Mountain Bike lugging.

trailer

trailer

Registered User
Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Messages
35
Reaction score
1
Points
6
Location
NULL
I'm after a way of lugging ye olde mountain bike around.

I was looking at the rear hatch carriers but read that they can damage the door?

I've had a Thule roof bar system before (not on an Audi) and always found that the seal wasn't that great and I don't want to put a towbar on for the rear option either.

Any recommendations gratefully received!
 
trailer said:
I'm after a way of lugging ye olde mountain bike around.

I was looking at the rear hatch carriers but read that they can damage the door?

I've had a Thule roof bar system before (not on an Audi) and always found that the seal wasn't that great and I don't want to put a towbar on for the rear option either.

Any recommendations gratefully received!
Click to expand...

Buy an Octavia Estate and throw it in the boot - that's what I do!
 
:sign_omg:

When I said ANY recommendations..................
 
Your options are basically, roof rack, boot rack or flatten the back seats, get a rubber matt down and put it in the back. Thats what i do, front wheel off the bike, plastic sheet in the back covering EVERYTHING then in she goes, admittedly there is some handlebar twisting involved.
I used to race mountain bike XC up until a few years ago (knee issues and spare time) but i still get out when i can.
 
OK - you could buy an RS4 and throw it in the boot - that's what I wish I could do!

Seriously though, on my old S3 (which had the hatch sopiler) i just used the rack on the back and managed to attach it in a way so as to not put pressure on the spoiler, whilst also resting the bottom of the bike carrier against the very bottom of the boot shut and on top of the rear bumper.
Carried 2 bikes (one was a VERY heavy old hunk a junk!) all the way to Denmark and back. Not a single problem! Go and see someone and try it on your car, so if you can see where it may cause a problem....
 
Ive seen roof bars fitted to a 3 door A3. Upon closer inspection I didnt like the way they clamped round onto the window, straining the window's rubber seal.
 
Aye, I've currently got it going places like that. It's fine if it's a day trip but if it's a weekend away or more the space gets a bit limited.
 
Take off parcel shelf, put seats down, take wheels off, throw in back - I ride a curtis super-x though which is a 13" frame so it's pretty small.
 
Trouble with the new A/S3 is if you have a roof spoiler theres hardly any gap to allow for a rear mounted rack :(

I bought a bike bag. Sounds daft but its basically a massive bag. Drop the seats, spread the bag out, then chuck your bike in. No need to worry about marking you car with soil etc. :)
 
Blimey, you reply and 2 more pop up in the meantime.

I think the test drive of the rear carrier might be the way forward. Cheers.
 
QuickNick said:
What, it rocks! Huge boot, 55mpg and much cheapness vs VW / Audi equivalent (so I can save up for an RS4 Avant)
Click to expand...


Well initially I was only planning to spend a ton or so, not get a whole new motor :think:
 
As i and others have said... Seats down, wheel off, big plastic sheet in the back...Job's a good'n.
 
trailer said:
Aye, I've currently got it going places like that. It's fine if it's a day trip but if it's a weekend away or more the space gets a bit limited.
Click to expand...

But as I said earlier............
 
I use saris bones (which I got for my wife's touran). Used it on my TT well also..
More importantly, an opportunity to post some bike porn!...

hpim0933.jpg


DSC00269.jpg
 
The Saris look like just what I'm after.


I guess I'll need a sodding number plate too :busted_cop:
 
I fold the seats down and throw the bike in, the interior is ****** strong, the only scratches i've got from transporting things in my car is where the thread on the taps from an old bath were pushed up against the inside of the tailgate -other than that ,the bike has not marked it :)
 
pbpic1806103.jpg

Talking of bike porn, i either use a saris bones or my roof racks when i can be ***** putting them on!
 
I use a bike bag with the back seats down. I'm not taking any chances with things touching the black easily marked paintwork!
 
PNH80 said:
As i and others have said... Seats down, wheel off, big plastic sheet in the back...Job's a good'n.
Click to expand...


As I do with the two bikes with an old continental quilt in between to protect the bikes. A decent tip to keep the car clean is get a polythene mattress cover from your local bed store, they hold a bike perfectly and keep the car nice.

