How to get the mountain bike into the car


Removed wheels, handle-bar pedals, handlebars and front fork. Brake calipers held in open position with some pieces of metal inserted because they can't be opened again (without special tools) if the brakes were to be pressed!


All pieces, with the wheels.


Very fortunately one 29" wheel fits perfectly on top of the luggage in the boot!


The seat is protected with a blanket and I built a simple construction out of a large cardboard box which then encloses the seat and footwell so that the bike frame can't do any damage.
There is a rucksack with my laptops and also the car's cover in its bag cushioning further so that nothing is pocking into the seat anywhere.
Finally the second wheel is simply rested on top of the everything with a couple of cords to get it into the best position and stabilise it from rocking or moving when cornering; it is just below window height so doesn't obstruct the view.
When the door is closed I simply put a thick pieces of foam between it and the wheel so that it applies some pressure to tension the cords. The wheel doesn't actually contact with any car leather in any way.


This was actually taken after removing the rucksack and loosening the cords so the wheel is not as flat as when driving but the pink foam can just be seen which was used to give the door final protection.


Although the wheel is not as flat as when actually driving this gives an indication of what it looks like from outside - there was no contact with it during driving (elbow was always below it), even when driving hair-pin bends at speed.