How To Fit A Bike In A Car?

There are many reasons why you may want to transport your bike in your car rather than on a bike rack. Whether you’re packing it up for a trip or taking it to the shop, knowing how to transport your bike in your car will come in handy.

There are many benefits to knowing how to fit your bike in your car. For example, you can save yourself the expense of buying a bike rack. You’re also less likely to get into an accident and damage your bike or car.

But can you fit a bike into your car? Well, yes, you can! And it’s really easy! Here’s how to fit a bike in your car.

Can You Put a Bicycle in a Car?

You can certainly fit a bicycle into a car with a few tricks and precautions. However, it depends on two factors: the type of car and the type of bike. You should keep in mind that not all bikes fit in a vehicle in the same way.

Also, it’s essential to know how many bikes you want to fit in and how often you need to transport them in your car.

A few disassemblies of the bike and a few adjustments to the handlebars, saddle, and wheels – that’s how you can fit your bike into your car. A quick-release system can save the day if you need to remove one or both wheels.

Still, you’ve to be careful not to squeeze the bike into the car because that could damage both the bike and the vehicle.

How Can You Transport a Bike in a Car?

If you want to fit your bike in a car, there are basically three ways you can transport it in your car. Let’s get right to it.

On The Back Seat

You can transport your bike on the back seat of your car. Whether you drive an SUV or a sedan, there’s enough room in the back seat of your vehicle to carry most bikes if you position and adjust it properly. However, you’ll need to clean your bike’s tires, cogs, and greasy chain before placing it on the seat.

It would be even better if you could put a replacement cover on the seat so that the seat doesn’t get dirty or damaged. An old beach towel or blanket will do the trick if you don’t feel like getting fancy. If you put your bike in the back seat, you can also use the footwell to position one of the wheels. Or you can put the wheel in the trunk.

With Back Seat Folded Down

Some cars have seats that can be folded down to create extra space.

Tip: If you have a large and heavy bike, it’s advisable to ask someone to help you safely get the bike in and out of the space created by folding the seat down.

In The Trunk

Another option is to simply put your bike in the trunk of your car. However, we’ve to stop you at this point because an unsecured cycle can cause damage to your bike and your vehicle. Therefore, you should secure your bike with bungee cords or cable ties.

How To Fit A Bike In A Car?

Fitting a bike in a car is much easier than you think. It’s done step by step as follows:

Related reading: How To Carry Bike In Car?

Clean The Bike

If you’ve been using your bike for a while, it’s probably dirty. With all the dirt and grease accumulated over time, you risk staining your car’s interior if you don’t clean your bike before putting it in your car!

To avoid ruining your car’s interior and seats, clean your bike before putting it in your vehicle. To do this, you should wipe the body of the cycle and the gears with a damp cloth or wipes.

If you take your bike on a trip, you should take wet wipes with you so that you don’t have any problems bringing your bike home.

Remove The Bike Wheels

Although it sounds tedious, removing the bike wheels would be a big help! Smaller cars often can’t accommodate the size of larger bikes because they’re so tall when the wheels are mounted.

Most bikes have quick-release levers that allow you to easily remove and reattach the wheels. Remember to set the lowest gear, so the chain doesn’t stretch before you take the wheels off.

Related reading: Do Bike Racks Damage Your Car?

Fold Down The Rear Seats

Even when disassembled, bikes take up quite a bit of space. That’s why you need to make room for the bike before you put it in the car.

Adjust your rear seats so that the bike fits easily. This is especially handy if your bike is longer than usual or can’t be folded down.

Moving the rear seats forward also frees up extra space in the trunk. So you can stow your bike after wet and muddy bike rides without worrying about getting your whole car dirty.

Keep Gears Away From Seats

To keep your car clean, keep the wheels and gears of your bike away from the seats. Imagine how hard you’d have to scrub to remove all the dirt and grease!

If you’ve just returned from a muddy ride, you may not have time to clean the gears before the car ride. Remember to place them, so the gears don’t touch hard-to-clean areas.

Place The Bike Gear Side Up

Bicycle components – such as the chain, brakes, and derailleur – are pretty delicate. If you put pressure on them, they can be seriously damaged!

The best way to avoid this is to arrange the gears, so they aren’t damaged, i.e., with the gear side up.

Wrap the Bike Pedals

If you don’t wrap your bike pedals, they can easily scratch your car’s interior. However, this can be easily prevented. Just wrap them tightly with a rag or strap so they stay in place and don’t damage anything.

