Usually, I just cycle directly from home... or my boyfriend and I load up our bikes on his bike rack and head out somewhere, but I'd like to come up with a way to transport my bike and do group rides myself with a local club. These rides are far from my home and normally happen directly after work. No time to ride there.

I drive a '96 Toyota Corolla that does NOT have a fold-down back seat. If I want to fit my bike into the trunk, both wheels must be removed. What a pain! (I have small hands and have a heck of a time with disconnecting/reconnecting the brake cables.)

Once, I saw a guy whose bike didn't quite fit into the trunk of his car, but he crammed it in as best he could and secured it with some kind of heavy duty elastic netting. I wish I had asked him how it worked. I'd like to find an easy way to transport my bike intact without buying a rack or a new car, since mine is paid off.

Is this even possible?

I have occaisionally put mine in the back
seat of a Honda, just remove front wheel and
it sort of fits by leaning it into the seatbacks.
Saris bones has a 2 bike rack that is not
too expensive as an alternative, only
thing is the bike is hanging off the back of
the car.
Hope this helps,
Marty

OB - I suggest investing in a trunk mount rack. Easy to use and not very expensive. Performance bike has one of their house brand trunk racks on sale for $40.

If you really want to shove your bike in the trunk, put it in best you can and secure the trunk w/ $.99 bungee cords. I used to do this w/ a Honda Civic. But, if you think taking the wheels off the bike is a pain, this is just as much of a hassle. With a rack, you just lift the bike off the ground a foot or two and slide on the rack.

we carry our bikes (2 road or the tandem) on a rear bike rack. We have a rack that fits my wife Z-28 and I have one on the rear tire on my jeep.

They are inexpensive and easy to use. I have driven with bikes hanging of the back for up to 700 miles at a time. You can do it all yourself with out assistance from anyone.

I have an 86 Toyota Camry, which is about the size of a Corolla. It is a four door. I take the front wheel off and slide it in the back seat. It fits perfectly. The mtn bike fits, too. Just be sure to put a towel on the back seat. I always manage to get grease on the seat.
We just bought a 96 Honda Civic. We did not want a bike rack on the trunk so we had a welder make a hitch rack for it. Now we can use the hitch rack for the Jeep or the Honda.

>>>>Once, I saw a guy whose bike didn't quite fit into the trunk of his car, but he crammed it in as best he could and secured it with some kind of heavy duty elastic netting. I wish I had asked him how it worked. I'd like to find an easy way to transport my bike intact without buying a rack or a new car, since mine is paid off. <<<<<<<


This is insane. Did you ever hear of folding bikes? I have been using them quite successfully for over 5 years. I take them on trains, buses, airplanes and cars. Hardly ever a problem. Takes less than a minute to fold my PBW with no tools. The bike fits in the trunk and I'm off.

The problem with transporting a large upright bike on your car is you CAN'T leave it on the car rack and go to work. You do so at your own risk. Your only other hope is to leave it attached to some pole and hope no one steals parts. Good luck.

You can also try the folding bike solution. I have several folders from Dahon, Bike Friday, Brompton and PBW. There are not many good folding road bikes out but if you'll search, you might see something.

You can also get an S & S machine or have your own bicycle coupled to allow it to separate for easy transportation.