Charity ride in September, Holyhead to Cardiff. I need to fit 34 bikes in a transit (without scratching any of them). Will they fit?
Alternatives are a 3.5t Luton or 7.5t with tail-lift, but at extra cost.
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Help. How many bikes will I fit in a transit
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Posted 1 year ago #
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Will they fit?
no
Posted 1 year ago # -
nope
Posted 1 year ago # -
probably. don't know about not scratching them. take wheels off each ine, wrap in sheet, line em up then strap them in so they don't move. wheels on top?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hmmm! Your planning on visiting a bike race aren't you?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Could you get the riders to take off their own seatpins and pedals and keep 'em with them. Then just take off all the wheels, wrap everything up in something and I reckon you've got a chance.
Might be an idea to have a test run?
APF
Posted 1 year ago # -
go for the luton
Posted 1 year ago # -
Is that thirty four or three to four? If I read it at thirty four, you will not fit anywhere near that many in a transit.
Load capacity of a LWB Transit is 3.4 x 1.7 x 1.7m giving 9.826 cum.
Given that a bike is approximately 2.0 x 1.0 x 0.45m giving 0.9 cum, you could theoretically fit about 10 in.
As you can't stack them, the floor of the Transit is 5.78sqm and the footprint of a bike is about 0.9sqm, you might get 6 in.
Hope this helps.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Get them all to get bike bag/boxes from halfords and box them up? Might get ~20 in then.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hmm, bu99er.
Yes, it is 34 as in thirty four. No, I'm not attending a race, just a sponsored ride from Holyhead to Cardiff (in preference to our usual route to London).
We did have 70 applicants, but have limited it to the capacity of two minibusses and a van (3 drivers).
Last year we got 9 in a transit with plenty of spare room, but these were lengthways and would ideally have been stacked sideways to fit more in.
We have at least that many bikes in our carpark today (plus my tandem and bike trailer) perhaps a trial run is in order?
Any ideas about other ways to get 34 bikes to holyhead? Train? Courier? Does anyone make a 34 bike boot-rack?
Posted 1 year ago # -
thisisnotaspoon - Member
Get them all to get bike bag/boxes from halfords and box them up? Might get ~20 in then.
Great idea. Pedals off, wheels off, turn bars round and get a load of boxes from Halfords. You could even stack them then.
Posted 1 year ago # -
LWB Hi-cube then possibly, if you can partially disassemble them and stack them. It's going to be a lot of work though. I would go with the luton.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Dan,
Can I ask what charity? Was thinking of doing one of the charity Holyhead to Cardiff rides in September.....
Cheers,
Alex
Posted 1 year ago # -
Most we've done is 12 with kit.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Well I got 13 bikes and 13 riders in my VW T5 3 years ago from the bottom to the top of the Stelvio pass in italy
that was a squeeze but worth it for the off road decent
then as a bonus I got to rag an R32 Rabbit back up for the van
Posted 1 year ago # -
A Luton has internal dimensions of 4.0m x 2.0m x 2.2m high. The wheels are below the bed of the van too, so wheel arches shouldn't be a problem.
You will certainly get more in a Luton, but 34 without scratches could be pushing it. The owners will have to bring lots of blankets and bubble wrap.
Posted 1 year ago # -
With careful stacking you can get 34 in a Luton, I reckon
I helped out at a 24Hr adventure race a year or two back and we got about that number in OK
Depends how prissy people are with their bikes and how much time you've got to get 'em in/out thoughPosted 1 year ago # -
The identification of 68 loose wheels will be fun
Posted 1 year ago # -
Give these people a bell. They organise a load of charity bike events every year and should know exactly how big a vehicle is needed for 34 bikes.
Posted 1 year ago # -
you would be amazed what you can squeeze in when you have to! When I was working in cycle hire we would get hold of box van (luton style) then slap in some 2x4 joists in back to make frame to add second tier of bikes hanging from saddles above the main stacked ones below (remember to slap zip tie round seatpost and wood to stop it jolting off) bit of card (old bike boxes ideal) between each bike secured by anothe zip tie. Lower set get bars spun and top and tailed and card between cant remeber how many it was we got in but it must have been pushing 50. although it will take a good couple of hours to load/unload. Dont even try to take the wheels out it is not fun trying to match tyres and rims on lots of bikes! (we even tried numbering them with marker pen but that took so long it was pointless) e-mail me and I can put you in touch with someone who is still doing that kind of thing and may be able to give better advice
Posted 1 year ago # -
Getting an improbable number of bikes in a van is part of our business!
