How to Transport Mountain Bikes

Mountain bikers are often faced with the problem of transporting their bikes to the trailhead or destination. Some people find it easy to just roll out of the house and be on the dirt in minutes. Others like me will need to drive about 20-30 minutes to reach the most fun trails in the region. It is obvious that a bicycle is an unusual object to transport. As many bikes are expensive, we want the best way possible to transport them. There are five main ways to safely get your bike on the vehicle: hitch racks and roof racks, tailgate pads, roof racks, trunk mounts, bed mounts/axle mountings, and hitch racks. Each option has its own pros and cons, and each is different in terms of price. Let’s take a look at each option.

Tailgate pads:

Tacoma trucks, tailgate pads, Tacoma truck flannel button ups, craft coffee and craft beer. These are like PB&J. These aren’t jokes. A tailgate pad is the best way to transport your mountain bike. The bike can be loaded in about 10-20 seconds using a strap attached to the downtube. It’s fast, easy, and does a great job of keeping the bike safe. Many riders use this to do shuttle laps every day. Simply throw it over your tailgate and you’re good to go. The prices range from $100 to $170. Most bikes now come with extra padding that can be used to keep it from turning sideways or to secure it in place. Trucks can also have backup cameras, and access to the tailgate latch through a window. The first problem is that you must have a truck. This is not an option if you don’t own a truck.

Hitch Bike Racks

The simplest way to transport multiple bikes on your vehicle is with a hitch bike rack. With any of these racks, you can easily transport bikes behind your vehicle as long as there is a hitch. Pick the right size hitch receiver and ensure that your hitch can handle the weight of the bikes you wish to transport.

Roof Racks

Roof racks are the next option. Roof racks are somewhere in the middle of all viable options for transporting bikes. Roof racks can sometimes be the only way to transport your bike. Roof racks are a great way to transport your bike safely from one spot to another. It depends on the vehicle you own, but a roof rack can be made if there are existing bars. A bike tray is all you really need. Sometimes you will need the whole system, which can be expensive once you get the foot pads and bars. Sometimes the feet and bars can only be used on a select few cars. It is very similar to using a hitch rack to get the bikes on the roof rack. Place the bike in the tray, and then tighten the arm around the tire.

Trunk Racks:

The trusted trunk rack. These racks are inexpensive, can fit in a variety of cars and can be used to transport bikes. It is not the best choice, but it is on our last list. These racks are affordable, starting at $100 for a basic rack and ending at $350 for a more expensive rack. The racks with better straps and pads will fit better on your car and provide more protection to prevent damage. These racks are easy to install, don’t weigh much, and they are located at the back of your car so that the bikes are not in direct wind.

Last Thoughts

While some people don’t think about how they get their bikes around, I believe that you should. If you are like me, and see your bikes more as art and a tool than a vehicle, it’s important to maintain them. It is essential to have a reliable way to transport your bike. You can transport all types of bikes like hybrid bikes, mountain bikes, exercise bikes, rocky mountains mtb. You have many options: the easy to use tailgate pad, hitch, trunk, roof racks and modular bed/axle mounting.There are many options for transporting your bike to the trailhead, or on a weekend trip.