Best way to transport bike - Change car often, help needed..

[AAD44H]

I currently have a bit of a dilemma, i tend to change my car fairly often say every 18-24 months so need to find the best way of transporting bikes without having to keep buying different roof racks/bike carriers. I am currently thinking seersucker may be the way to go but i have no experience of these. I bought some Thule wing bars, bike carriers and foot pack for my previous M135i however none of this will fit my new S3. Any suggestions?

[Mr E]

Sea Suckers or Saris bones.

[Watchman]

AAD44H said:

I currently have a bit of a dilemma, i tend to change my car fairly often say every 18-24 months so need to find the best way of transporting bikes without having to keep buying different roof racks/bike carriers. I am currently thinking seersucker may be the way to go but i have no experience of these. I bought some Thule wing bars, bike carriers and foot pack for my previous M135i however none of this will fit my new S3. Any suggestions?

You only need to buy a new foot pack and the rest will fit.

[battered]

Buy a bike bag, remove the wheels and seat. Pedals if necessary. Takes under 2 minutes. Fold the car seat, chuck the bike in the bag, tossit in.

[Daveyraveygravey]

Just make sure the car is big enough to drop the seats and chuck the bike in - Skoda Octavia hatchback is perfect.

[joema]

Yeah you have a hatch back. Put it in the car! can get bike tent things to protect the interior if youre really bothered.

[Kell]

Echo the comments from above.

If you have roof bars etc, then all you need to change are the footpacks. Surely Thule or even Audi will have something to fit.

You can also eBay yours as they'll still be worth money to someone.

Edited by Kell on Monday 25th April 12:13

[FurryExocet]

Footpacks sell well on eBay, so just replace them and keep the bars. Much easier than bike bags and when removal, also means the inside of the car can be used

[SixPotBelly]

FurryExocet said:

...also means the inside of the car can be used

..but not lots of car parks, the télépéage queue-jump toll lanes on autoroutes, or your garage. Nor dare you leave your car out of sight at a service station and it'll knock your mpg. There's no solution without drawbacks!

I favour bikes inside the car, passengers on the roof

[Kell]

SixPotBelly said:

... and it'll knock your mpg. There's no solution without drawbacks!

I'm sure that Top Gear once calculated that if you were driving from London to Scotland, it would be cheaper to courier your bike, than pay for the extra fuel the extra drag would use.

[AllyBassman]

Kell said:

Echo the comments from above.

If you have roof bars etc, then all you need to change are the footpacks. Surely Thule or even Audi will have something to fit.

You can also eBay yours as they'll still be worth money to someone.

Edited by Kell on Monday 25th April 12:13

This is what I have done the last 3 times I have changed car.

I'm still on the original carriers and bars, i've just changed the foot plates. Yes they are the most exspensive part, but i've always managed to sell them on as there's always a demenad for Thule stuff.

[RizzoTheRat]

The OEM roof bars for VAG (well for Skoda anyway so I assume for Audi) are Thule, so there should be proper feet available for it.

[battered]

Kell said:

I'm sure that Top Gear once calculated that if you were driving from London to Scotland, it would be cheaper to courier your bike, than pay for the extra fuel the extra drag would use.

Custard. I had an Audi A3, it used to return about 42mpg according to the computer. With a sofa on the roof (yes, a full size 3 seater, end on) it delivered 35mpg. Assuming 400 miles each way, and a bike gives a loss in economy equivalent to a sofa, amd £1.05 a litre, then the cost without a bike is £45.40 each way. £90 return for cash. The same at 35mpg is £108. If you can find a courier who will ship a bike from London to Edinburgh and back for £18, I'll book him for all my shipping.