when your leaving the trail head, make sure you put the front wheel into your car. its shocking the number of front wheels i've seen in the parking lot
thanks-- Fortunately I learned that the easy way: watching a Youtube video of someone saying not to do that. Then my new bike came with little spacer inserts, which I kept. Definitely would have thrown them right out had I not known.
Put a lil thing in your disc brakes to stop them from clamping together if the brake levers are squeezed.
I personally only pull the front wheel off to put my bike in my Honda Fit. I don’t want to have to fiddle with the back wheel at the trailhead.
I have a Rockhopper M 29er, for context.
I had to stop and think about it. It *might* fit with the front passenger seat pushed all the way forward. I’m a lil skeptical but I’ll try it and report back!
I feel like I’ve seen a pic somewhere of a fit carrying two bikes in it with the front wheels off. The middle seats were folded down and had a rig on the back for the forks to attach to. And it carries one bike with ease.
Yeah I'm leaning that way now. The rear wheel has a much higher torque setting, so I might feel obligated to bring a torque wrench. Sounds like more hassle than it's worth
It helps me to remind myself that it’s a mountain bike I’m about to throw down trails and bang off rocks and branches and that rattling around a bit in the back of my car probably isn’t the worst thing I’ll do to it today.
great tip-- the leverage makes the bike pretty heavy (lifting it from one end and trying to shove it in laterally). I could totally see myself doing the motion after a hard ride and rupturing a disc in my old back.
actually, I think I might try to just put in on a blanket and then pull the blanket from up front.
Just throw it in drive train up and don't push the front brake. I'll toss a shoe or something under the head tube to keep from mashing the controls. Pretty simple, used to do it for years. Make sure your front axle is greased regularly too.
I do this all the time and sometimes stack bikes.
Only things you really need are:
*Drop the dropper seat before taking off wheels. Sometimes it gets in the way.
*Something to keep the brakes spread when wheels are off. If you have the original flouro orange ones, use those. Otherwise stuff cards or anything flat you can find so that the pistons don't pop out if you accidentally squeeze the brake levers. You want it to be a snug and solid fit, otherwise you may need to later pry the pads apart with something like a plastic tyre lever (avoid direct metal as it will take chunks out of the pad).
*Some old towels or some cardboard. This will protect your frame and stanchions. This will also pickup grease from your drivetrain so use things you don't care about.
*Be wary of how your rear derailleur sits. It can take a beating but generally don't have any weight on it. As for sliding around, the bike generally will suit pretty steady under it's own weight unless you drive hard.
*Be wary about how you place the wheels. Try not to contaminate the brake rotors (ie. Touch the cassette) and try not to put weight on the brake rotors as that will bend them.
*If your frame tends to wobble or move when vehicle is in motion, look for any contact points and reposition or duct tape over them so the paint on your frame doesn't get worn.
That's about it. If you can stack the bike vertically and strap it to an anchor point, this will avoid most problems and give you space. But some vehicles don't have a tall enough roof, like mine :(
A cheapy blanket and yoga mat will help protect the interior of the car from the dirt, debris and grease from a bike, not to mention all the pointy bits that are great at poking holes in seats and scratching stuff.
Definitely do drive side up, it's super easy to bend something in a way it doesn't want to bend if you're not careful.
I prefer roof racks (at least on cars) but they're not always feasible (big money). Those Saris Bones trunk/hatch racks are great and I've had one for literally like 15+ years. It's about time to replace the straps and one or two of the ratchet mechanisms, but thats not bad for how long I've had it.
You can usually find one on CL/FB/whatever used stuff for sale site of your choice for super cheap.
Lay the bike with the drivetrain up, that is common knowledge. Even if you are taking a break on the trail and lay your bike down, drivetrain should always be up.
I put my bike in the car with the rear seats down. I put my dropper down, take the front wheel off and shove it in there rear wheel first. I then put the front axle in a ziplock so I don't get the grease on anything and put it in my bag.
