Removing Seats To Haul Bikes "In Car"
#1
I Like to Move It
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: florida
Posts: 59
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Removing Seats To Haul Bikes "In Car"
I've had it with hauling our two Trek Madones on a hitch mounted bike rack.
We travel extensively and need the security of having the bikes inside our Toyota Highlander. I can remove the front wheels and lay each on it's side with a blanket between the two bikes but it's not the best arrangement.
I have seen that others with vans and SUVs have the headroom to sit the bikes upright, sans front wheels, rear wheels towards the front, with the forks fixed to a set of skewers. However, the Highlander doesn't have the interior height to accommodate the bikes without seat removal.
So, what do you think. Will I compromise convenience or mechanical integrity removing and installing the cycles' seats?
We travel extensively and need the security of having the bikes inside our Toyota Highlander. I can remove the front wheels and lay each on it's side with a blanket between the two bikes but it's not the best arrangement.
I have seen that others with vans and SUVs have the headroom to sit the bikes upright, sans front wheels, rear wheels towards the front, with the forks fixed to a set of skewers. However, the Highlander doesn't have the interior height to accommodate the bikes without seat removal.
So, what do you think. Will I compromise convenience or mechanical integrity removing and installing the cycles' seats?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Paradise, TX
Posts: 2,087
Bikes: Soma Pescadero, Surly Pugsley, Salsa Fargo, Schwinn Klunker, Gravity SS 27.5, Monocog 29er
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 186 Post(s)
Liked 234 Times
in
166 Posts
Can the Madone be fitted with a quick release seatpost clamp? If not it isn't a big deal, but would be better to not need tools. Make sure you mark your seatpost so you get the right height when reinstalling it and you'll be fine.
#3
Bianchi Goddess
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 29,721
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Mentioned: 191 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2910 Post(s)
Liked 2,832 Times
in
1,459 Posts
bikes inside is the best! no removing the seats is not going to damage anything. just be careful with the clamp bolt. an old trick to get the seat height correct again is to put a band of eclectric tape right at the frame. these days I just put the clamp for my taillight there.
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
#4
rebmeM roineS
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,217
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times
in
225 Posts
I'd rather keep a hex wrench in the car permanently than use a quick-release seat binder.
I always carry hex wrenches when I ride, anyway.
I always carry hex wrenches when I ride, anyway.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Posts: 7,079
Bikes: Cervelo Prodigy
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 475 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 87 Times
in
67 Posts
It might be easier to remove the rear wheel along with the front wheel. Wheel removal is way easier than fussing with the seats, unless you lucky to have a Thomson Masterpiece.
#7
well hello there
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Point Loma, CA
Posts: 15,430
Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 503 Post(s)
Liked 334 Times
in
206 Posts
bikes inside is the best! no removing the seats is not going to damage anything. just be careful with the clamp bolt. an old trick to get the seat height correct again is to put a band of eclectric tape right at the frame. these days I just put the clamp for my taillight there.
__________________
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 642 Times
in
363 Posts
Huh? As long as you have the seatpost height marked I'd think that removing and replacing the seatpost would be a lot faster and easier than removing the rear wheel.
#9
Time for a change.
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: 6 miles inland from the coast of Sussex, in the South East of England
Posts: 19,913
Bikes: Dale MT2000. Bianchi FS920 Kona Explosif. Giant TCR C. Boreas Ignis. Pinarello Fp Uno.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
4 Posts
Seem to be following retro from another seat post posting. We used to fit 3 cycles with the front wheel removed in a small van and only had to remove the seat post on the 23" frame. And is the post C.F.? If it is I would take care in tightening up the seat post to correct tension. C.F. does not like being overtightened- Even accidentally if you are in a rush to get riding.
__________________
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan