Hackster Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 I'd be a little worried about the cling wrap option. It'll work so long as you wrap it around the drivetrain, derailleurs etc, but be wary of wrapping the frame. Not sure what rack you've got, but the ones that clamp onto the towball don't like a lot of aft pressure and if you wrap the frame you're turning your bike into a sail...
T-Bob Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 I have done Karoo trips like yours and that dust gets in everywhere. After 50km on one of those roads you can't even see an inch of paint on your ride and your chain looks like a belt drive.
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 I honestly think it's going to be a losing battle, no matter which way you go. The dust gets in EVERYWHERE, and a cover with even the slightest gap will mean it's tickets. Best option, IMO, is as Iwan suggested with either a rubber mat (yoga mat would work) or thick shadecloth tied between the rear bumper and the end of the bike rack, to prevent stones & mud etc from flying up and damaging the bikes. That will happen if there's nothing there to stop it from doing so. As for the dust - leave them exposed, and wash them down when you get to your destination. At most, take the chain off and do not, under any circumstances, lube anything before you set off. It will be a dirt magnet. If it's just dust you're contending with, it'll be a damn sight easier to just rinse them off when you get to your destination than having to undo the clingwrap and then redo it all the time or whenever you want to stretch the legs. If it rains, that's self cleaning anyway and the dust will stay put on the ground. If there's mud, the yoga mat will prevent the worst of it from caking the bike.... Dust - never. That'll always get in. That's my opinion, anyway..
Baracuda Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 I'd be a little worried about the cling wrap option. It'll work so long as you wrap it around the drivetrain, derailleurs etc, but be wary of wrapping the frame. Not sure what rack you've got, but the ones that clamp onto the towball don't like a lot of aft pressure and if you wrap the frame you're turning your bike into a sail... Surely it will fall within the slip stream. Otherwise a damn good point on the sail effect. If you wrap the frame and wheels, you essentially creating a 1-2 m2 sail. At 120km/h (60knots) that's a lot of force. Enough to make a windsurfer or hobbie cat plane. Sort of like having Bismark pulling on your bike from here to Windhoek. Something will give.Needs to be tightly in the wind shadow of the car.
Spez247 Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 On my last trip to Namibia, I just took the chains off, and packed a small bucket, car shampoo & a sponge. Quickest if you plan on driving every third day.I did have a conveyor belt on a frame, hanging off the towbar, to keep stones and dust from flying around. It was heavy. Made one for a mate, and he took his off halfway through the trip; because he couldn't see the benefit.... When he got back, his Explorer caravan looked like it had taken a direct hit, in Syria.The bikes were always good to go!(We did take our 26r's & left the 29r's at home, as it was our first attempt... )
johanpre44 Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 Sounds like a tricky problem to solve. Why not rent one of those hard travel boxes for the bike and tape it up properly to keep the dust out. I saw the Bozo bike covers at the hakahana trailseker and they seem ideal for regular traveling with the bike rack, but mostly tar.
V12man Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 Heavy duty cling wrap - you can buy rolls at most plastics shops I do have a drivetrain bag that came in a bike box I bought - will have to look and see who makes it if you are interested.The drive train cover came from gearup - assume its the same crowd who make tog bags locally.
IH8MUD Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 Nothing is going to work 100% but the cling-wrap idea is cheap and worth trying. But you'll have to wrap the whole bike. Many people forget the headset and shifters. The dust goes everywhere!!. That is why 99% of us in Windhoek put our bikes in the roof or in the car. Try and get roof rack carriers perhaps, even if you rent or borrow them.You will be glad you did.Just beware of forgetting about the bikes on the roof if you are not used to it.
IH8MUD Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 I see you mention you drive a bakkie? On the Dash we fitted the roof rack carries on top of the back of the bak of a friends Double Cab. The load-bars was fitted to the top of the sides of the bakkie with the carriers on top. This left the inside of bak clean for packing stuff and the bikes was lower than if they were on the roof, but still in the air-stream enough to keep the "reasonably" clean. Just a suggestion depending on you setup. Enjoy.
DJR Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 As said above, make sure you prevent stones and gravel flying from your rear wheels from damaging the bike and rack. Dealing with the dust is easy. Rinse it off if you have a hose pipe or even blow it off with high pressure air at a garage. Stick to dry lube.
ichnusa Posted October 9, 2015 Posted October 9, 2015 I had some severe damage to my carbon rims driving with my bike on a bikerack behind my car. Do as much as you can. Dust is the least of your problems - stones hurt the wheels and bike.
Danger Dassie Posted October 10, 2015 Posted October 10, 2015 Ditto on the Bozo covers, honestly thought it was gimmicky at first. But after talking to Hendrick one of the owner/designers and checking it out first hand, I'm pretty impressed so far actually. Still giving it a proper test out though... http://bozo.co.za/?gclid=CNiuorOqt8gCFQgcwwodVckJJQ
Baracuda Posted October 10, 2015 Posted October 10, 2015 Just some motivation What you don't want . . . That is a beast of a cruiser. It seems like the only dust free spot is on the bull-bar - unless you go through swarm of locusts. Perhaps mount the bikes on the front.
Frohan Posted October 12, 2015 Author Posted October 12, 2015 Thanks for all the replys guys!! I think the bikes will rather go on top and I will make a plan with the solar panels. Its just safer in all aspects, I MUST JUST REMEMBER THEY ARE ON TOP.....!!!!!!!!!! I got this motorbike cover at Game for R160, it fits kind of well over the bike, but the wind will rip it apart very quickly, so at the end I took it back.
Rapunzel Posted October 12, 2015 Posted October 12, 2015 Spent 3 weeks in Namibia this year and very glad we left the bike at home (fitness went out of the window in a big way but that is cheaper to replace than a bike).Don't forget that it's not only dust - if you're going on that delightful salt road north of Swakopmund, words cannot describe how that mud/salt/water mix sticks to everything. Would also advise on the roof or not at all (not even inside the back of your bakkie - the dust gets there too and the bouncing and vibrating is bound to damage something).
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