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Bicycles

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garmp

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Bicycles
« on: October 09, 2020, 05:09:03 pm »
How many of you carry bicycles with you on your travels? My question is how/where do you carry them? If is mount them on the back,  how do I get into the rear hatch for my power cords, etc?
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Engineerlt

Re: Bicycles
« Reply #1 on: October 09, 2020, 06:00:33 pm »
We carried ours on the back of the TOAD.  I pull a Jeep Cherokee and and a bicycle carrier that mounts to the trailer hitch. Haven't had any issues.
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mikeh

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Re: Bicycles
« Reply #2 on: October 09, 2020, 08:11:13 pm »
Hi Gary,

Since my mobility is getting worse with age and condition, I depend on a bike to get around longer routes I would have previously happily walked.  After thinking about it--and quite a bit of research--decided to go with an e-bike to make sure I can cover as much distance as I want without a problem.  Found a folding e-bike from Blix that works great.  Like Lance, I tow a Jeep Cherokee (mine's a Trailhawk), and I have the option of using a bike rack on the Jeep receiver, or just folding the bike in half and putting it in the rear hatch.  I usually just fold it and stick in the back--I can have it out and ready to go in about 30 seconds.

Mike
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jim.godfrey

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Re: Bicycles
« Reply #3 on: October 09, 2020, 09:43:24 pm »
I also use a bike rack on my Wrangler toad. This leaves the option of moving it to the RV if I am not bringing the Jeep.
I have this:
https://www.amazon.com/Yakima-8002483-Backswing/dp/B077BX789P/ref=asc_df_B077BX789P/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312091906290&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13052191658832002581&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002041&hvtargid=pla-568541901733&psc=1

Which I need so I can open the Jeep tailgate and would provide the same convenience to access the rear hatch.
It is pretty well built, just make sure your bike rack is rated to go on with it. The racks with the small hitch tube are not approved.
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2 Lucky

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Re: Bicycles
« Reply #4 on: October 09, 2020, 11:18:03 pm »
Many receiver type bike racks have a hinged lower section that allows you to drop the bikes down and back to access a hatchback or trunk, or swing to the side for a tailgate, or in our case the rear compartment. Be sure to get one hefty enough to support the weight of the inevitable ebike. I can usually just reach into our compartment for the hose or cord without dropping the bikes.
happy pedaling!
« Last Edit: October 09, 2020, 11:22:49 pm by 2 Lucky »
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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Bicycles
« Reply #5 on: October 10, 2020, 11:12:19 am »
Quote from: Engineerlt on October 09, 2020, 06:00:33 pm
We carried ours on the back of the TOAD.  I pull a Jeep Cherokee and and a bicycle carrier that mounts to the trailer hitch. Haven't had any issues.
We have the same arrangement though I have since bought a different bike rack, one that mounts to the spare tire mount on the tow vehicle.  Strangely, that is more secure.  I like that it mounts the bikes much closer to the tow vehicle, and it also allows us to open the tail gate so the bikes swing away with the rear hatch.  Our two bikes and the rack itself are light weight which helps on the concerns of the extra weight on the tail gate.

The bike rack in the picture did work, but there was a lot of weight hanging much farther back.  The rack was extra heavy and the bikes thrashed on it.  That was one more reason to make a change in racks.  I keep that rack in case one day we want to bring the bikes without the tow vehicle.
« Last Edit: October 10, 2020, 11:15:16 am by Ron Dittmer »
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donc13

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Re: Bicycles
« Reply #6 on: October 10, 2020, 01:22:17 pm »
Like 2 Lucky does, we just reach under to get things in and out of the rear storage.    The hose and shore power line I keep in the side anyway just because I am lazy and don't want to swing the ladder up each time.   When carrying bikes (2 e-bikes) I leave the ladder up.   I use the below pictured hitch lift/extension for the bike rack.... Two reasons,  to raise the bike rack above the taillights (I keep the ebikes in a cover) and to move them back from the rear cap so I can get in the rear storage if needed.

