[Closed] Transporting muddy bike in a decent car - help with an idea?

The bag would get very dirty very quickly wouldn't it?!

Just get a boot liner and take a bit of care putting it in the car ...

The bag would get very dirty very quickly wouldn't it?!

The inside would, yes, but if I always put it on the same way around, the bits that would touch the roof lining accidentally would be pretty clean, I think.

Also, when putting the bike in the car after a night ride in the dark doesn't always lend itself to accuracy.......

[url= http://www.hatchbag.co.uk/page.php?xPage=bootliner&gclid=CJK2hKfKvsMCFQQTwwodUwMAsQ ]Hatchbags[/url]

Do what they say on the tin.

I use a Duffbag and a Booths carrier bag for my kit. Works fine for me.

Buy a big pair of lined curtains from your local charity shop - the linings aren't stitched along the bottom edge = large bag! Used it for road bikes loads of times.

Duffbags

Find a mattress shop and see if they have and heavy duty bags that they come in?

Or buy an eyeletted tarp, zip tie some of the eyelets, hey presto!

lukedwr - Member
Duffbags
POSTED 8 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

Buy now, receive in 6 month bags?

Get a boot liner. Maybe even a bike wash plug in thing - dirt worker type thing.

A large plastic sheet from B & Q does the job for me. Just line the boot out with it and fold the rest back over the top of the bike. I've done that for years with hire cars with no problems.

Buy now, receive in 6 month bags?

Oh that came pretty quickly. It's the kitbag that's taking it's time!

Cheap/old duvet cover?

An old quilt cover maybe big enough?

I've always just used an old sheet/duvet cover in my company cars, never had an issue when returning them.

Eyeletted tarp, as someone already said. Mine cost me less than £10 iirc.

I use a proper bike bag.

They are £50 new but I got my last one from eBay for £15.

I like the old duvet cover idea, I think that's what i will try first.

Thanks to those who replied.

+1 Hatchbag. Proper hard wearing boot liner fitted for your car. Every now and again I take it out and empty half a forest, but otherwise the car is fine (scratched up a bit though from before I used a liner, but fine since).

I used sheets and stuff before, but they shift around and the mud gets everywhere. Doesn't protect the sides from scratching unless you can set up covers for the sides that stay in place. A proper fitted liner is much nicer though.

Before we got a toe bar rack we just used a heavy duty Tarp from B&Q to line the boot and seats and took the wheels off. 2 bikes in a Fiat 500 and never marked the roof or doors. Just take care when moving them in/out. A few bits a thick cardboard can help.

Roof rack?

Might depend on your area I guess...

As mentioned above

Duff bag will cover entire bike without fuss - video on this link

http://duffbag.myshopify.com/products/duffbag-monster-bag

Your not supposed to respect company cars are you? I know I dont!

But, an old duvet on the floor of the boot and over the seat backs, front wheel always off and I've never had a problem.

If I ever get out on a Wednesday night again, I'll show you 😀

I just use a massive old picnic blanket...cost me about £6 from dunelm I think.

I have used a double duvet cover lots!

They are really good, choose a thicker material if you can so you don't get soak through!

Also put it in backwards so it lays on the left hand side, that way the chainset is off the floor to reduce oily stains and the forks dont have have far to go in the car to snag on stuff.

Easier with 2 people, one to guide the back, one to push!

[IMG] [/IMG]

If I ever get out on a Wednesday night again, I'll show you

Ha ha, I'm in a fairly similar boat. The aforementioned company car is attached to a promotion. The downside is that I'm probably going to be missing out on Wednesday nights a lot more. If I can get the person I've recruited to replace me up to speed quick, I might be making most Wednesdays by June/July time. Until then it'll probably be a max of once or twice a month if I'm lucky......

I'm going with taking the wheels off, sliding the bike into an old king sized duvet cover, lifting it into the boot then putting the wheels in the cover as well. Should do the biz I think. Those boot liners look good, but it's the muddying and scuffing of the ceiling and sides that bothers me the most.

Hoovering the boot from time to time is not an issue, trying to scrub mud off of the 'dirt-attracta' fabric that seems to be used for most car roof linings is what I want to avoid.

Dust sheet and a pair of wheelbags.

I picked up one of these years ago, very useful (but a bit pricey now).

http://www.groundeffect.co.nz/product/BAG/BOD

Only needs the front wheel removing.

I've never looked after a car, mine or company but have pretty much always put the bike on a rack - towbar Thule or Saris Bones (for the one car I had without a towbar).

And always got my company cars with towbars.

woolsack?
Travis perkins also sell a double ton bag for about a tenner.

I use a old tent groundsheet, waterproof to

Tarpaulin is what I use. For better protection than I bother with you could Use the eyelets and some ties or pongos (bungees) to door handles, head rests etc to hold in place. I am assuming estate or hatch with seats down and bike on side Wheels in our out as dictated by car ssize.

I have had my car 7 years 90% of my bike carrying is inside and its not ruined yet.

I did similar with my company car before that although the lighter interior picked up a few marks that needed the odds dose of autoglym shampoo!

I used to use an old shower curtain

Buy a tarp from local diy store - something like a 5mx4m, open up boot and fold seats down...put tarp in middle and then spread it out - mark where folders are and then gaffa tape them (it keeps the shape needed for your car and also allows you to make it cover the sides and windows). I've also got a couple of bungees to keep the tarp up against the headrests (as mentioned further up the list) - means the sides of the car remain covered and any moisture (mud/water) is caught and remains in the tarp and not in the car).

