Biking and Fly Fishing

Swattie87 wrote:
wt2 - I recognize where your rig is parked in that second picture...very cool stream. I wouldn't have thought to use the bike for that one...that was probably a bumpy mile and a quarter!
Click to expand...
Yes you do, because that is exactly the distance. It is a bumpy ride, but the first time I made that trip, I walked it. I then thought "there's got to be a better way". lol Sometimes ya need to do these things to get to the better streams.
 
troutbert,

the cheapest route for me is the roof rack. I have the rails. I'd have to buy the cross bars, of course from a dealer as Subaru's are "special" and aftermarket stuff doesn't fit. And then I'd have to buy a roof bike rack, of which there are several option (wheels on, fork mount, etc.). This would total just under $400. I'd be nervous going under limbs and so forth with a bike sitting upright on the top! And as someone else said, it's kind of a hassle loading the thing.

Since it's an SUV with a hatchback instead of a trunk, the bike racks that fit in a car trunk wouldn't work for me. They are relatively cheap, and I used to use one on a Ford Escort. It wasn't the most stable thing in the world, but I chanced it and never killed anyone behind me. It prevented using the trunk for much else, but I was single without family and could load everything in the backseat. It scratched the heck out of the bumper, but it was a beater anyway.

I could put a trailer hitch on the Subaru, which is probably what I'd do if I do anything. There are bike racks which fit on the hitch, bikes ride behind the car. The trailer hitch could be useful for towing other stuff too.

That'd run around $500 for the hitch plus the rack. I've priced it and seriously considered it. But, I don't have much need for a trailer right now, and I always end up saying I'd rather walk a couple of miles now and again than spend $500. Walking is good for me anyway.

In the future, though, as the family grows and we need more space for family vacations, I think a small tow behind trailer makes a fair bit of sense. Better than buying a huge vehicle when that kind of space is only occasionally needed.
 
http://www.saris.com/en/bike-racks/vehicle-racks/trunk-racks/bones-2-bike.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_images.tpl&product_id=28&category_id=7


All of our racks are built in Madison, WI and we’re so confident that this is the only rack you’ll ever need that we’ve covered it by a limited lifetime warranty. quoted from the saris web site.

back in my bike shop days, we sold tons of these, how could you go wrong, light, lifetime warranty, and so adjustable they fit practically anything sedan, suv, wagon, whatever.

also food for thought though roof mount systems may "look cool" they seriously put a hurting to your fuel mileage may as well hook a parachute to your bumper...

oh and it takes about 10 min to set up(or just have a bike shop employee set it up for you , and about 3 min to put on or take off!
 
This is a great topic. I've been thinking about using my mountain bike for fly fishing for about 6 months now. Trying to decide if I get a backpack for my wadders and boots or rig up baskets and brackets. I like the way tomitrout has his bike rigged up. I've mountain biked some pretty bumpy places but never had a back pack or gear strapped on my bike. I would be interested to hear how you make out, if gear stays put.

Do you guys that already do this ever have a problem with people messing with your bike when you leave it in the woods and then go on a long hike along the stream? Do you lock it up or just roll the dice🙂

Thanks.
 
Small cars and bike transport: Trunk racks, when using a rack, are the way that I have gone for 30 plus years. That's what I used with a VW bug, a Mazda 323 hatchback, and now with a Pontiac Vibe (same as Toyota Matrix). Most of the time I do not use a rack (Mazda, Pontiac); I just remove the front wheel from either the Mtn bike or the road bike and slide it on its side into the back (via the hatch back) after having folded the rear seat backs forward. I have seen other individuals in bike clubs do the same thing through a standard trunk on a sedan by just folding the rear seat backs forward and sliding the bike in through the trunk. In those cars folding the seat backs forward provides access to the trunk. Throw an old carpet over the bike on its side in the car and you have a (lumpy) platform for a lot of your stuff, at least the equipment that you can't fit in the many spaces that are left open by the bike's shape.
 
DJBerg, site does not work for me. I mean, it works, but when I try to give it my vehicle type it refreshes, and doesn't save what I put in. So I can't tell what fits my vehicle.

You seem to know a lot about this, so sorry to pick on you. I did not know you could get trunk mount carriers for hatchbacks. Can you still open the back? That would be kind of necessary for us on long trips.
 
pcray,
I've seen alot of accessories lately for Subies on Craigslist. Bike racks, cross bars, yak racks, etc. I believe they are made by Thule.

I've done bike trips along the Lehigh during the warmer months when I can wet wade. It's fun and it can be productive. I tend to skip the less productive water and only hit the areas I've done better in. At times I feel as though I missing out on some decent fish by doing so.
 
pcray1231 wrote:
troutbert,

the cheapest route for me is the roof rack. I have the rails. I'd have to buy the cross bars, of course from a dealer as Subaru's are "special" and aftermarket stuff doesn't fit. And then I'd have to buy a roof bike rack, of which there are several option (wheels on, fork mount, etc.). This would total just under $400. I'd be nervous going under limbs and so forth with a bike sitting upright on the top! And as someone else said, it's kind of a hassle loading the thing.

Since it's an SUV with a hatchback instead of a trunk, the bike racks that fit in a car trunk wouldn't work for me. They are relatively cheap, and I used to use one on a Ford Escort. It wasn't the most stable thing in the world, but I chanced it and never killed anyone behind me. It prevented using the trunk for much else, but I was single without family and could load everything in the backseat. It scratched the heck out of the bumper, but it was a beater anyway.