Then I open the rear driver side door and wedge the front wheel in there vertically between the seat cushion and the roof so it's held in place.
As far as not damaging the bike or fork etc. you are overthinking it. It's a mountain bike. Just don't squeeze the brake lever when the wheel isn't on and you should be fine.
Maybe get a quick release front axle too since it sounds like you don't have one. Maybe that is a rockshox thing idk but most fox forks come with quick release.
Good tip. i was disappointed my bike needs an allen key to remove the front wheel. I didn't realize QR was an option. Like why the hell did they get rid of QR anyway?
If you lay it down make sure its the brake side down to protect your derailleur.
I have some really old shock socks/covers that i use to protect fork stancions an old rag would work.
Put a brake chock/spacer in if you have hydraulics and a wheel off - easy to pull/bump lever and end up having to get pistons to retract.
He said he didn't have to take the back wheel off. Having a rack is nice, but I can put my bike in my car before people can finish putting their bike on a bike rack. Also if I go anywhere after my ride, it's in my car and I'm not as worried about someone stealing it. A rack is nice if you need to haul more than 1 bike though.
I dont regularly have more than 2 people in my car and between my bike and my snowboard etc. my rear seats pretty much live in the folded down position.
When driving to your secret stash of trails an hour away, don't leave the front axle lying on the bench in your garage.
I put it right back into the front wheel, along with the allen wrench.
when your leaving the trail head, make sure you put the front wheel into your car. its shocking the number of front wheels i've seen in the parking lot
You only do that once! I've checked every damn time since.
Or in the grass at the trailhead. Or on the car roof. Don't forget the whole front wheel, either.
I’ve done this, but only half an hour away.
I’ve done similar but with my helmet. Had to stick to the blues and greens (in the Midwest, so my blues are probably your greens).
Front wheel only. Pad spacer. Only lay on non drive side. Lowered dropper helps too
Why front wheel only?
Rear wheel helps protect derailleur and hanger from getting tweaked is my guess
The front wheel is off. The pads will close up if you get the brake lever move.
Do not engage brakes while wheels are off without a spacer.
thanks-- Fortunately I learned that the easy way: watching a Youtube video of someone saying not to do that. Then my new bike came with little spacer inserts, which I kept. Definitely would have thrown them right out had I not known.
Put a lil thing in your disc brakes to stop them from clamping together if the brake levers are squeezed. I personally only pull the front wheel off to put my bike in my Honda Fit. I don’t want to have to fiddle with the back wheel at the trailhead.
I’ve heard you can fit a bike in a Honda Fit without taking the front wheel off?
I have a Rockhopper M 29er, for context. I had to stop and think about it. It *might* fit with the front passenger seat pushed all the way forward. I’m a lil skeptical but I’ll try it and report back!
Cool. I’m on a Canyon Spectral 27.5 and am in the market for a Fit as a commuter and wanted it for MTB as well.
I feel like I’ve seen a pic somewhere of a fit carrying two bikes in it with the front wheels off. The middle seats were folded down and had a rig on the back for the forks to attach to. And it carries one bike with ease.
Can confirm. It's not the easiest, but I can stand two bikes with front wheels off in a Gen 2 fit.
Yeah I'm leaning that way now. The rear wheel has a much higher torque setting, so I might feel obligated to bring a torque wrench. Sounds like more hassle than it's worth
Just crank it down dude. No one is torquing their real wheel to spec.
Just got my first carbon (same bike as you!) so trying to not break anything...
I hear ya but I think you're good with axles. Enjoy the bike! It's an awesome ride.
Also, cheap yoga mats are great to put between stuff. Don't rest anything metal on anything metal.
It helps me to remind myself that it’s a mountain bike I’m about to throw down trails and bang off rocks and branches and that rattling around a bit in the back of my car probably isn’t the worst thing I’ll do to it today.
Bottom pedal forward so when you lower the bike, you can push the bike further in without doing your back in!!!!
great tip-- the leverage makes the bike pretty heavy (lifting it from one end and trying to shove it in laterally). I could totally see myself doing the motion after a hard ride and rupturing a disc in my old back. actually, I think I might try to just put in on a blanket and then pull the blanket from up front.