« Last Edit: October 10, 2020, 01:26:03 pm by donc13 »
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CalCruiser

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Re: Bicycles
« Reply #7 on: October 10, 2020, 09:42:23 pm »
Garmp  - check out the Thule T2 Classic. The design is similar to what’s used for city busses, but with a tilt feature for clearance.

My 2350 doesn’t have a rear compartment,  so I can’t say for certain if the door would clear. I bought the T2  primarily because it will handle the weight of 2 e-bikes and can be fitted with optional fat bike tire cradles.

Folding foot pedals might  also do the trick if you need just a bit  more wiggle room.
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garmp

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Re: Bicycles
« Reply #8 on: October 11, 2020, 04:11:32 pm »
I noticed that e-bikes were mentioned. That is why I'm looking into how to carry them. Which e-bike seems to be the popular/best choice. Naturally I want the best bang for my buck, and I know you get what you pay for. But there's got to be a happy medium. And to boot I know less than nothing about them, battery power, motor rpms, tire size, etc.
Appreciate any & all help.
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2 Lucky

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Re: Bicycles
« Reply #9 on: October 11, 2020, 04:29:14 pm »
Garmp
The Thule is a great rack
I have a Hollywood Rack beefy enough for two ebikes. I picked it because it has a unique method to securely fasten and be wobble and rattle free. A threaded rod in the lower arm hooks to the back side of the hitch pin. You crank it down to securely pull the whole rack into the receiver. You can see the tightening handle on the bottom in the pics attached. Comes with a locking hitch pin and cable lock keyed alike.
The riser Donc shows is a nice addition.
Any type of receiver hitch or rack can be improved with a stabilizer.
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2 Lucky

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Re: Bicycles
« Reply #10 on: October 11, 2020, 04:51:25 pm »
I was posting the previous thread when you asked about ebikes.

Mine got me up and going again after a botched knee replacement left me "out on a limb?" They are a game changer for me in so many ways. We always have ours along.  We often use ours instead of a toad. You can pedal as hard or as easy as you want.  It can feel like pedalling downhill all the time! We opted for a brand called Haibike, uses Bosch motor and battery.

In addition to the basic bike varieties ie road, mountain, comfort, cross, etc, there are two basic types of ebikes, mid-motor and hub motor. Mid motor is more pricey and superior in many ways. There are hub motor conversion kits to change a regular bike to ebike...not recommended.

Hub motors tend to overheat and cut out, and can surge when you start pedaling and not very smooth in my experience. I had hub type first, my wife could not keep up on her conventional bike, so she got a Haibike, then I couldn't keep up with her. Now we are on the same grade.

A removable battery is a must in my book. One thing is that removing the battery lightens to load when you hoist the bike up on to the rack. Ebike are heavy relatively. And you can take the battery inside to recharge.

Best advice is to find a local ebike specialist and go ride a few. Be aware it is hard to go back once you ride one.

I notice you have a PC and not a Winnebago. You deserve a good bike!
Dougn
« Last Edit: October 11, 2020, 06:25:09 pm by 2 Lucky »
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mikeh

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Re: Bicycles
« Reply #11 on: October 11, 2020, 07:09:18 pm »
Gary--

E-bikes have become increasingly popular, and like other items of personal experience you can get endless recommendations for types and brands based on what individuals have personally owned or experienced.  Although I decided an e-bike was what I needed in my situation, like you I had absolutely no previous knowledge or experience of e-bike types or technology.  The internet is a handy tool however, and I spent a little time getting a basic overview of types and prices.  One resource that I found especially helpful was electricbikereview.com--this seems to be pretty much the definitive site for comprehensive reviews of almost all e-bike models; you can learn a lot in a fairly short time on that site, as well as get an in-depth review of whatever model you might be considering.  My own choice ended up being a folding e-bike from Blix and I could not be more happy with the result.  It has excellent range, and is powerful, smooth, and dependable.  Their units have excellent reviews, and the price versus quality ratio is exceptional.  I'm sure you'll get a variety of great suggestions, so best of luck in your search.