If I couldn't do the above I would go for the towbar rack, mates got one and its really good and causes no damage.

Mark
 
The911SC said:
I use saris bones (which I got for my wife's touran). Used it on my TT well also..
More importantly, an opportunity to post some bike porn!...

hpim0933.jpg


DSC00269.jpg
Click to expand...
Nice bike, but where is the singletrack !!

Ride a Titus Racer X and a White 19 myself, not both at the same time. Just ordered a new frame Titus Racer X Exogrid, titanium and Carbon, gorgeous !! should be here end of August hopefully.

Mark
 
I use thule roof bars and bike racks on my s3, can take 3 bikes on the roof no probs.

I would post a picture of my specialized Enduro, but I dont have one handy.
 
Im in the same boat, wanna lug my bike around with zero damage to me car! And I need to get me to S.Wales biking!
My Kona Hoss Dee-lux is still nursing a flat tyre after my last ride, and CBA to change it as im too busy with work (he says sat on ASN)!
Nice bikes aswell guys, always had a soft spot for 'Dales!
 
I have a kona Dawg also; Kona bikes are great.. They recently got top spot in the MBUK top 10 review as a hardtail...

In the boot is safest but I just know I would get crap all over the inside and end up scuffing the interior...
 
audi upgrades
Right, I have got a Saris Bones and installed it. No problems, nice bit of kit.

Just one question.

I could put all the straps on around the A3 hatch without even opening it. What is stopping "someone" un-installing it when I'm parked up and out on the bike?
 
I''ve been looking for something too, but had kinda thought it was a roof rack with bike holders or nothing as the spoiler would be in the way... Hmmm interesting option this Saris, any pics of it fitted?

Hello again BTW, I'm back after sometime away from the forum! Long story...
 
When I leave the car at the trail centre, I leave it on but I did take it off and chuck it in the hatch once; didnt take long at all due to the tighteners on the straps being easy. The thing that took the longest was wrapping up the left over strapping so it doesnt flap in the wind..
I dont find the fasteners on the bones are enough to keep the bike on and steady so I use extra straps also...
 
audi upgrades
God that 2 things today ASport has made me wanna spend money on, 1st was the new 8P rear lights & now this Saris Bones, who says this forum is free, lol, lol, costing me hundreds, lol.
 
The good thing about the bones is they adjust nicely. I had mine on my wife's Touran with 3 bikes off to centre parks the other week; We went through the gales on bank holiday monday and it was totally solid as a rock even give the flatness of the rear hatch on the touran...
 
Cool so thats my next £90 spent then, lol, its good huh, is it steady & no damage etc possible as I'm moving to Italy soon so 900 miles I hope it doesnt fall of, lol.
 
Thanks for the Pic dude, but anyone with a spoiler still can't have these as you have to put those straps on the top. This surely would apply quite abit of pressure on the spoiler?! Hmmm... might be roofbars yet... try www.roofbox.co.uk/mbuk for a 5% discount.
 
if you brace something under the straps across the top of the spoiler so it doesnt dig into the paint etc then it should be ok no???
 
Trailer, I have just changed my car for a T5 174 van so have,

Thule rear mount bike rack for two bikes and
Full custom made interior boot liner, seats up or down and
Thule roof bars..

All looking for a new home...

Any interest?
 
This is the bike bag i use. :)



I run a Trek Fuel Ex 8. Now with Ritchey Carbon post/stem/bars, running Panaracer Fire XC pro rubber. LOVING THE TRAIL :)



 
As my company car change is coming much sooner than planned and I'm defecting, I'll have a set of Thule A3 (3dr) roof bars for sale, only used 4 times.
If anyone wants to go down this route pm me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

L
Mountain Bike Rack
Replies
8
Views
2K
L60N
L
A
FAO: Mountain Bikers
Replies
14
Views
1K
rockape
rockape
deano670
Bike Rack
Replies
19
Views
4K
S3Sport_Guy
S3Sport_Guy
B
Bike Rack
Replies
23
Views
7K
paul051
paul051
B
Bike Rack
Replies
4
Views
1K
icenutter
icenutter
Top
Back