Put bike in and off you go - tarp is waterproof and easy enough to whip out and clean/dry - keeps the inside of car spotless (apart from roof as that isn't covered but I'm assuming you'd be careful enough when inserting/removing).

Total cost - about £15 (5x4m tarp, bungees and gaffa), total effort time - about 10 minutes.

Swap the company car for a car allowance, spank the money on a sick new bike, and spend the change on a rubbish car you don't mind soiling.

Enormous heavy duty tarp (not a cheap crinkly one, a proper old school one- you need the weight to stop it moving around) , line the sides of the car as well as you can. Once you've done that, the roof's easy because you don't need to think about anything else.

Also, consider making the bike smaller than it needs to be just to fit- I can fit whole bikes in the back of mine but if I want to be really sure exactly where they're going, I take a wheel off, much more managable.

Thule roof carriers. Lift intact manky bike on roof, drive home, lift off, hose down, lube and put it away 🙂

....or a portable washer - Mobi or similar?
I have no rear access (oh matron!) and this has solved my woes.
Quick blast with the washer after a ride, wipe down and light oil, and into the car on an old bed sheet. Takes all of 10-15 minutes, and means clean car and clean house when I get home.

Cleaning the bike straight after the ride is miserable because you'll be damp and you'll get chilled then the bike will drip mucky water. When I mountain biked I used to line the Passat estate with an old fitted sheet - it slips over the tops of the folded seat backs then over the corners of the spare wheel cover/floor panel and stretches perfectly. Chuck in the bike and any mud that gets on the upholstery would dry and could be vacuumed off next time I cleaned the car.

Coming back from night rides filthy dirty and soaked then having to clean the bike, my kit and change in a freezing garage was a major element in my growing disenchantment with mountain biking. At least on the road you get back clean and dry (usually) straight to the door and only have to wash the bike down after wet conditions.

Coming back from night rides filthy dirty and soaked then having to clean the bike, my kit and change in a freezing garage was a major element in my growing disenchantment with mountain biking.

That's like saying 'MacBeth' to an actor..............

I'd suggest a boot liner, it has always worked for me and the best bet I have found are Boot Buddies you can line the whole back of most cars they wipe clean with a damp cloth and line up the sides as well as the floor. definitely worth a look at their website. No I don't work for them but have used them in a series of different cars with great success.

How about one of these:
[url= http://www.roofbox.co.uk/safe-bag/ ]http://www.roofbox.co.uk/safe-bag/[/url]

Protects the roof too.

Duffbag bikebag for me. Might invest in a boot liner when the new car arrives. Mostly carry it on the trailer but that's not going to help you with a company car. I've got one of those mobi washers but rarely (esp on night rides) could I be bothered with cleaning the bike. Stick it in the bag instead.

I have an unused bag here that might be of use. Just a very big kit bag made out of the stuff HD PVC waterproofs are made of (thick plasticky stuff) and about 90x120cm. Has a drawcord on the opening too. Probably a bit small but if you wanted to try it I would do it for postage and the price of a pint 🙂

PS it is bright orange

Sounds like you're already sorted, but just to throw my 2p in, I seen a bike bag in Halfords that I plan on using to store bikes indoor when I move into a place with no garage.

Cheers for the help, especially welshfarmer, who was willing to send me something.

I've just been and bought a crappy double duvet cover from B&M. As it's a set with matching crappy pillowcases I now also have two small bags for other stuff!

Rubble sacks,big black thick plastic.Chuck in bike,wheels out,into bag. Clean car,job done.

The problem I had with the 'bike in a bag' method was you had to pack the bike in the bag and this was generally done in a squelchy, muddy car park which meant the bag got covered in the stuff your trying to keep off your car interior. You still got crud everywhere, albeit to a lesser extent.

External carrier has to be the most appropriate solution.

You can get an idea duvet cover for about a tenner. Or, they do some soft blanket sized "throws" for £3 in the market place. They are easy to spot as they are the rolled up ones of various colours nearly always in a big "bin" in the bedding area. I have three, one of which goes over the back of the folded down seats.

I'd get the portable jet wash and do the same would be my opinion.

Or put e bike on the roof.

[url= http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Rhino-UK-Bootliners-LTD ]Rhino Boot liners[/url]?

if you've got it for a while get a roof rack?

tom200 - Member
Swap the company car for a car allowance, spank the money on a sick new bike, and spend the change on a rubbish car you don't mind soiling.

This is by far the most sensible suggestion - even better, get a van.

shower curtain for me on the boot floor then the bike goes in upside down. the roof lining is quite high up so the bike doesnt touch it and i use foam pipe lagging to cover the fork axle so it doesnt whack the rear windscreen

It's a company car - who cares?

My company car is pretty small and isn't too nailed after three years of bike transport.

Just chuck a sheet in, bike on the top and off you go.

builders bag !!!

wash bike with handpump sprayer and brush to get the worst off - use the brush to wipe off the drips as well and razz up and down the tarmac for 50 yards each way to dry off, then wheels off and into the builders bag

job done

I use a boot liner and shower curtain, boot liner covers the main boot and the shower curtain on top of that and covers the folded down back seats.

If you do it carefully, you can put the back wheel on the curtain and let it slide into the car taking the shower curtain with it.

I am often surprised how clean the back of my car is considering what my bike looks like after some rides!

Duffbag:

[url= https://duffbag.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/transporting-a-bike-in-a-porsche-911/ ]A bike in a nice Porsche 911? How? [/url]

I used a Safebag for years in the back of the Octavia estate. Brilliant bit of kit.