You may be the Lance Armstrong of your neighbourhood and you may have knitted yourself every coloured jersey known to cycling but if you can’t get your bike safely to and from a race your skills will have gone to waste. There is obviously the option of cycling to an event but for the purposes of this article let’s pretend it’s too far for that option. Here is some good advice on transporting your bike safely.

Attached Securely

First things first, if you don’t have a van or you can’t get your bike in the boot of your car, you are going to need to invest in one of the many bike car racks out there. Shops such as Halfords or your local bike shop should be able to help you find the right one, but generally you must make sure it is the exact right one for your car before making a purchase. Borrowing one from a friend may just be dangerous, as in an accident or any sudden turns you won’t want to see you hybrid bike go flying off down the road without you.

Bikes In Good Condition

Make sure your bike is in good nick (whether it is a hybrid bike or even a mountain bike). I doubt your cheap road bikes will stand up to speeds of 70mph when they only ever expect to go, at most, half that. Make sure your wheels and anything else that requires tightening is completely secure.

Car in Good Condition

With a roof rack stuck on your car you may feel a difference in the handling of your vehicle, not only from the weight but from the aerodynamics. You need to be sure that your tyres are properly pumped up and that you suspension is in top condition. Also, the places where your bike car racks are attached need to be free from rust or any wear and tear.

Don’t Forget Your Car is Taller Now

Don’t go swooping into your local drive through without checking your new height. It can be easy to forget that your car is different height especially if you are not a regular bike mover, but even if you just have a cheap BMX bike on your roof you won’t want to damage it, or your car for that matter, by bashing into a roofline or barrier.

Security

Finally, make sure your bikes are secured if you are going to leave your car for any length of time. Thieves will find it easy to spot and grab your prized racing bike if you haven’t properly chained it up. Prized items like BMX pedals can often be removed to ensure that thieves don’t detach them. Always make sure you bike has no easily detached items remaining on it.

By: Sam Qam