This one-minute video shows you how. CLICK HERE I put the bicycle in and take it out all in less than one minute.
If you drive a small SUV or car, including 2-door sedans, you may think your only solution to travel with your bike is on a bike rack. If you are lucky, you may be able to get away with removing both wheels, and placing the bike in the trunk or in back if it is a hatch back. THERE IS AN EASIER WAY!
This tip works well for the majority of us who spend most of our time driving alone.
It will not only save you time, it will save you money from buying a bike rack, it will protect your bike from the exterior elements like weather and bugs,it will save you from getting your hands dirty with chain lube, and reduce the risk of not getting that back wheel on perfectly straight, especially if you are traveling to a race. In addition you can put a cable lock on the bike and lock it to your car seat. If the cable is visible, this is a great way to deter someone from stealing your bike.
I used to squeeze my 56cm bike in the front seat of my miata. If i had an accident, i would have been impaled by a handlebar. That scion is a bit more roomy
If the rear seats fold down, a bike should fit in the trunk of nearly anything, right? I have plenty of room for my bike in the trunk of my m3 (e36 or e46)
I used to throw mine in the back seat of a '97 Corolla by taking the front wheel off. When that car died, I got Ford Focus hatchback. Now, with the back seats down, I don’t even have to take the front wheel off. And I still get 35 mpg.
I like having my bike inside the car as I’m driving through rainstorms on the way to a race.
Genius! Last year I was sick of switching out the trainer tire for my disc in order to get the bike on the rack, so I started to put it in the back seat. It was a little tight so will definitely try the front passenger seat method this year.
Yeah, I got routinely my bike in the back seat of my Acura w F wheel off, and R wheel in back right passenger wheel well.
My old Jetta sedan could take almost any bike thru the trunk w/ the R seats down w F wheel off.
Now, I’ve got a Golf Sportwagen (TDI buyout replacement) and I have gotten any of my Framed fatbike, Ibis Ripley 29’er, and P5 into the back (seats down) w both wheels on.
Really love NOT having to remove the F disc wheel - the only thing more annoying is removing a R disc wheel.
The Ripley was actually/surprisingly a tighter fit than the fattie, and I had to scootch the passenger seat F a bit for the R gate to close.
All that said - great of Emilio to show us another way to skin that cat.
This Scion is not mine (the VW van behind it is mine) but I used to put in as shown would not add much risk in an accident, and if that were a concern, some padding such as dense foam or cardboard would suffice.
I learned this trick back in the late 1980’s and it worked with road bikes (before aero bars) in my old Honda CRX, which used to be really small and had no rear seat the could fold down. But sounds like you have a good solution! Thanks for your input!
when we had a older Mazda protege four-door, we would put two tri-bikes in the back seat - front wheels off and with an old sheet between them to avoid scratches. Now we have a Honda Fit and it easier to get the bikes in and out.
Ive shoe horned bikes into different cars Ive had over the years in many creative ways but never this one.
The best thing I ever did was buy a VW Jetta Sportwagen, no removal of the wheels has really relieved the stress of traveling to races!
I have put my bike with a rear disk in my car by taking off the front wheel and sliding it in the area in front of the back seat of my 4 door Toyota Echo and now my Hyundai Accent (back wheel goes in first)…event with my kids car seat in the back seat. Been doing this for years.
Awesome not having to have my bike carrier on the trunk (I have and extra set of wheels, helmet, and bike shoes in the trunk…saved my, and many others, races by using the extra equipment)…
I like not having put my rear disk on at the race site and risk it not being seated properly…
I love the K.I.S.S. philosophy…the longer I am in the sport the more I realize that simplest is best and to cut down what you need to the most essential.
My old Jetta sedan could take almost any bike thru the trunk w/ the R seats down w F wheel off.
I’ve got a 2006 jetta and a TT bike fits pretty easily, I’ve had 2 bikes in it once but that required removing more wheels and lots of towels for padding.
Curious, all those using this method how much oil do you have on the passenger side pillar ? Or is there a trick to not hitting it with chain ?
I’ll throw my bike in the backseat when it’s raining but this looks way easier.
I hope others reply, but notice in the video how quickly and smoothly I place the bike in without touching a thing with the chain or chain rings. The trick is to to put your back toward the car and watch the bike as you are placing it in the car. This car is not mine, it belongs to an employee who maintains it meticulous. I assured him no chain grease would get on it.
But to your point, you will be best assured to your concerns if you safeguard against staining cover any areas of concern with towels or plastic or shrink-wrap.
I was trying to see if you used your arm to block the pillar from the chain. Knowing myself after about the 3 rd time I put the bike in I’d probably hit it with the chain. Unless there’s a good trick to avoid it or if it’s not really in play ? That or make the change to a dark interior from tan on the next car !
