opportunity, and a couple of big cables and locks will send that type looking for easier targets.
04-30-18, 08:05 AM
#23
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At times, I lock my bike to my roof rack even though it has a key lock on the trays. No, not undefeatable, but I figure if they are cutting my roof rack, they're getting the bike regardless of what I do.
Yep, for work use. Not for personal toys. I've worked places with lots of space where recreational items could be stored without issue, but they were the exception, not the rule. The last few office buildings I have worked in don't have room for the stuff they need to keep, let alone my bike.
Yep, for work use. Not for personal toys. I've worked places with lots of space where recreational items could be stored without issue, but they were the exception, not the rule. The last few office buildings I have worked in don't have room for the stuff they need to keep, let alone my bike.
04-30-18, 11:09 AM
#24
SuperGimp
If you can, carry it inside your car. I was just involved in an auto collision where my car was rear-ended.
Guess what was in the back of my car?
Yep, my C60. I had just picked it up from the shop and was on my way to meeting my wife for dinner. I was stopped in traffic and BAM!
An inattentive driver, looking down at the cellphone was enough to put a major damper on what had been a previously great day.
Fortunately the bike can be repaired. The Thule T2 is toast, however.
insurance will cover it.
Moral of the story: if you can carry your bike inside your vehicle do it and save yourself a great deal of aggravation.
Guess what was in the back of my car?
Yep, my C60. I had just picked it up from the shop and was on my way to meeting my wife for dinner. I was stopped in traffic and BAM!
An inattentive driver, looking down at the cellphone was enough to put a major damper on what had been a previously great day.
Fortunately the bike can be repaired. The Thule T2 is toast, however.
insurance will cover it.
Moral of the story: if you can carry your bike inside your vehicle do it and save yourself a great deal of aggravation.
04-30-18, 11:20 AM
#25
Senior Member
Ride your bike to work, bring inside?