Protect expensive bicycle from elements?
How does one protect her/his expensive triathlon / road / sport bicycle from elements with cover while in storage and while transporting on car’s rack?
I didn’t find good dependable covers…
Plastic wrap.
Either the grocery store stuff or the heavier industrial pallet wrap.
Just wrap the parts of the bike that you want to protect, then carefully cut it off when you’re ready to ride.
Get a bigger car or an SUV. I’d be so freaked out if I had to keep my bike exposed to the elements on a road trip. You can fit 3 frames in a Nissan Xterra easily.
For the rack though, industrial plastic wrap would work wonders. Make sure you get it sealed all the way around the frame and that there aren’t any loose bits that’ll catch too much wind.
yep, saran wrap, masking or packing tape around the end.edges of it to keep it from fraying. I went one step further and used a bike “bra” thingy I got from Performance. ~4500 miles on the roof and bike is fine. PITA was unwrapping and rewrapping it every time I wanted to go for a ride somewhere. Sorry environment…
Bike bra I scored two brand new ones somewhere a few years back from a private sale. Not so sure they make thematic any more.
Talking about something like is.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Skinz-Protective-Gear-Road-Bike-Bra-Protector-Fork-Mount-Roof-Rack-/330621996522?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4cfa9b4dea#ht_500wt_689
Thanks a lot for that eBay link.
Everybody, thanks for your suggestions too.
No problem , just make sure if you set it up in T1 right off the roof you make sure gears and chain are all where they should be. Speaking from experience :0)
Buy a pick up truck and put a camper on it!
Get a bigger car or an SUV. I’d be so freaked out if I had to keep my bike exposed to the elements on a road trip. You can fit 3 frames in a Nissan Xterra easily…
don’t even need a “big” car or SUV. it’s possible to fit 2 bikes, 6 wheels, duffel bags, etc. in a VW Jetta Sportwagen with the rear seats down. I have never understood the bike rack on top of the car thing. In addition to exposing the bike you get crap gas mileage.
You’re right, guys. My friend has that VW Jetta Sportwagen and we put both our bikes inside with no problem. But I’ve just spent so much on a Cervelo P3 Dura-Ace 2011, I’m not in a position to buy a new car.
Get a bigger car or an SUV. I’d be so freaked out if I had to keep my bike exposed to the elements on a road trip.
We’ve always been small car people. Bikes always go on the roof to races, on weekends at the cottage etc . . Never had a problem. The bikes get more exposure and abuse being ridden - we tend to be all-weather folks - than when on the top of the car!
YMMV
I have never understood the bike rack on top of the car thing. In addition to exposing the bike you get crap gas mileage.
3 people + dog + gear for weekend or for a race = bikes on the roof.
As to the gas mileage penalty - yes you are right, a slight penalty, but I think that makes more sense for the occasional to moderate use than what most people do is buy a substantially bigger vehicle with significantly poorer gas mileage that over the course of time will cost them way more. Also consider that most cars spend about 95% or more of their time driving one person around!
I have never understood the bike rack on top of the car thing. In addition to exposing the bike you get crap gas mileage.
3 people + dog + gear for weekend or for a race = bikes on the roof.
Well I suppose the dog would be a deal-breaker. But I have gotten 3 people and 2 bikes … and 4 people and 1 bike … in the Jetta wagon, ostensibly a small car. I think I could get 3 people nad 3 bikes but not with spare wheels for everyone. A dog would be an issue though.
But for going to races … and that’s 50+ for me in a year … I’d never have a car that I couldn’t fit a bike inside. I’ve been to enough that have meant driving thru the rain only to get to the race and have it be dry. or dry at the race then driving home hours in the rain.
I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen with more than enough room to put the bike inside, but still choose to put it on the roof. Thje only explanation I have for that is they need to show off the bike.
but I think that makes more sense for the occasional to moderate use than what most people do is buy a substantially bigger vehicle with significantly poorer gas mileage that over the course of time will cost them way more. Also consider that most cars spend about 95% or more of their time driving one person around!
This was the exact logic I used to choose a Jetta TDI wagon for my current car. Driving for my Sunday ride - bike goes in the back. Road trip w/ 2 bikes, 2 beagles, 1 lab, girlfriend, and assorted gear - bikes on the roof. Driving to Cedar Point - bikes on the roof until we dropped off dogs, then bikes in back.
This was the exact logic I used to choose a Jetta TDI wagon for my current car.
I’ve said this before … I’m convinced that the TDI Sportwagen is THE best car-for-a-bike-racer (or triathlete).
Last 3 cars I’ve bought, I’ve gone to the dealer with my bike in tow, to see how well it fit. Most of them looked at me like I was nuts (except for the odd salesmen who also were cyclists). I ruled out several cars based on that (Mazda 3, Honda hybrid, Hyundai wagon).
i used this bike frame cover with the bra from skinz: http://skinzprotectivegear.com/bicycleproduct/bikeprotectors.html
the bike frame cover was a pretty nice solution to covering the drive chain components and didn’t flop around in the wind too much.
was doing 80mph at times with it on the roof with no issues. pretty good product/durability. (4 hour drive from NYC to D.C.)
Hyundai wagon
What’s your definition of “Bike in the car”, because I have the Elantra Touring and my 58cm Road bike does go in the back with the rear seats down with the wheels on. It’s kind of on it’ss side and on an angle and taking up a very inefficient amount of space, but it’s in there.
Agreed that the Jetta Wagon is an outstanding vehicle. Had I a few more $$$ in this most recent go-round with cars I would have opted for that. Got a steal on a very lightly used loaded Hyundai Elantra Touring that was bought out of bankruptcy!
fleck - would you suggest this even for a cross country trip from Upstate NY to say Portland?? I’m making the trek in 2 weeks and was wondering if its worth it to buy those bike covers for the bikes on the roof or not.
Get a bigger car or an SUV. I’d be so freaked out if I had to keep my bike exposed to the elements on a road trip.
We’ve always been small car people. Bikes always go on the roof to races, on weekends at the cottage etc . . Never had a problem. The bikes get more exposure and abuse being ridden - we tend to be all-weather folks - than when on the top of the car!
YMMV
What’s your definition of “Bike in the car”, because I have the Elantra Touring and my 58cm Road bike does go in the back with the rear seats down with the wheels on. It’s kind of on it’s side and on an angle and taking up a very inefficient amount of space, but it’s in there.
you’re right … my mistake. I’m confusing that with something else I looked at (Subaru hatchback maybe). I think the issue with the Hyundai was that they couldn’t get any manual transmission models at that point in the year. I know someone with the Elantra touring and they like it.