I would advise:
• Don't take the wheels off - it is really a big task to match them back up.
• Do loosen the stem bolts and turn the bars - nip one bolt back up lightly to keep the bars tidy and stop headset working loose.
• Getting everyone to take their pedals off and carry them themselves would be a very very good idea - pedals is the biggest swear-maker in threading bikes into a small space. Make every rider responsible for putting their own pedals back on.
• A sheet of cardboard between each bike should stop most of the scratching, but some cosmetic damage is almost inevitable - make sure everyone understands that.
• You won't get 34 in a transit without doing a top layer, which probably needs a high-top van. Make a floor of cardboard on top of the lower layer. Be thorough!Posted 1 year ago # -
The charity is EFOD, Engineers for Overseas Development. The money is funding an orphanage and medical centre in Soroti, Uganda.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I normally work at 12 bikes per SWB transit if not taking wheels off.
34? No hope, without SERIOUS disassembly.
Posted 1 year ago # -
how about trying to get a couple of bike trailers. the one my club have takes about 20 bikes i think, so one of those and a transit?
Posted 1 year ago # -
I may know someone with a trailer wait there............
Posted 1 year ago # -
I know a genius who got something like 40 in to a much longer van (Fiat I think) but they were all old knackers whose condition did not matter. Can't see how it could reasonably be done but if Glenp has then I won't argue about it.
But I was jolly sure no bike of mine would have gone in those vans after Pedal for Scotland.
Posted 1 year ago # -
The charity is EFOD, Engineers for Overseas Development.
In that case can't some of these engineers knock you up some kind of Scrapheap Challenge contraption to carry all the bikes home again?
Posted 1 year ago # -
I would just like to point out that 34 is beyond our record, but we don't go for a top layer. But if you had a tall van it might be possible. Especially without pedals - with pedals you'll get them in but never get them out!
On reflection I'd hire the biggest van you can, plus do the bar spinning and pedal removal. Some paint scratching is inevitable, unless you pack with cardboard/carpet/blankets.
Posted 1 year ago # -
mail me for trailer contact.
think its a unused council one and located in south wales.
its bike specific and very big. could be perfect.Posted 1 year ago # -
I got 14 bikes in a Fiat Punto with the seats down so it should be possible, wheels off, seat posts down and pedals off, card board on the floor, stack them alternately with card between and as upright as possible so no weight is transferred.
Zip tie the pedals to the wheels for each bike, card above the lot wheels on top. No bother!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Dan,
That's the one I was thinking of doing. Not sure now..... Have you got numbers together? I provisionally put my name down, but have yet to have further details through from Matthew...
Alex
Posted 1 year ago # -
Alex,
Yes, this is going ahead, but limited by logistics. We had 70 names, which would have required 4 minibusses and the mother of all transits to take the bikes up (even considered a 40' shipping container).When we liaised with SW police, they suggested limiting numbers to avoid the need for marshalls, road closures etc. So we're aiming for the first 34 riders (plus 3 drivers).
As you know, some people we work with are fairly precious about their bikes, hence the importance of getting transport and details right. We have now booked 2no. 17 seaters and a 7.5tonne tail lift lorry. This will take 34 bikes and all our camping kit in a single layer and also has side rails for tying down, bungees etc. Everyone will need to bring a blanket or sheet for wrapping though.
Matt B will issue details this week and a modest deposit will reserve a place. I'm doing the route recce on the 20th in a hire car (209 miles of Welsh rally in a 1.4 nissan note!) with one of my grads reading pace notes. Yes, we have a job number to book it to in work time, and a 4star hotel in Wrexham so we can get an early start!!!
Accommodation for the trip is booked - Valley of the Rocks campsite on the Friday night and a camping barn outside Aberystwyth on the Saturday. Should be awesome.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Really like the sound of it, but a little unsure about day 2 and how I'll be feeling after Day 1....
The last time we loaded a pile of bikes into a trailer we got a load of off-cut carpets (1m*2m or so) that one of the shops were chucking out to wedge between the bikes, so that could be an idea? Could I bring my bike ina bike bag, or would that be too big?
Looks like you've got it sorted with the lorry, but if the minibuses had roofracks, you could probably have got 4 or 5 bikes on each minibus, which would have reduced the load for the Transit...
Posted 1 year ago # -
Why don't you all cycle to the start point!
Posted 1 year ago #
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