Transporting two bikes with an Astra Coupe?

[Louisa911]

Hi all

Bit of a dilemma, I have a Mongoose Teocali and my boyfriend an Orange Five. We have no problems with his Focus as they easily go on the back on the bike rack, but I'd like to take my Astra Coupe on some trips.

Getting my small framed Mongoose into the back of the Coupe is fine, take the front wheel off and it just about fits through the gap when the seats are down in the back- but we would definately struggle with both bikes.

I don't want roof bars so that rules the roof option out, and fitting a tow bar seems way too expensive for what I could even consider affording (£300 at least?) so pretty much rules that out too. Anybody know if you can get just the tow bar housing fitted (no electrics or fancy gubbins) just to have a towbar rack? I don't get why its so pricey just for a piece of metal attatched to the chassis.

I've been searching online for any form of rear mounting rack but with no joy- do you think if I just went to Halfords they would have something that fits? My bumper has a bit of damage so slight paint rubbing wouldnt be too much of a major problem (its a 10 year old car at the end of the day) but more worried about bikes flying off or snapping the spoiler etc...)

Called at Wheelbase in Staveley and the lad I chatted to seemed to think that I wouldn't find anything like a rack because of the small rear spoiler.

Anyhow here's the car:


Anyone got any ideas?

Many thanks

[R60EST]

Fit a tow bar and use a tow bar mounted rack, towbar kit from about £100 , rack £40.

< £100 , should be an easy DIY fit electrics optional

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vauxhall-Astra-Towbar-Hatch-...


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/THULE-Xpress-Pro-towbar-bike...


I have that exact carrier and it takes literally 2 seconds to attach or remove

Edited by R60EST on Wednesday 23 March 19:33

[sjg]

Put seatposts down or off entirely. Take wheels off both bikes. Put in frames (with old blankets/towels to stop them rubbing together). Put in wheels anywhere where there's space.

I could do this with a Cinquecento, see no reason why it would be a problem in a much bigger car like that.

[Flippin' Kipper]

sjg said:

Put seatposts down or off entirely. Take wheels off both bikes. Put in frames (with old blankets/towels to stop them rubbing together). Put in wheels anywhere where there's space.

I could do this with a Cinquecento, see no reason why it would be a problem in a much bigger car like that.

I have got 2 people, 3 bikes and two sets of kit in a Peugeot 107 doing this.

[Louisa911]

True but would much rather have the bikes intact ready to ride, preferably not being squashed by tents / rucksacks / filming equipment and everything else that comes along on a biking trip away! The Coupe is very decieving too, we can fit way more in the back of the Focus than you can in there- when the seats are folded down the hole is tiny because of a seperation thing (like a van bulkhead) with just a three foot gap in the middle. Also my bf's Five is an extra large and the frame is HUGE!

Will have a look into towbars, just wondered if anyone had seen any racks etc.

[Roman]

Louisa911 said:

Hi all

Bit of a dilemma, I have a Mongoose Teocali and my boyfriend an Orange Five. We have no problems with his Focus as they easily go on the back on the bike rack, but I'd like to take my Astra Coupe on some trips.

Getting my small framed Mongoose into the back of the Coupe is fine, take the front wheel off and it just about fits through the gap when the seats are down in the back- but we would definately struggle with both bikes.

I don't want roof bars so that rules the roof option out, and fitting a tow bar seems way too expensive for what I could even consider affording (£300 at least?) so pretty much rules that out too. Anybody know if you can get just the tow bar housing fitted (no electrics or fancy gubbins) just to have a towbar rack? I don't get why its so pricey just for a piece of metal attatched to the chassis.

I've been searching online for any form of rear mounting rack but with no joy- do you think if I just went to Halfords they would have something that fits? My bumper has a bit of damage so slight paint rubbing wouldnt be too much of a major problem (its a 10 year old car at the end of the day) but more worried about bikes flying off or snapping the spoiler etc...)

Called at Wheelbase in Staveley and the lad I chatted to seemed to think that I wouldn't find anything like a rack because of the small rear spoiler.

Anyhow here's the car:


Anyone got any ideas?

Many thanks

I use one of these on my car:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

The padded part of the upper 'U' section should nestle very securely in the gap between your spoiler & boot trailing edge and the padded part of the lower 'U' section should nestle neatly where your rear bumper meets the bottom lip of your boot.

Zoom in on the pic to see what I mean. Then attach, tension & tie off the retaining straps & add some more toe straps to secure & thick old socks where there may be rub between frame, pedals & car.

I stop to check a mile or two after setting off just in case anything has moved or loosened.

Works fine for 2 hartails with me on a saloon, hatch or even with the luggage rack of an Austin Healey!

[Mr Will]

Why are you so against roof bars? Wouldn't they be the logical solution here?

[Poloding Along]

http://www.hollywoodracks.com/trunk-racks/baja-tru...

This will do the job for you. Its an extended version of the express 3 rack I use designed to go over spoilers. Very solid racks, good for 0.9 leptons with 2 bikes on anyway.

[louiebaby]

Mr Will said:

Why are you so against roof bars? Wouldn't they be the logical solution here?

I've had a 20 foot rowing boat and two bikes on the roof of an original Megane before. It was a bugger at T-Junctions and ruined the mpg on the motorway, but other than that, it was fine.

The racks are usually easy to take off, and apart from muck dropping off the bikes, you're unlikely to damage the car. I'd say the roof is second choice, after careful / clever packing inside the car.

[Gooby]

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/saris-bones-3-bike-rack/?u...

These are superb, I have used them on Saabs, TT's, and I cant see any reason why they would not fit 90% of cars. Very good very sturdy and holds the bikes well.

[sjg]

Louisa911 said:

True but would much rather have the bikes intact ready to ride, preferably not being squashed by tents / rucksacks / filming equipment and everything else that comes along on a biking trip away!

In my experience, digging out the rack, faffing about with the straps to fit it and attaching the bikes (and the reverse at the other end) takes longer than breaking the bikes apart to fit inside. Once on, you can't open the boot either, which is even more of a pain in a 3-door car. You'd better hope the bikes don't obscure the numberplate or lights either, else you need a towing board and electrics too.

Towbar racks are great for regular use if you don't mind the cost and possible bumper-cutting that goes with them. I'd put roofbars behind that, then strap-on racks a long way behind.