bike racks

Barbaram,

I don't know if this will work, but try taking off your quick-release front tire. Release the lever on the front brakes first. Release the lever, unwind the lever three times. The Front wheel should drop down with some encouragement.

Put the bike in gear side up. And the wheel in on top. It should fit.

Remember to retighten the front wheel and retighten the front brakes on reassembly. And bang the bike up and down a couple of times to be sure it is installed tightly. And check that the front brakes work.

good luck

Gordon

More than one bike? Put a blanket between them. and consider taking off the pedals. Check a bike book about this.

 

You can put your bike in the back of your car, but as a cyclist, that gets old quickly. You can consider a roof rack or a hitch rack. I've had both and like the hitch rack better because the bike is to the rear of the car. This should help decrease drag because the bike and hitch are in the dead area behind the car. Also, you don't have to worry about killing your bike on the roof rack as you drive into your garage. Since the hitch rack is behind the car, no worries! I had to alter my bike rack and make it shorter so the wind will flow over the bike and bike rack. I went riding today with the shorter bike rack and the bike was tucked nicely behind the car. I couldn't even see both wheels of my bike from my side view mirrors.

The roof rack is good too, but at higher speeds, you will notice a few MPG less because of drag on the rack and the bike. A fairing will help this though.

The hitch rack will require the purchase of a rear hitch, of course and Coastal is a good source. There are others but I installed the Coastal hitch and it seems to work well with my Yakima Kingpin bike rack.

Good luck with your decision.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(barbaram @ May 21 2006, 06:59 PM) [snapback]258949[/snapback]</div>

Barbara- why does the Saris rack make you nervous? I'm very pleased with mine. With three bikes on it (mine is very light, but my daughters' mountain bikes are pretty heavy) it is very secure and stable. I have a red one, which is a pretty close match to my Barcelona Red Prius!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(larkinmj @ May 21 2006, 07:31 PM) [snapback]258984[/snapback]</div>

larkinmj...

That just looks like a mess!!!!! Do your bikes sway at highway speeds or are things pretty stable???

 

Since about 95% of the weight rests on the bumper, that 5% on the glass is rather trivial.

As for stability, it is better than any hitch rack can deliver. I used the hitch type for almost 10 years. It's really convenient, but the switch to the strap-on kind wasn't a big deal due to the elimination of swaying.







By the way, the bike inside fit so well that one of the back seats could still be used. And I was able to attach a third bike to the rack. So... our 3-person driving trip up to the headwaters of the Mississippi for biking in Itasca State Park went without a hitch. (I know, bad pun.)

More and larger photos are available here and here.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eyeguy13 @ May 21 2006, 08:47 PM) [snapback]258994[/snapback]</div>

It's VERY stable. When I used a hitch rack on previous cars, I was always a bit nervous on the highway, as the bikes tended to sway. With this rack, there is NO motion whatsoever. Obviously, you want to make sure that all the straps are tight after you've loaded the bikes.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a @ May 21 2006, 09:56 PM) [snapback]259024[/snapback]</div>

Nice selection of bikes there. I had a recumbent for awhile (RANS Rocket), but as I wasn't using it alot, I sold it last year.

 

Larkinmj- Which Saris rack is that? I'm taking a long trip soon, and I need a rack.Thanks,Charlie


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(larkinmj @ May 21 2006, 07:31 PM) [snapback]258984[/snapback]</div>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(phoebeisis @ May 21 2006, 11:08 PM) [snapback]259073[/snapback]</div>

It's called the Saris Bones. I have the 3-bike model; they also make a 2-bike version.
http://www.sarisproducts.com/products/bones.htm

 

Here's the Coastaletech receiver hitch and an Aspen rack...used for both skis/snowbaords and bikes. It hinges back via a lock pin to access the rear hatch. This is 4 bikes, 5 passengers (4 adults & a 2-year-old in a baby seat), small 2-wheel baby-cart (not sure on the actual name here, sorry!) folded in the cargo area and a small cooler. 48 MPG round trip climbing around 1,000 feet to ride bikes. A/C on the whole way, temps in the 90s.

As long as bikes are secured properly with straps and bungees, all is not going anywhere. Didn't even bottom out, but I knew to be careful.

This car rocks!!

Cheers,

Curt.

 

I just posted a whole bunch of pictures of my modified Yakima Kingpin 2 bike rack and rear hitch. Instead of posting again, please go to the following for the pictures:

http://priuschat.com/index.php?s=&showtopi...ndpost&p=259504

 

Here's 2 new photos...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(larkinmj @ May 21 2006, 08:34 PM) [snapback]259089[/snapback]</div>

Cool... I might just have to get me one. Weird that the Saris website doesn't seem to think that the Bones fits the Prius. Any special straps you need to buy separately to get it to fit?

Love the Stephen Colbert quote in your sig, btw.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(larkinmj @ May 21 2006, 08:31 PM) [snapback]258984[/snapback]</div>

I've been contemplating one of these for awhile after seeing it on John1701a's site. A question for you and John (and anyone else with the experience to answer): How does the rack/bike combo affect highway fuel economy? I'm taking some road trips this summer and want to take my bike with me, but I don't want to take too big a fuel mileage hit.

Thanks,
Jim

 

On that particular trip up north, I had much more weight inside than usual. But it was still over 40, despite the 70 MPH on the highway.

The negative effects of wind direction have an amplified effect with an external load. So the true MPG remains a mystery. I usually tell people to expect a 3 to 5 drop.

For me, since recreation/excersice of that nature is such a special event anyway, I really don't care. Sometimes you just have to enjoy.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a @ May 23 2006, 09:57 AM) [snapback]259665[/snapback]</div>

I know you're in Minnesota. What was the weather like then?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a @ May 23 2006, 09:57 AM) [snapback]259665[/snapback]</div>

Yeah, and that's part of what I'm struggling with. The egocentric (maybe better said as "Prius-centric") side of me, though, wants to claim as high a fuel mileage result as possible, whenever possible. Just this morning, in fact, I hit 500 miles for the first time on a tank of fuel, most of which was return mileage on a road trip last week. I love bragging about that! Decisions, decisions....

Jim

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(larkinmj @ May 21 2006, 10:34 PM) [snapback]259089[/snapback]</div>

Larkinmj- Thanks. I also noticed that the Saris site doesn't mention the bones as fitting the Prius.Obviously it does!!Thanks,Charlie

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bsd43 @ May 23 2006, 01:59 AM) [snapback]259593[/snapback]</div>

I'm surprised that the website doesn't include the Prius- it fits perfectly, no modifications required at all.

 

One reason I bought the Prius is that its a hatchback. My road bike fits in no problem, with both wheels attached. I put old towels down (light beige interior, wanted gray) as a grease catcher, but it fits fine, takes three seconds, and can't fall off the rack or be messed with when I stop. I have a Rhode Gear Shuttle rack thet fits both my Subaru Impreza coupe, and my wife's Outback wagon. I haven't tried it on the Prius, so far I haven't needed it. Just be careful to not bump the handle bars on the headliner at the top of the hatch...they will leave a mark.