Transport Bike Inside Prius

snowdog650 · 04-04-2007, 01:59 AM

I have a fairly decent (~$2000) Bianchi road bike that I used to transport with a Thule rack on top of my GTI. Of course, that killed fuel efficiency.

I was wondering ... how do you guys secure your bike in the back of your Prius? I really don't want to disassemble the thing entirely, and I certainly don't want any grease stains from the chain or cassette, either.

Any input is appreciated!

V8Cobrakid · 04-04-2007, 02:29 AM

If you tear it down, you can put it in the rear hatch with the seats up.

if you would rather fold the seats and not tear the bike down then you need to make sure gear side is up. Honestly, it doesn't move much. mine just sits there. no grease and no damage to either the car or the bike.

HappyPig · 04-04-2007, 07:56 AM

My Dean goes inside with the seats down and a towel draped over the greasier parts. I also put the fork on the mat that I use to stand on while changing to protect the flat folded seats. It works pretty well, although I've had to spot treat with some orange degreaser a couple times.

subarutoo · 04-04-2007, 11:13 AM

I put towels on the carpet, and just lay my Specialized Allez right down, gear side up. I have gotten a few tire marks on the seat backs, so a towel over the bike tires will protect that. Piece of cake. No tie down needed. The under floor bin in the trunk is good for shoes, gloves, etc, though my helmet won't fit there. It is so much better than a rack for only one bike. I've heard you can do two inside, but you'd probably need to remove some wheels to do that.

hyo silver · 04-04-2007, 11:21 AM

I lay a big plastic tarp down first, which protects against grease and mud. Instead of using oil on the chain, I boil it in paraffin every so often. The bike is far cleaner, and I don't get so filthy when I fix a flat.

skruse · 04-04-2007, 12:07 PM

As part of my daily commute I transport my Trek 5200 inside the Prius. Rear seats folded down, metal bar removed and left at home. Rear seats and rear deck covered with a large vinyl heavy duty SUV liner. Bicycle placed and retrieved through rear liftback, chain up. No modifications (such as removing front wheel) on bicycle. Helmet, shoes, water bottle, gloves, jacket placed in small alcove at rear. Works great! No mess.

snowdog650 · 04-04-2007, 03:55 PM

Very cool ... thanks for the input, folks. It just goes to show that simple = good.

**Tideland Prius** · 04-04-2007, 06:53 PM

I just put the my friend's bike inside with the seats folded. A tarp or large garbage bag will do. Makes cleaning up the dust/leaves/sand much easier as you just carefully remove the bag and throw the dust outside.

Warwind · 04-04-2007, 09:22 PM

I just did this for the first time yesterday. I put a plastic tarp down in the back, and I had to take the front wheel off the bicycle to get it in. It wouldn't go in with it attached.

I have a Trek 7500--a hybrid bike in a hybrid car.

Allannde · 04-04-2007, 10:55 PM

Hi snowdog650

This is from John's web site.

04-04-2007, 11:13 AM	#4
subarutoo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chatsworth, CA Posts: 1,063 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I put towels on the carpet, and just lay my Specialized Allez right down, gear side up. I have gotten a few tire marks on the seat backs, so a towel over the bike tires will protect that. Piece of cake. No tie down needed. The under floor bin in the trunk is good for shoes, gloves, etc, though my helmet won't fit there. It is so much better than a rack for only one bike. I've heard you can do two inside, but you'd probably need to remove some wheels to do that. __________________ Chatsworth, CA 06 Prius, White, Option 6, Visual Garage Shark Fin Antenna, BT Chassis Plate, BFG G-Force Sport 205-60 15 NO trim rings, Scangauge II. Other cars: '96 Subaru Outback, '00 Subaru Impreza RS

04-04-2007, 10:55 PM	#10
Allannde Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 433 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Hi snowdog650 This is from John's web site. Attached Thumbnails

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04-04-2007, 01:59 AM	#1
snowdog650 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 165 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I have a fairly decent (~$2000) Bianchi road bike that I used to transport with a Thule rack on top of my GTI. Of course, that killed fuel efficiency. I was wondering ... how do you guys secure your bike in the back of your Prius? I really don't want to disassemble the thing entirely, and I certainly don't want any grease stains from the chain or cassette, either. Any input is appreciated!

04-04-2007, 02:29 AM	#2
V8Cobrakid some guy... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,559 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	If you tear it down, you can put it in the rear hatch with the seats up. if you would rather fold the seats and not tear the bike down then you need to make sure gear side is up. Honestly, it doesn't move much. mine just sits there. no grease and no damage to either the car or the bike.

04-04-2007, 07:56 AM	#3
HappyPig Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lyme, New Hampshire Posts: 24 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	My Dean goes inside with the seats down and a towel draped over the greasier parts. I also put the fork on the mat that I use to stand on while changing to protect the flat folded seats. It works pretty well, although I've had to spot treat with some orange degreaser a couple times.

04-04-2007, 11:21 AM	#5
hyo silver awaaay Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 7,401 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 32	I lay a big plastic tarp down first, which protects against grease and mud. Instead of using oil on the chain, I boil it in paraffin every so often. The bike is far cleaner, and I don't get so filthy when I fix a flat.

04-04-2007, 12:07 PM	#6
skruse Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Great Central Valley, Fresno, CA Posts: 1,132 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #6 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	As part of my daily commute I transport my Trek 5200 inside the Prius. Rear seats folded down, metal bar removed and left at home. Rear seats and rear deck covered with a large vinyl heavy duty SUV liner. Bicycle placed and retrieved through rear liftback, chain up. No modifications (such as removing front wheel) on bicycle. Helmet, shoes, water bottle, gloves, jacket placed in small alcove at rear. Works great! No mess.

04-04-2007, 03:55 PM	#7
snowdog650 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 165 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Very cool ... thanks for the input, folks. It just goes to show that simple = good.

04-04-2007, 06:53 PM	#8
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,909 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	I just put the my friend's bike inside with the seats folded. A tarp or large garbage bag will do. Makes cleaning up the dust/leaves/sand much easier as you just carefully remove the bag and throw the dust outside.

04-04-2007, 09:22 PM	#9
Warwind Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Hedgesville, WV Posts: 137 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I just did this for the first time yesterday. I put a plastic tarp down in the back, and I had to take the front wheel off the bicycle to get it in. It wouldn't go in with it attached. I have a Trek 7500--a hybrid bike in a hybrid car.