General Panda's & Bicycles

[SB1500]

Just wondering if any of you carry a bicycle or a few bicycles on your Pandas and what type of racks you have, and your opinions and tips on the topic.

Minimum requirement is two bikes.

Not sure which is preferable;-

Roof rack system
Tailgate system


And is there any type of long term solution or do you pretty much only practically have them attached if and when bikes are being carried or could you be lazy and leave them on the car safely enough?


Sick of having to take the front wheel of the bike and folding the seats on the Panda down to get it in.. It's a tight fit. One that isn't doing the bike or the car any good and I love them both so a solution must be sought this summer

 

[rmachermad]

Put the panda on a trailer and tow it with the bikes?







Sorry, not much help. On topic, I saw a Panda with bikes on a roof rack last year. I think it would be pretty scary given how the Panda is normally in windy conditions.

 

[jrkitching]

I've tried many ways of carrying bikes over the years and have come to the conclusion that there are only two safe ways of doing it; either dismantle the bike and put it in the boot, or fit a towball mounted cycle rack such as this one. Not cheap, plus you've got to add the cost (including any insurance implications) of fitting a towbar.

I've bought (and returned!) a number of different tie-on systems, but I've never found one that I believed wouldn't damage either the car, the bike, or both.

The only way I've found of carrying a cycle in a Panda is to take both wheels off & put it in the back.

Personally I'd consider looking for a couple of secondhand foldup bikes.

 

[rick500]

i have a strapon rack that clips to the tailgate very safely and only takes a couple of moments to take off and put in the boot while cycling so not left cliped on that easily takes two bikes and has done no damage to three different cars TOYOTA NOAH, SUZUKI ALTO, FIAT PANDA 1.1 2010 so i would say clipon the tailgate ones are great

 

[ytareh]

If you have a quick release front bike wheel inside is by far the best .Just protect paint with a blanket .

 

[SB1500]

If you have a quick release front bike wheel inside is by far the best .Just protect paint with a blanket .

It is quick release, but it's a tight fit and we've two bikes for the two of us so two won't fit in the Panda :-/

 

[Dan Friel]

Here we go.. no problem!

 

[TheNorthernMonkey]

Ive got Thule carriers that attach to the roof rack.

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-racks/roof-mounted-bike-racks/thule-freeride-532-cycle-carrier

Once adjusted, the carriers take about 2 minutes each to attach to the roof rack, and a further 2 minutes to attach the bikes.

You could leave them on the car, but they whistle slightly above 60, so I take them off. It really doesnt take very long, and they hang up in the garage.

At a push you could probably fit 3, if the middle one pointed backwards, but 2 fits easily

 

[Dan Friel]

These are the ones I've got... can be found cheaper elsewhere. Recommended.

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bik...acks/thule-proride-598-roof-mounted-bike-rack

Also used a really cheap one as an emergency third rack, and that was ok.. needed some drilling to fit the Panda. Used standard Fiat roof bars.

I've now got a car without proper roof rack fixings, and I've adopted this:

http://road.cc/content/review/154825-seasucker-talon-bike-rack

It's excellent also.

 

[SB1500]

Thanks guys, awesome replies and advice!

If you're reading through this and have more to add, please do!

I'll be revising the thread in a month or two when I go out to buy a bike carrier

 

[Paraicj]

I've been putting my M/L framed road bike in the back with the seats down, very impressed with the space, I can still have a passenger. But, like you, 2 bikes is just a step too far. I've ordered roof bars (although they ain't pretty) from the Fiat site, and will invest in the Thule bike racks I think.

My brother was stopped by the police and told to remove his bikes from an adjustable rear rack as they obscured the lights/number plate (BMW 3 series). Sounds a bit picky to me, but can't be bothered taking the chance.

 

[Aosta]

From what I’ve seen on the threads the Thule roof bike rack seems to be most consistently recommended. Anyone got any comments/advice on it? Anyone tried other bike rack set-ups? Thank you very much!

 

[DaveMcT]

i have a strapon rack that clips to the tailgate very safely and only takes a couple of moments to take off and put in the boot while cycling so not left cliped on that easily takes two bikes and has done no damage to three different cars TOYOTA NOAH, SUZUKI ALTO, FIAT PANDA 1.1 2010 so i would say clipon the tailgate ones are great

Unless you have a roof spoiler.

The best option (IMO) is a tow bar type. You do not "have" to have a tow ball just use the bike carrier socket alone.


Bicycles are not heavy and offer minimal resistance to side winds. After all they are just tubes and wires wrapped around lots of holes. So roof rack types are ok - just drive sensibly. But do get good strong racks the bikes can stand on. The upside down type are rubbish as seat posts can easily work loose.


If you have electric bikes just leave the car at home or use a trailer.

 

[Cinq999]

I fitted a tow bar and use a 2 bike rack on the back.

I used to have the bikes on the roof, but found it affected the fuel consumption too much.