How to Fit Two Bikes in a Car?

The average cost to ship a bike is $65. And if you consider two, the price will be $130. Now, that pricing might not seem that high to you. But you should consider that you will not get the bike shipped to your preferred location within the same day.

So, is there a way to transport two cycles quickly and efficiently? Yes! You just have to learn how to fit two bikes in a car.

After that, you can transport the bike with your vehicle within the same day by paying for the gas. Now, you might be thinking about whether it will be hard to accommodate two bicycles in the car or not. Trust us — it’s not. Allow us to prove that to you!

How to Accommodate Two Bicycles in a Car?

It goes without saying that the cars with a small interior space will not cut it. You will need a vehicle that has good enough room to fit two bikes properly. And when you acquire such a vehicle, follow these steps:

Step 1: Clean up the Bikes

Before anything else, you should give the bicycles an excellent clean. Fill buckets with water and mix a good amount of soap. Do not forget to get some sponges, rags, and brushes for cleaning. After getting all these, work on the frame, the tires, and other bike parts.

Make sure that the bike’s surface is dust, debris, and mud-free. The last thing you would want is stains and grimes all over the car’s interior. So, do as much of a thorough clean as you can.

Step 2: Handle the Seats

If you are working with long or large-sized bikes, you might not have enough room for the long seat posts. In that case, you should push the seat into the frame by turning the nuts and screws. But if the seats are already lowered to the maximum point, you can skip this step.

Step 3: Remove the Front Wheels and Work on the Brakes

Now, you will need to work with the front wheels. If you have bicycles with cantilever or rim brakes, you will need to release the cable tension before doing anything else. There will be a lever right in the caliper for those bicycles. But if you have a quick-release mechanism, just pull on the lever to get the wheels loose.

Gently lift the wheels from the fork and pay extra attention to the bike’s calipers while doing so. Then, you should put some brake plugs on the brakes. That will protect them from getting misaligned, which can cost a lot for tuning.

Step 4: Focus on the Chain and Place the First Bike on the Backseat

At this point, you will need to divert your focus to the chains. Put them on the smallest ring, which will protect them from getting damaged. Also, doing so lowers the chances of the chains dangling too much. That will reduce the possibility of the grease getting everywhere.

Then, put some soft clothes in the backseat. These will protect the surface from getting damaged or scratched. Carefully place the first bike inside. Lock the left pedal at 12’o clock to ensure that the cycle has the maximum level of stability.

Step 5: Align the Second Cycle

After the first bike is in place, you will need to put the second one in place. Rotate the cycle vertically and put it on top of the first one. This positioning will ensure that the bicycles do not clash with each other and that the parts do not get damaged during the entire travel period.

Step 6: Work with the Wheels

Put the wheels inside a wheel bag. Then, store them inside the trunk. Alternatively, you can put the wheels inside the backseat to cushion the bicycles inside. However, you need to carefully put them in place. Ensure that the spokes of the wheels are not in an awkward position.

Final Words

See, learning how to fit two bikes in a car is not learning rocket science. It just takes six steps! So, why should you pay a massive price to the shipping companies to transport your bicycles from somewhere close by?