Bike rack

Bike racks. I took the view that one mounted on a tow bar offers the best flexibility. I fitter a 'Manufactures' tow-bar to the 1.6fsi and it has worked brilliantly. The tow-bar is removable so no trace to the un-trained eye. I carry to large bikes. The Rack cost about £50 and has been fine.
 
jtmalmesbury said:
Bike racks. I took the view that one mounted on a tow bar offers the best flexibility. I fitter a 'Manufactures' tow-bar to the 1.6fsi and it has worked brilliantly. The tow-bar is removable so no trace to the un-trained eye. I carry to large bikes. The Rack cost about £50 and has been fine.
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Yes I think this is the best option but currently I don't have a tow bar. Not sure how much to get one fitted but certainly worth considering depending how much I want to carry the bike around. Initially I just need a way to collect the bike from quite a distance. Wondered if I remove rear seats, false floor etc and perhaps the bikes front wheel if I could squeeze the bike inside?
 
Nigel245 said:
Wondered if I remove rear seats, false floor etc and perhaps the bikes front wheel if I could squeeze the bike inside?
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That was the whole thinking behind my originally getting an A2 back in April, as something to transport my bike in to ride in other places. Then the A2 bug bit and the bike hasn't been inside it at all until I finally got round to a test fit the other day - it's still yet to be taken anywhere! As you say, rear seats and false floor out, and the front wheel will have to come off.
 
Proghound said:
That was the whole thinking behind my originally getting an A2 back in April, as something to transport my bike in to ride in other places. Then the A2 bug bit and the bike hasn't been inside it at all until I finally got round to a test fit the other day - it's still yet to be taken anywhere! As you say, rear seats and false floor out, and the front wheel will have to come off.
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During your test fit was there any particular knack to getting the bike in? Depends I suppose on your size of bike. Mine is likely to be a 60/61cm size frame but I have to admit during the last 5 years its amazing what you can actually get in the back of these cavernous cars:D
 
I went with bike flat and chain side up, back wheel in first behind front passenger seat (move forward to suit), top tube diagonal towards drivers rear corner. You may have to pick it up with the oily bits towards you. I ride 56 and 58cm frames so slightly smaller, but I don't think it will make that much difference.
 
I regularly put my commuter bike in the back of mine, but it needs the rear seat backs folded, passenger seat right forward and front wheel off the bike. I don't remove the seats of false floor, but it's a real squeeze. The other downside is that it's difficult to avoid knocking, gouging and otherwise inflicting a dozen minor insults to the interior. On my long list of things to do is to fit a tow bar a) so I can get the dinghy in the water again and b) carry the bike without ruining the interior. It's not great to put a dripping muddy bike on a cold February night on top of my nice black leather interior. I've got an oldish Atera tow ball-mounted rack for 3 bikes (https://www.atera.de/en/atera-strada-evo.html). The neat thing about it is that it can be hinged away from the car (with or without bikes mounted) so you can open the tailgate without having to take the whole thing off.
 
Roof bars seem like a better bet. Significantly cheaper than a towbar (towbar is £300 plus fitting) and IMO safer than rear mounted(though I have no experience with the Paulchen unit). I use a Thule wingbars setup, most of which is easy to find used(only the A2 fitting kit will need to be new as it's car specific).
 
Roof bars are what you need if you ride with your partner and or friends. Otherwise for yourself a dismantled bike goes easily in to an A2.
Be careful to keep the bike oil off the car though.
 
This is how I transport my bike. I have to remove one rear seat but with a couple of bungee chords it works fine for me. My road bike has shorter wheelbase so fits in easier
 

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Nigel245 said:
Yes I think this is the best option but currently I don't have a tow bar. Not sure how much to get one fitted but certainly worth considering depending how much I want to carry the bike around. Initially I just need a way to collect the bike from quite a distance. Wondered if I remove rear seats, false floor etc and perhaps the bikes front wheel if I could squeeze the bike inside?
Click to expand...
I have removed my rear seats and false floor and get a MTB is with wheel removed. As for fitting a tow bar. Order the kit from Frankfurt and then get a local man to fit.
 
I can get a 54cm road bike in mine complete without even having to take the front wheel off. Just with rear seats removed :)
Mountain bike is another matter - front wheel off and pretty straight forward also
 
Facing a similar issue, but with2 or 3 bikes, so no way will go inside. No tow bar or roof rack. Reading through this, hatch strung bike rack seems to be out of the question.. oh well will have to use partners car instead.. she will be pleased with me.. NOT :)
 
Nigel245 said:
Hi,
Anyone used a bike rack on their A2? I'm looking at buying a bike very soon but need a bike rack to collect it. I've had a look on ebay and these seem to be popular below and for not much money but does anyone have any experience of these?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FOR-AUDI...400949?hash=item4b375d2ef5:g:DT0AAOSwTIhadkjK

Thanks
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Hi, I just read the description of the eBay rack. There is a mention of rear spoiler. I would make sure that this rack fits the A2. I can't be sure but it doesn't look like.
 
GordonS said:
Facing a similar issue, but with2 or 3 bikes, so no way will go inside. No tow bar or roof rack. Reading through this, hatch strung bike rack seems to be out of the question.. oh well will have to use partners car instead.. she will be pleased with me.. NOT :)
Click to expand...
Towbar is horribly expensive (particularly if only to allow bike carrying) though roof bars are relatively cheap (my Thule wingbars set was under £100) and much safer than tailgate mount(which I've never liked). Roof bars also very flexible for carrying various items...
IMG_20180916_140806.jpg
 
damadgeruk said:
Towbar is horribly expensive (particularly if only to allow bike carrying) though roof bars are relatively cheap (my Thule wingbars set was under £100) and much safer than tailgate mount(which I've never liked). Roof bars also very flexible for carrying various items... View attachment 44468
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Hi. Can you tell me the part number of this thule kit?
Thanks steve
 
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