Mike

 
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CalCruiser

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Re: Bicycles
« Reply #12 on: October 11, 2020, 09:23:35 pm »
Quote from: garmp on October 11, 2020, 04:11:32 pm
I noticed that e-bikes were mentioned. That is why I'm looking into how to carry them. Which e-bike seems to be the popular/best choice. Naturally I want the best bang for my buck, and I know you get what you pay for. But there's got to be a happy medium. And to boot I know less than nothing about them, battery power, motor rpms, tire size, etc.
Appreciate any & all help.



A 48v 10ah battery is sufficient for a 20 mile range without pedaling. Avoid the cheaper 36v models.  E-bikes are limited by law to 20 mph on the streets in the USA,  so the motors are generally 750 watts or less,  except for high end off road models like those from  HI Power Cycles in Chattsworth, California.

Pedego offers a lot of bang for the buck.  They are an  established USA manufacturer based in Florida with retail stores and and rental outlets,  so parts won’t become a problem , unlike much of the off-brand Chinese junk. Their new Element fat tire bike looks like it may be an excellent Unisex model with a smaller  frame and low step-over height.

If you need to  go fast, climb steep hills, or travel long distances, a mid drive motor is superior to a hub motor because it uses the bikes’s rear derailleur gears as a transmission. Haibike  and Hi Power Cycles build  quality mid drive bikes, or if you already have a nice bike that you want to convert to mid drive electric check out the  more affordable kits from  Lectric  Cycles or EM3EV

There are 2 types of hub motors, direct drive and geared. Geared hub motors utilize planetary gears and are designed to freewheel when not under power.

My own e-bike  was custom  built  for riding in beach sand. I used a Hi Power Cycles 1250 watt Stryker geared front hub motor driving a 4.7” Surly Big Fat Larry front tire for maximum sand flotation, set in a Surly Moonlander chromoly fork. It’s  powered by a Grinfinity programmable motor controller with a Grin Cycle Analyst.  A Shimano Alfine 8 speed internal geared hub drives a 4” Surly Endomorph rear tire  for two wheel drive pedaling, while staying free of sand and corrosion.  The aluminum  frame is a Tommisea Terrain Destroyer. Its a monster of a  bike, but weighs just 58 lbs.

Diff'rent  strokes for Diff'rent  Folks   (exactly)
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Barry-Sue

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Re: Bicycles
« Reply #13 on: October 13, 2020, 06:23:38 pm »
We carry two e-bikes (Pegasus Cross) on the back of the PC.  We use a Saris Freedom bike rack (rated to carry two e-bikes).  The bike rack was not rated to be used on the back of an RV and it also was not rated to be placed on the back of a towed vehicle.  However, it is the perfect bike rack for these two step through e-bikes because of the way that it holds the bikes down.  We could not use the ratcheting frame hooks that many bike racks have and since we also have fenders those that locked the front tire would not work.  Another requirement we had was for it to be 1 1/4 inch and 2 inch receiver.

We went to a local welding shop and they made us a carrier out of 2 inch x 3/16 inch steel tubing that will easily hold 1000 pounds.  When we want to put the bikes on the back of the PC we simple bolt the rack to the carrier and are good to go.  They are rock solid.  There is plenty of room to fully open the rear hatch with both bikes on the rack.

We can also use the bike rack on the back of the toad when we do not have the PC.  We just unscrew the two bolts and use the bike rack on its own.

Picture 1 - bike rack carrier
Picture 2 - bike rack attached to carrier with blue ox ready for travel
Picture 3 - PC carrying one of the e-bikes and towing the car

« Last Edit: October 13, 2020, 07:01:50 pm by Barry-Sue »
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Sarz272000

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Re: Bicycles
« Reply #14 on: October 18, 2020, 02:14:50 pm »
Barry
That is a great idea with the bike rack.  We have the same bike rack. 

Ron S
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