Bike covers

[nilesrob]

Aside from the obvious of stowing your bikes inside the TV or trailer, has anyone come up with a way to protect outside-carried bikes from road grime? I am thinking something like a tarp or some such approach. It wouldn't (couldn't) have to be perfect, but a way to reduce salt/dirt etc. from getting on the bikes - particularly the gearing systems.

[Someday'59]

Oh darn. I thought the whole point of taking bikes was so that they would catch all the bugs, dirt, and junk. (You know, so it stays off the trailer.)

[cameront120]

Bicycle covers are readily available at bike shops and on line through a variety of manufacturers. Check your local shops or have a look online. Materials range from cheap plastics to a variety of fabrics.

[Goal15]

I went to Tractor Supply Company and bought a heavy duty canvas tarp for days when we are traveling in rain and for covering bikes when we are camped. So much better than plastic tarps which are useless on the road and not all that waterproof anyway. It's not perfect but it works. If you have a really high end bike you might invest in a bike bag but not sure about how that works with racked bikes. We carry our hybrids in a fork mount pickup rack in the Tundra

Dana


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[nilesrob]

Originally Posted by cameront120

Bicycle covers are readily available at bike shops and on line through a variety of manufacturers. Check your local shops or have a look online. Materials range from cheap plastics to a variety of fabrics.

Duh... sometimes a blast of the obvious. Went to the local bike shop and sure enough had something that I will try. Thx!

I will likely end up trying some other solutions as well.

[Phoenix]

Some BBQ covers are large enough to cover bicycles. These may be cheaper than bike covers; and some of them are very durable. Plus, you can sometimes find them discounted in the BBQ off-season.

[Goal15]

Originally Posted by Goal15

I went to Tractor Supply Company and bought a heavy duty canvas tarp for days when we are traveling in rain and for covering bikes when we are camped. So much better than plastic tarps which are useless on the road and not all that waterproof anyway. It's not perfect but it works. If you have a really high end bike you might invest in a bike bag but not sure about how that works with racked bikes. We carry our hybrids in a fork mount pickup rack in the Tundra

Dana


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Well, the canvas tarp SEEMED like a good idea..... it didn't tatter in the wind on the road like the plastic ones but it did get yellow powdery stuff all over everything. Now i have to wash the bikes, the pickup bed, etc etc.

It DID keep the bikes relatively dry when we were in the midst of 5 days of rain in Nashville, but as for covering while in transit, i think it is back to the drawing board.

Dana

[nilesrob]

Dana, I suspect I will have the same experience with my $18 plastic cover... Other than putting them inside (I refuse to do), or wrapping them in something like they do boats with shrink wrap, I suspect I will just need to suck it up and clean the bikes on arrival. Bikes are definitely in the love/hate spectrum.

[Goal15]

Originally Posted by nilesrob

Dana, I suspect I will have the same experience with my $18 plastic cover... Other than putting them inside (I refuse to do), or wrapping them in something like they do boats with shrink wrap, I suspect I will just need to suck it up and clean the bikes on arrival. Bikes are definitely in the love/hate spectrum.

Do you have high end bikes? I don't mind my Giant Hybrid getting wet and grimy but my wife is a little more particular about her Cannondale. But after this latest mess, I think I may have convinced her that as long as I cover her gel seat with a waterproof cover, the rest won't be damaged as long as we clean off the grime. We were camped next to 5 cyclists who had their road bikes fully exposed to the weather, so I guess it is possible.

Dana

[dwightdi]

I made custom vinyl coated fabric ones. Waterproof and strong enough to resist constant flex from the wind. If you have a cap on your truck, that is the easiest way to carry them. If you have enough height, removing the front wheel and using a vertical rack is best. It also deters bike thieves.