I could put a trailer hitch on the Subaru, which is probably what I'd do if I do anything. There are bike racks which fit on the hitch, bikes ride behind the car. The trailer hitch could be useful for towing other stuff too.

That'd run around $500 for the hitch plus the rack. I've priced it and seriously considered it. But, I don't have much need for a trailer right now, and I always end up saying I'd rather walk a couple of miles now and again than spend $500. Walking is good for me anyway.

In the future, though, as the family grows and we need more space for family vacations, I think a small tow behind trailer makes a fair bit of sense. Better than buying a huge vehicle when that kind of space is only occasionally needed.
Click to expand...

I gotta Jetta wagon and the trunk style rack works perfect on it...just gotta make sure it's compatible to hang flat off the hatchback...got mine for around $50 at Walmart...
Also got a tow hitch for around $150...
 
Pc- not sure on your personal car, the only hitch would be if you have a spoiler on your car mounted on your hatch like my mrs's forrester. They can get in the way and may not be able to strap it under or over the spoiler. The best bet would be to find a local bike shop(not a ****s or major chain, but a local business that has knowledgeable employees) and have a salesman look at your car. But those things are super adjustable.

As for say going on a trip with the fam and the bikes, and needing in the hatch while you're stopped at a rest stop. You will have to remove the bikes, then you * should be able to given the strap hooks will clear while you open the trunk.
 
I have a removable handlebar bag for lunch and snacks, doesn't get squished, and a fishpond backpack for gear, if needed. Mostly I use my normal set-up, richardson box with danglers and wear my waders and boots.I carry my rod, broken down if it's not a nice trail, or bungee it to the frame. I have a hitch on my land rover that is stable and I've never had a problem. I don't lock my bike, never had a problem.
 
I have been using the bake for the past 3 years. Good use for an old mountain bike. I wear my waders and carry a lock I have been told stories of bike going astray.
 
How are bikes on steep hills? There are several places where there are gated roads that go into trout streams, where you park up on top of the plateau, then there is a fair bit of elevation change from there down to the stream. No problem going down I guess.

But what about coming back up? I assumed that with all those gears, 15 or whatever, you should be able to just shift into a low gear and just leisurely if slowly peddle up the hill.

But I've had a couple people tell me that it's pretty tough, even in the lowest gear, and it's easier just to walk up.
 
I have a rack on the back of my bike which works nicely for securings my boots (or a whatever else) for the ride in. I just attach my bracket to that for pulling the kayak when I need it.
 

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i have been hunting and fishing off of a bike for 15 years. use a deer cart as a trailer for archery hunting/camping, atv gun rack on the handlebars for rods/guns. biggest thing is the weight. if you have a lot of gear stay away from full suspension bikes or get one that the rear shock locks out. go with a seat post shock instead. as for the steep uphill thing if it gets too steep i push it. never has anyone try to steal my $89 target bike. do want to get a trek touring/dual sport bike. like the riding position better than a traditional mountain bike-borrowed a friends and love it. travel mostly on railroad grades and rail trails. hoof it from there in.
 
Troutbert, endurance is what it takes to get up hill. Cycling is like anything else the more practice the better, and with practice comes endurance. Cadence is the key, 90 rpm's on the cranks at all times is best. But that comes in time, the more you ride, the better hou will be, tbe faster you'll get there and tbe fastef you will get up hills.

Oh and those 15(more like 27) are the key to keeping that 90 rpm cadence.
 
Thanks for the info on riding up hills. But is going up a steep hill on a bike easier or more difficult or about the same as walking up that same hill?

Riding a bike 4 miles on a fairly flat grade is much easier and faster than walking 4 miles on the same grade. So, the bike gives you a mechanical advantage.

But is the same true of going up a steep hill? Does the bike give you a mechanical advantage? Or would you be just as well off walking up?
 
Getting all physics like on you. 🙂

It's not so much mechanical advantage. There can be mechanical advantage with the gearing. But the real key is efficiency, more of your movement goes towards forward motion rather than lifting legs and so forth. And you are also taking advantage of momentum. So you expend less energy to go the same distance.

Yes, on a bike on a hill, the same applies. By the top you will have exerted less energy than you would have by walking.

However, it is still more exertion than on level, and you will have done so in a shorter time period, without breathing that much more oxygen, and momentum is a lesser part of the equation. Thus the anaerobic exercise on your muscles may be worse. i.e. the difference between level and hill seems worse, the "burn" is worse, and it may result in muscles that are more sore.

Also, you don't tend to rest as often when on a bike as even a brief stop results in falling. Getting up and down constantly ruins the advantage.
 
I would also agree that you'd be better off walking in more rugged terrain.

As for hauling bikes on cars, I used a trunk rack on my wife's old berretta with no problems.
When we bought her saturn - in 2001 - I didn't want to fool with the trunk rack anymore, and we had a hitch put on at u-haul for around $100. Spent another $100 on a good 4 bike carrier with a hitch mount, and we certainly got our use out of it. I'm still hauling bikes on this car now.
And I gave that old trunk mount to my brother-in-law. He used it to carry bikes on his SUV - with a hatchback - and had now problems
 
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