Align The Brakes

As mentioned earlier, the brakes on a bike are pretty fragile. The entire alignment will be wrong if the lever is accidentally pressed and the brakes get squeezed.

Therefore, when transporting your bike, you must not place it so that the brakes are out of alignment. If you want to be on the safe side, putting plugs on the brakes before the trip would be better.

Related reading: How To Fit Two Bikes In A Car?

Use Straps And Bungee Cords

When you put your bike in your car, there’s always the risk that it’ll move too much when the vehicle is moving. This can cause scratches, or the bike parts could even hit a passenger and injure them!

In such situations, it’s best to secure the bike with straps and bungee cords.

Keep A Bike Bag Handy

If you’ve one of those folding bikes, a bike bag is your best friend. Not only will it keep your bike from getting dirty, but it’ll also protect your car. The bike bag prevents you from damaging parts of the bike and keeps it in place.

So, a bike bag can solve all your travel problems. In addition, these bike bags are usually made of nylon and, therefore, waterproof!

How To Fit A Bike In A Car Without Taking It Apart?

Disassembling the bike to fit it in the car is doable but usually inconvenient.

However, there are many folding bikes that can make your life easier. With these bikes, you don’t have to take the whole bike apart and save the time it takes to assemble and disassemble it.

Also, it would be especially helpful if you had a bigger car. A large vehicle with enough storage space for your bike will even save you the time it takes to fold and unfold the bike.

Related reading: How To Carry A Tandem Bike On A Car?

Can You Fit A Bike In The Back Seat Of a Car?

Yes, you can fit your bike in the back seat of your car, but you’ve to take off both wheels.

I have a mid-size German sedan, and I’ve to take off both wheels to fit the car in the back seat. I could remove only one wheel, but the other wheel would rub against the door and dirty it.

You need to consider a few more things before you do that.

First, you must remember that your car seat will get dirty if you don’t clean the bike properly. So before you put the bike in your car, you should wipe it down thoroughly. Also, you should cover the seat with an old beach towel or a bedspread.

Another thing to remember is to secure the bike properly. The more your car moves, the more your bike will move. If it’s unsecured, it can damage the interior of the car.

How To Fit A Bike In A Sedan?

If you have a sedan and can’t fit your bike, the easiest way is to disassemble it. Follow the steps above, and you can easily fit your bike into your sedan. If that’s not an option, you can buy a folding bike to make your life easier.

Getting a bike rack is always an option if you regularly transport more than one bicycle.

Can I Fit A Bike In My Trunk?

Yes, depending on how big your bike is, you should be able to fit it in your trunk.

Your bike will fit in easily if you have a big car or a car with a folding back seat.

You’ll need to disassemble the bike if you have a smaller car. Consider removing one or both wheels and removing the handlebars and seat. My car seat doesn’t fold down, and the bike won’t fit in the trunk even if I remove both wheels. If I also remove the handlebars, I could probably put my Trek 3900 in the trunk, but in this case, it’s easier to put it in the back seat, as I described above.

Consider a folding bike if you really want a bike to fit in your trunk.

Also, don’t forget to secure your bike. Otherwise, the movement in the car could send it flying everywhere.

Conclusion

The question of how to fit a bike in a car is one that many cyclists grapple with, especially when planning for a trip or heading to a repair shop. The good news is, it’s not as daunting as it may seem. With a little preparation and the right approach, you can safely and efficiently transport your bike in almost any car, saving you the cost of a bike rack and the potential risk of accidents.

The key lies in understanding your car’s space and your bike’s dimensions. Whether you’re placing your bike on the back seat, in the trunk, or with the back seat folded down, the goal is to ensure that neither your bicycle nor your vehicle suffers any damage. Cleaning your ride, removing the wheels, and securing it properly are all steps that I cannot emphasize enough. They not only protect your bike and car but also make the process smoother and more manageable.

If you’re someone who often needs to transport your bike, consider investing in a folding bike that fits in your car or a larger vehicle. These options can save you the hassle of disassembling and reassembling your bike each time. But no matter what, always remember to secure your bike properly to prevent it from moving around during the journey.

In my experience, the process of fitting a bike in a car becomes second nature with practice. So, don’t be discouraged if it seems a bit tricky at first. Keep at it, and soon you’ll be a pro at it. Happy cycling and safe travels!