quick transport-on-minivan-roof question - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

06-16-2004, 01:23 AM

Howdy. My relatives are coming up to visit, and they're bringing up
two bikes with them ("teen/regular" sizes). They've got a Dodge Caravan
with factory roof rails. They'll be driving about 350 or so miles from
Virginia to NYC. The route will be almost totally on the big interstate
highways (relatively smooth roads), about 7 hours or so (passing through
Washington DC just to glance at the sights).

The minivan will be full inside, so we were wondering if anyone has
just tossed a couple of bikes on the roof (front wheels removed, of course)
and just tied them down with bungee cords. This is not a regular
occurrence, so spending a pile of money for a "real" rack is something
we'd like to avoid. I figure i can buy a cheap tarp and wrap it over the
front/top of the bikes to keep out any major downpours, and use duct tape
and/or bungee to keep it all from flying away. The minivan will only
be unattended during rest stops, and I can also u-lock them to the
roof rails (these are just cheapish $300 bikes).

Advice, anyone?

--
Henry Yen <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
netcom shell refugee '94. [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Hicksville, New York

06-16-2004, 04:22 AM

In article <cap3ia$8t2$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
> Howdy. My relatives are coming up to visit, and they're bringing up
> two bikes with them ("teen/regular" sizes). They've got a Dodge Caravan
> with factory roof rails. They'll be driving about 350 or so miles from
> Virginia to NYC. The route will be almost totally on the big interstate
> highways (relatively smooth roads), about 7 hours or so (passing through
> Washington DC just to glance at the sights).
>
> The minivan will be full inside, so we were wondering if anyone has
> just tossed a couple of bikes on the roof (front wheels removed, of course)
> and just tied them down with bungee cords. This is not a regular

Use rope, not bungee cords, and put down an old blanket or something to
protect the top of the vehicle, and they should be fine. You could even
leave the front wheels on if you want.

The other day I saw a *pile* of bikes on top of a minivan going down the
interstate. Must have been 3 or 4 bikes there, but they were so
entangled that I couldn't tell for sure.

....

--
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newsgroups if possible).

06-16-2004, 04:22 AM

In article <cap3ia$8t2$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
> Howdy. My relatives are coming up to visit, and they're bringing up
> two bikes with them ("teen/regular" sizes). They've got a Dodge Caravan
> with factory roof rails. They'll be driving about 350 or so miles from
> Virginia to NYC. The route will be almost totally on the big interstate
> highways (relatively smooth roads), about 7 hours or so (passing through
> Washington DC just to glance at the sights).
>
> The minivan will be full inside, so we were wondering if anyone has
> just tossed a couple of bikes on the roof (front wheels removed, of course)
> and just tied them down with bungee cords. This is not a regular

Use rope, not bungee cords, and put down an old blanket or something to
protect the top of the vehicle, and they should be fine. You could even
leave the front wheels on if you want.

The other day I saw a *pile* of bikes on top of a minivan going down the
interstate. Must have been 3 or 4 bikes there, but they were so
entangled that I couldn't tell for sure.

....

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

06-16-2004, 04:22 AM

In article <cap3ia$8t2$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
> Howdy. My relatives are coming up to visit, and they're bringing up
> two bikes with them ("teen/regular" sizes). They've got a Dodge Caravan
> with factory roof rails. They'll be driving about 350 or so miles from
> Virginia to NYC. The route will be almost totally on the big interstate
> highways (relatively smooth roads), about 7 hours or so (passing through
> Washington DC just to glance at the sights).
>
> The minivan will be full inside, so we were wondering if anyone has
> just tossed a couple of bikes on the roof (front wheels removed, of course)
> and just tied them down with bungee cords. This is not a regular

Use rope, not bungee cords, and put down an old blanket or something to
protect the top of the vehicle, and they should be fine. You could even
leave the front wheels on if you want.

The other day I saw a *pile* of bikes on top of a minivan going down the
interstate. Must have been 3 or 4 bikes there, but they were so
entangled that I couldn't tell for sure.

....

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

06-16-2004, 04:22 AM

In article <cap3ia$8t2$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
> Howdy. My relatives are coming up to visit, and they're bringing up
> two bikes with them ("teen/regular" sizes). They've got a Dodge Caravan
> with factory roof rails. They'll be driving about 350 or so miles from
> Virginia to NYC. The route will be almost totally on the big interstate
> highways (relatively smooth roads), about 7 hours or so (passing through
> Washington DC just to glance at the sights).
>
> The minivan will be full inside, so we were wondering if anyone has
> just tossed a couple of bikes on the roof (front wheels removed, of course)
> and just tied them down with bungee cords. This is not a regular

Use rope, not bungee cords, and put down an old blanket or something to
protect the top of the vehicle, and they should be fine. You could even
leave the front wheels on if you want.

The other day I saw a *pile* of bikes on top of a minivan going down the
interstate. Must have been 3 or 4 bikes there, but they were so
entangled that I couldn't tell for sure.

....

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

06-16-2004, 04:22 AM

In article <cap3ia$8t2$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
> Howdy. My relatives are coming up to visit, and they're bringing up
> two bikes with them ("teen/regular" sizes). They've got a Dodge Caravan
> with factory roof rails. They'll be driving about 350 or so miles from
> Virginia to NYC. The route will be almost totally on the big interstate
> highways (relatively smooth roads), about 7 hours or so (passing through
> Washington DC just to glance at the sights).
>
> The minivan will be full inside, so we were wondering if anyone has
> just tossed a couple of bikes on the roof (front wheels removed, of course)
> and just tied them down with bungee cords. This is not a regular

Use rope, not bungee cords, and put down an old blanket or something to
protect the top of the vehicle, and they should be fine. You could even
leave the front wheels on if you want.

The other day I saw a *pile* of bikes on top of a minivan going down the
interstate. Must have been 3 or 4 bikes there, but they were so
entangled that I couldn't tell for sure.

....

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

06-16-2004, 08:19 AM

(clip) we were wondering if anyone has just tossed a couple of bikes on the
roof (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^
After doing this, a friend of mine suggested removing whichever pedal is on
the down side. If the bike rests on the pedal over bumpy terrain, there can
be damage, bot to the bike and to the roof.

06-16-2004, 08:19 AM

(clip) we were wondering if anyone has just tossed a couple of bikes on the
roof (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^
After doing this, a friend of mine suggested removing whichever pedal is on
the down side. If the bike rests on the pedal over bumpy terrain, there can
be damage, bot to the bike and to the roof.

06-16-2004, 08:19 AM

(clip) we were wondering if anyone has just tossed a couple of bikes on the
roof (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^
After doing this, a friend of mine suggested removing whichever pedal is on
the down side. If the bike rests on the pedal over bumpy terrain, there can
be damage, bot to the bike and to the roof.

06-16-2004, 08:19 AM

(clip) we were wondering if anyone has just tossed a couple of bikes on the
roof (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^
After doing this, a friend of mine suggested removing whichever pedal is on
the down side. If the bike rests on the pedal over bumpy terrain, there can
be damage, bot to the bike and to the roof.