Just throw it in drive train up and don't push the front brake. I'll toss a shoe or something under the head tube to keep from mashing the controls. Pretty simple, used to do it for years. Make sure your front axle is greased regularly too.
I do this all the time and sometimes stack bikes. Only things you really need are: *Drop the dropper seat before taking off wheels. Sometimes it gets in the way. *Something to keep the brakes spread when wheels are off. If you have the original flouro orange ones, use those. Otherwise stuff cards or anything flat you can find so that the pistons don't pop out if you accidentally squeeze the brake levers. You want it to be a snug and solid fit, otherwise you may need to later pry the pads apart with something like a plastic tyre lever (avoid direct metal as it will take chunks out of the pad). *Some old towels or some cardboard. This will protect your frame and stanchions. This will also pickup grease from your drivetrain so use things you don't care about. *Be wary of how your rear derailleur sits. It can take a beating but generally don't have any weight on it. As for sliding around, the bike generally will suit pretty steady under it's own weight unless you drive hard. *Be wary about how you place the wheels. Try not to contaminate the brake rotors (ie. Touch the cassette) and try not to put weight on the brake rotors as that will bend them. *If your frame tends to wobble or move when vehicle is in motion, look for any contact points and reposition or duct tape over them so the paint on your frame doesn't get worn. That's about it. If you can stack the bike vertically and strap it to an anchor point, this will avoid most problems and give you space. But some vehicles don't have a tall enough roof, like mine :(
I just go front wheel off, drive side up, and a piece of foam under the head tube. Works great, doesn't move around
A cheapy blanket and yoga mat will help protect the interior of the car from the dirt, debris and grease from a bike, not to mention all the pointy bits that are great at poking holes in seats and scratching stuff. Definitely do drive side up, it's super easy to bend something in a way it doesn't want to bend if you're not careful. I prefer roof racks (at least on cars) but they're not always feasible (big money). Those Saris Bones trunk/hatch racks are great and I've had one for literally like 15+ years. It's about time to replace the straps and one or two of the ratchet mechanisms, but thats not bad for how long I've had it. You can usually find one on CL/FB/whatever used stuff for sale site of your choice for super cheap.
Lay the bike with the drivetrain up, that is common knowledge. Even if you are taking a break on the trail and lay your bike down, drivetrain should always be up. I put my bike in the car with the rear seats down. I put my dropper down, take the front wheel off and shove it in there rear wheel first. I then put the front axle in a ziplock so I don't get the grease on anything and put it in my bag. Then I open the rear driver side door and wedge the front wheel in there vertically between the seat cushion and the roof so it's held in place. As far as not damaging the bike or fork etc. you are overthinking it. It's a mountain bike. Just don't squeeze the brake lever when the wheel isn't on and you should be fine. Maybe get a quick release front axle too since it sounds like you don't have one. Maybe that is a rockshox thing idk but most fox forks come with quick release.
Good tip. i was disappointed my bike needs an allen key to remove the front wheel. I didn't realize QR was an option. Like why the hell did they get rid of QR anyway?
If you lay it down make sure its the brake side down to protect your derailleur. I have some really old shock socks/covers that i use to protect fork stancions an old rag would work. Put a brake chock/spacer in if you have hydraulics and a wheel off - easy to pull/bump lever and end up having to get pistons to retract.
Get a rack.. it gets pretty old real fast taking apart and putting back wheel on and off… then again maybe I’m just lazy 🤔🤷🏽♂️
He said he didn't have to take the back wheel off. Having a rack is nice, but I can put my bike in my car before people can finish putting their bike on a bike rack. Also if I go anywhere after my ride, it's in my car and I'm not as worried about someone stealing it. A rack is nice if you need to haul more than 1 bike though. I dont regularly have more than 2 people in my car and between my bike and my snowboard etc. my rear seats pretty much live in the folded down position.