Bike Bag

[Johan Lombaard]

I am researching the viability of a bag to protect your bike while transporting your bike on a rack. Who would be interested in a 'Bike Bag'? A waterproof bag that reduces scratches, dust and scuff marks while your Bike is being transported on your rack behind the car? i have not made up any prototype but we are in discussion of doing so.

[The Anteater]

I have a roof rack and I do get concerned about stones and things that might get kicked up and hit the bike.

 

I reckon I'd be willing to pay about R300 - R400 for a well designed cover, made from a reasonably heavy duty fabric.

[GLuvsMtb]

I've thought about this, but the drag would increase dramatically if you attempt to "bag" a bike while in transit behind or on top of a car. Think cross winds on top of the car and think achor behind a car. Besides, bike racks are not designed to carry the additional drag caused by such a bag and failure would probably be imminent.

Perhaps some of our clever resident engineers can weigh in as well?

You are far better off cling wrapping your bike if you are worried about damage in transit imo.

[PhilipV]

I'm with Gluv on the drag issue.

if you position the bike correctly and put a rag/noodle in between the bikes you won't have scuff or scratch marks.

[Godzilla]

hi Johan

 

I would deffo be keen on one. i took my new serviced bike into the Cedarberg last december. the last 42km were on dirt road. My mtb was on a Thule rack on the back of my car.

After 42km on the dirt road my MTB was caked in dust. It was a fricken nightmare to clean when i arrived.

My mate and i chatted about a bike bag for this exact reason.

Let me know if you do this. I will place an order for sure if you can show me a few mock ups of what you have in mind.

PhilipV, its not only about the scuff marks. Its about transporting your bike on a dust road and not having to spend an hour cleaning dust out of every nook and cranny when you arrive at your destination.

[GLuvsMtb]

hi Johan

 

I would deffo be keen on one. i took my new serviced bike into the Cedarberg last december. the last 42km were on dirt road. My mtb was on a Thule rack on the back of my car.

After 42km on the dirt road my MTB was caked in dust. It was a fricken nightmare to clean when i arrived.

My mate and i chatted about a bike bag for this exact reason.

Let me know if you do this. I will place an order for sure if you can show me a few mock ups of what you have in mind.

PhilipV, its not only about the scuff marks. Its about transporting your bike on a dust road and not having to spend an hour cleaning dust out of every nook and cranny when you arrive at your destination.

Just enquire with your insurance and bike rack manufacturer whether they would honor any insurance/warrantee claims should you deliberately increase the drag on your bike rack and there is a subsequent failure ad a result.

[PhilipV]

okay I'll take the bait.

cleaning a bike after a ride on the back should never take more than 20mins if it was clean to start with. and that includes your chain.

And the bike will get dusty if you ride it anyway.

 

but what do I know? I'm just a country bumpkin who travels gravel roads with the bike on the back regularly.

[Johan Lombaard]

Thanks for the input Guys, this is what i was looking for, ALL the negatives as well as some positive feedback.

[Bateleur1]

Johan, I would suggest that you do not look into a bike bag as per say but rather something to cover the bike like wrap as mentioned earlier. It should be fairly easy to make something to cover the frame, chain and other essential parts of the bike to protect it and also not increase the drag too much.

[ibruegge]

I usually just take bubble wrap and cello tape and wrap the essentials - zero additonal wind drag, full protection. besides, unless i travel on gravel roads, there is no bigger risk of damaging my bike than me trying to ride it down a mountain...

[Godzilla]

Hi Philip

 

Very difficult where we were without hose pipe or wet wipes etc. It was a proper ball ache, but then us City Slickers are'nt as clever as you country bumpkins. My own fault i suppose as i didnt take bike cleaning gear.

And, i'm lazy after a 3 hour drive.

[Johan Lombaard]

Hi Bateleur1,

 

Yes, it is only the idea to wrap it with a type of bag material that can be re used and is easy to take off and put back and keep the dust and water out aspecially before a race or ride. I dont like climbing on a dirty bike and take a ride, want to feel proud when I ride. If it is dirty afterwards it is ok to go and clean then.

The drag was something new for me to think of after GLuvsMtb brought it up. As i mentioned i am very new at cycling sport. Want to add something positive as well. Thus my reason for posing the question and getting the feel from the experts on 'The Hub'

 

LOL!!!!!

Cheers

[Johan Lombaard]

And one of the only reasons i thought of a bag and not wrapping is for the ease, as wrapping will take some time, but a bag will create drag, so some positive and negatives on both ideas. But maybe with some more thought from All of us we could solve this problem

[Brian Fantana]

I am researching the viability of a bag to protect your bike while transporting your bike on a rack. Who would be interested in a 'Bike Bag'? A waterproof bag that reduces scratches, dust and scuff marks while your Bike is being transported on your rack behind the car? i have not made up any prototype but we are in discussion of doing so.

 

I have driven hundreds of km's with our mountain bikes on towbar carrier of my vehicle. There are no scuff marks from debris or stones hitting the bikes. The only problem is dust, which is easy to overcome, don't lube your chain before you drive on a gravel road. Wash your drivetrain, and wipe it dry the day before. After travelling on gravel road, you just wipe the dust off you chain and cassette and lubricate. Easy.

[PhilipV]

 

 

I have driven hundreds of km's with our mountain bikes on towbar carrier of my vehicle. There are no scuff marks from debris or stones hitting the bikes. The only problem is dust, which is easy to overcome, don't lube your chain before you drive on a gravel road. Wash your drivetrain, and wipe it dry the day before. After travelling on gravel road, you just wipe the dust off you chain and cassette and lubricate. Easy.

That is an excellent explanation of what I meant. it will take about 2 waterbottles of water squirted on the drivetrain to clean it. oh, and a rag. And then you wipe off the dust on the frame and the rest of the bike.

Starting with a clean, unlubed bike is key.

If you really want to make sure it is less cleaning, you can even take off the chain if you have quick links, or if it is a hanging type rack take the wheels off as well.

But then it becomes a ball ache at the destination, and yiu still need to unpack as well. nee wat.

[PhilipV]

 

 

I have driven hundreds of km's with our mountain bikes on towbar carrier of my vehicle. There are no scuff marks from debris or stones hitting the bikes. The only problem is dust, which is easy to overcome, don't lube your chain before you drive on a gravel road. Wash your drivetrain, and wipe it dry the day before. After travelling on gravel road, you just wipe the dust off you chain and cassette and lubricate. Easy.

That is an excellent explanation of what I meant. it will take about 2 waterbottles of water squirted on the drivetrain to clean it. oh, and a rag. And then you wipe off the dust on the frame and the rest of the bike.

Starting with a clean, unlubed bike is key.

If you really want to make sure it is less cleaning, you can even take off the chain if you have quick links, or if it is a hanging type rack take the wheels off as well.

But then it becomes a ball ache at the destination, and yiu still need to unpack as well. nee wat.