You want to enjoy your first ride on your new bike miles away from home, maybe near the beach! Then you realize you don’t have a bike rack in your car to transport your bike. Well, this is a common issue but one you can easily solve.
So, there will be a question arise in your mind: how to transport a bike without a rack? You can transport a bike without a rack by carrying it inside your car. Of course, most bikes will easily fit in the backseat. Additionally, you can strap the bike on the car roof and transport it securely.
While bike racks are reliable, you can still transport your bike when you don’t have them. If you’re going to a nearby place, you can simply hop on your bike and ride there. But for long distances, this is not a viable option.
One way or the other, you’ll need to find a way to transport your bike in your car. Cars and bikes are two things that coexist.
Continue reading below for more details on how to transport a bike without a rack.
How to Transport a Bike without a Rack?
There are different ways you can transport a bike in your car without using a rack. Let’s look at the different ways and get you moving.
1. Store The Bike On The Backseat Of Your Car
The first and most secure way to transport a bike without a rack is inside the car. One would ask, will the bike fit inside the car?
Space inside the car is always limited. But, you’re not just throwing the bike on the backseat and driving off. You’ll follow a few simple sets to securely fit the bike inside your car.
After all, not all cars have enough backspace to fit a bike. You’ll need to check your car’s backseat space and see if it can fit a bike. That’s the only limitation of using this method.
Taking important steps to secure the bike prevents damage to your bike and seats. Below are some steps to follow.
Bike cleaning
You want your backseats to remain clean after transporting your bike. Start by cleaning your bike thoroughly.
This is an essential step to prevent carrying dirt and mud into your car. Focus on the frames, tires, and handlebars which tend to hold a lot of dirt.
It’s a significant step to consider even after finishing your ride. While you can lay covers on the seats, cleaning your bike is highly recommended.
I’ll not go into the details about cleaning a bike. You just want to make sure there is no dirt left on the bike before putting it inside your car.
Remove one Wheel
Removing one wheel of a bike is a great way to ensure the bike fits inside the car. If you’re an avid bike lover, removing a bike wheel should not be a big problem.
Wheels come with wheel bags for storage. Place the wheel in a wheel bag and store it on the backseat or in the car trunk.
It’s a simple yet very crucial step that can save you tons of space. It’s recommended that you remove the front wheel. If you happen to remove the rear wheel, then ensure the left cog side faces down to prevent bike spikes from damaging the bike gears.
Fold the Backseat
With the bike clean and one wheel removed, it’s time to store it inside your car. But first, you’ll need to fold the rear seat down.
Folding the rear seat down provides more room on the back for the bike to fit nicely.
Keep the Bike Chain on the Smallest Ring
This is a great way of preventing grease from coming into your car. Ensure the back chain is on the smallest ring. Additionally, use a piece of clothing underneath the pedal to prevent dirt from landing on your seats.
Place Covers on the Backseat
This is an extra step to ensure your back seats are as clean afterward. Here, you can use old carton boxes, newspapers, or clothing. The aim is to avoid having the bike directly rest on your car seat.
Lay the Bike on the Backseat
Now you can confidently place the bike on the back seat. Make sure the entire weight of the bike does not lay on the gears. This is an important step you have to consider to avoid damaging your bike gear.
Additionally, place the bike on its drive-up. This means having the gears facing up. It also ensures the bike weight is distributed evenly.
Overall, you need to make sure the bike is positioned well and the gears facing upwards. The weight of the bike should be evenly distributed to avoid damage to the bike parts.
Secure the Bike
Lastly, you need to secure the bike using straps or bungee cords. When riding, the bike will move a lot on bumps or on rough terrains.
Tightly securing your car will ensure it stays in place. Additionally, this helps prevent damage to your car interior and the bike itself.
With everything set, you can now hop into the front seat and drive to your destination safely.
2. Transport The Bike On The Car Roof
The next place you can transport your bike is by securing it on the car roof. It’s the second-best place, especially if there is not enough space inside your car.
If your car has a rooftop, then it’s a lot easier. But, you can still transport the car on top of your roof even without a rooftop.
Transporting the bike on your cart op requires a few simple steps.
First, you’ll need to disassemble the bike by removing the front wheel. Disassembly allows you to transport the car with the wheels facing upwards.
Next, lay your bike on the rooftop. Look for the rails or crossbars and position your bike on them.
Have the car positioned on the mid-section of the roof. This helps prevent blocking the car’s rear windshield.
The next important step in securing your bike on the roof using pretty strong and secure straps. Consider using a ratchet strap and ensure they hold the bike down tightly.
Make sure the straps run inside the car’s door as opposed to the windows. This is a critical safety step when driving on bumps and rough terrains.
You want to make sure the bike is secure and will not fall or sway from side to side.
With the bike secure on the car top, you can be ready to drive off.
3. Store The Bike Inside The Car Trunk
The third method of transporting your bike without a rack is storing it inside the car trunk. It’s another simple, yet secure manner of transporting your bike.
As always, disassemble the bike by removing the front wheel. This reduces the bike size and ensures it fits inside the car trunk.
In fact, this is one of the safest ways of transporting a bike without a rack. However, it’s a little tedious as you’ll need to disassemble most parts.
Make sure you disengage all bike components and store them inside a box. The bike must also be clean to avoid bringing dirt inside your car trunk.
Safety Tips When Transporting A Bike Inside The Car
- Always try to avoid bringing the bike close to the car’s body. Leaning the bike against the bike’s body can lead to paint scratches.
- Use old sheet covers inside the car to protect your seats and bike from scratches
- Don’t leave the bike inside the car for long on hot days. This is important, especially when the car is parked in direct sunlight. Excess temperatures inside can expand the tire’s air and blow them up.
- Lastly, leaving the bike unattended inside a car for long can attract thieves. Bikes are appealing and present a great opportunity for thieves.
FAQ’s
Read the below FAQ section and get answers to most of your queries that arise in your mind while reading this write-up.
Can you fit two bikes in a car without bike racks?
You can fit two bikes in a car without bike racks. But, you’ll need to disassemble both front wheels. Place the rear wheel on the folded seat and face the trunk.
Can I strap a bike to my roof?
You can strap your bike to the roof of your car using strong straps. Simply place the bike on the roof and tie it down with straps passing through the door.
How do you transport a mountain bike in a car?
You can transport a mountain bike in a car by removing the front wheel and storing it on the back seat or inside the car trunk.
Final Verdict
That’s it from me! Now you know how to transport your bike without a rack. But, using a rack is the most convenient way to transport a bike. In fact, it is the safest way. But that doesn’t mean you cannot transport your bike when you don’t have a rack. There are alternatives out there.
Using any of these three methods above will get you taking your bike anywhere. You just need to ensure the bike faces upwards to prevent damage to the gears.
Go ahead and share some of the ways you use to transport your bike in the comment section.
