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Taking the bike by car
Transporting the bike by car is very easy.
There is hardly any car accessories dealer
or car company that does not offer bike car-
rier systems. These save the user from hav-
ing to disassemble the bike for transport. The
usual design involves rails fixed to the roof of
the car onto which the bikes are fixed with
clamps gripping the down tubes.
Rear carriers are becoming more and more
popular. Their big advantage over roof carri-
ers is that you do not have to lift up the bikes
so high to attach them.
When buying a bike carrier, make sure it
complies with the safety standards and is
provided with seals, such as TÜV/GS-seals
or the like.
Read the operating instructions of your bike
carrier and observe the maximum loading
capacity and driving speed.
If you have a rear carrier, make sure it does
not conceal the lights or the number plate of
your car. For some carriers a second exterior
rear view mirror is prescribed by the road
traffic regulations.
. Transport by car
Keep in mind that your bike is more exposed
to the weather conditions when mounted
to the outside of your car. Driving at high
speed in rainy weather is comparable to the
effects of a steam cleaner. The water can pass
through the seals and penetrate the bearings
and bowden cables. This leads to the dilution
of lubricants and consequently to greater fric-
tion, which destroys bearings and bowden
cables in the long run.
Most clamps are a potential source of
damage to large-diameter frame
tubes!
When you intend to travel with your
bike mounted outside your car, inform
yourself about the regulations regarding
bike transport in the transit countries. There
are different regulations e.g. with regard to
the marking.
Do not buy a carrier on which the
bike has to be taken upside down, i.e.
with the handlebars and saddle fixed face
down to the carrier. This way of fastening
the bike subjects the handlebars, stem, sad-
dle and seat post to extreme stress during
transport and can lead to failure of these
parts!
Bear in mind that your car has a
greater overall height with the bike
on it. Measure the overall height and place
a sign stating the height somewhere in the
cockpit or on the steering wheel so that it
can be easily seen.
Never transport bikes with hydraulic
brakes upside down. This could let air
enter the brake calipers and lead to brake
failure.
Disc brakes have to be secured with
safety locks, if the bike is to be trans-
ported with wheels dismounted.
