Mountain Biking general thread

[DeskJockey]

Took the kids out on a nice 19k ride yesterday, from Canterbury to Whitstable and back along the Crab and Winkle Way.

Not challenging to ride, follows a combined walking/cycling track, but it was great to be out. Rode my gravel bike and it was a delight.

[Jimexpl]

I have to admit I've been trawling our local eBay alternative for vans. All the Euro stuff (VW Transporter, Merc Sprinters, For Transits etc.) are all ruinously expensive to buy and run here. And that basically leaves Hyundai and Toyota - nobody buys the Hyundais because their dealer support is woeful which basically leaves Hiace. Trying to find one of those which hasn't been ruined by couriers is hard work, without buying new.

But I have been looking at these: clicky Not sure if they'll be big enough, might have to see if I can try my bike in the back of one.

Wouldn't a Jap import people carrier be better value in NZ than a van? A honda/mazda/nissan something, get rid of three of the seats and cut a rubber mat for the floor? I remember my (NZ based) programmer's Nissan Leaf being good value as a recent Jap import compared to genuine NZ market cars.

[simon_g]

Yep, Stepwgns like mine are a pretty common sight in NZ. Flip forward one of the rear seats and plenty of size for putting a full size bike in. No issues with 3 bikes/riders if you take front wheels off the other two and still plenty of space for bags etc.



This is a bit rough but perfect for chucking bikes in: https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars ... 4859309630

[Peterlplp]

Toyota HiMedics pops up on trademe occasionally. That would be a fantastic two car garage.

[dinny_g]

If you're just want a car/van type vehicle to transport your bikes, then why not just get a roof or tow bar rack for your car ??

The camper van idea was to have some creature comforts if you need to travel to the parks or trails

[Jobbo]

If you're just want a car/van type vehicle to transport your bikes, then why not just get a roof or tow bar rack for your car ??

Using a roof or tow bar rack it's impossible to secure your bike properly if you stop at a services or something. That's one of the reasons I like to have an estate car that's big enough to get a bike in. Not upright because it doesn't have the height but still inside and secure.

[dinny_g]

Are there no Locking mechanism's that can secure bikes - genuine query as I haven't used a rack for anything other than a Kayak (which is infinitely harder than a bike to nick and, at £800 or £900, cheaper.)

Also, and I'm talking myself out of my idea here - if a car runs into the back of you with a trailer rack and writes off 3 bikes but doesn't damage the car, will the car who hit you's insurance pay out on it ?

[Sundayjumper]

...something like a T6 and an elise.

I've never driven a T6, but I've owned a T4 and a Vito, and the Vito was much better than the VW. Get the 3 litre and they're pretty nippy. RWD too.

[Jobbo]

Are there no Locking mechanism's that can secure bikes - genuine query as I haven't used a rack for anything other than a Kayak (which is infinitely harder than a bike to nick and, at £800 or £900, cheaper.)

Also, and I'm talking myself out of my idea here - if a car runs into the back of you with a trailer rack and writes off 3 bikes but doesn't damage the car, will the car who hit you's insurance pay out on it ?

Just watch Bosnian Bill or LockPickingLawyer's Youtube channels, or any of the cycling channels where they test bike locks. Even the best are only good for stopping a casual thief. And you probably don't want a heavy D-lock banging against the wheels and frame as you sit on the motorway.

Second point though - the driver which crashes into you would have to pay but it's not so obvious if you have a crash yourself. Depends on your own cover. Nicking them is the thing I'd be keen to avoid.

[dinny_g]

which is key as you might have 3 bikes on the back that collectively are worth 3 or 4 times the value of the car...

Camper Van it is - although, looking at all the trade vans broken into and stolen tools etc, not sure it's any more secure. Similarly an estate - smash and grab etc.

[simon_g]

The racks pretty much all use plastic/rubber clamps that can be overcome with a bit of force. A hefty lock can be worth it for stops if you can be bothered with putting it on and off. I have a tailgate rack too but it's mostly for the kids bikes, or when we go camping and the boot is full.

Example of how easy they are to take a bike from:

[Rich B]

yeah, i wouldn’t ever leave a bike on any sort of rack unattended. they’re not made to be theft proof.

[KiwiDave]

Our current most practical car is a Corolla- both EMTBs fit inside it with both wheels off but it's a pain in the ass to do and a strain on the back lifting them in and out. A Thule or Yakima rack plus a tow bar fitted is what $2000-2500 (so GBP1000-1250) as you need a rack capable of holding the weight of two heavy bikes.

Little shitty 'van' is looking tempting. The Stepwagon isn't a bad call.

[Jobbo]

I can see a lot of merit in the van idea if you take your bike anywhere regularly. I might espouse the benefits of an estate car but that’s only because I don’t often drive my bike somewhere; when I do it is usable but a bit of a faff still, and a pain when the bike gets muddy and wet.

Smash and grab wouldn’t be that easy from an estate; if the car is deadlocked then breaking the windows won’t allow a thief to open the doors or boot, and I don’t think most bikes would fit through a broken rear window. I’d imagine theft from vans is a similar risk to workmen losing their tools but that’s more a problem when they are left unattended in a van overnight. If your van has no windows and isn’t parked at a bike park then is it likely to be targeted?

[Rich B]

yeah, i leave my bike inside my car all the time - usually when i’ve come back later on a sunday, can’t be arsed to unload so it stays in til half way through the week. i pull a tarp over it and there’s no real issue.

i have a variety of bike hauling options, i have an ebike rated tow bar rack (which unfortunately can only go on the wife’s car) & various roof bar/rack combos. they’re all ok, but all have the same issues in the end.

[jamcg]

I’d imagine theft from vans is a similar risk to workmen losing their tools

Van theft is quite noisy and labour/tool intensive so they tend to be targeted thefts, they don’t do vans in an opportunistic manner, so as you say if there’s no windows and you regularly take out of the van there shouldn’t be a problem

[DeskJockey]

We've regularly got four bikes on the back of the car. I use a 5m braided steel cable and a D lock to snare the whole thing together to make it more difficult to take. If we're leaving them on the car in a public place I tend to run the cable through one of the rear wheels to make it even more of a faff.

When we were camping earlier in the year someone tried to steal our friends' bikes. They cut through the cable lock, but luckily couldn't break the D locks holding the bikes together, so had to give up. This was in broad daylight too.

[Barry]

Been contemplating getting a gravel bike for knocking about on, rather than dragging things out, should I just get a £1200 Boardman and not bother over thinking things?

Just want a road biased bike I can use for local runs, when I cba getting the car out for the Orbea (nothing off-road/fun within quick cycling distance from my house).

[Rich B]

i still don’t get gravel bikes, if you already have a mountain bike, just use that.

[dinny_g]

Come on Rich - you know the formula...

X=X+1 where X = .....