bike rack on a Fiat spider

[TX82FIAT]

Folks, has anyone come up with a cool bike rack for a spider? Looking at the conventional options I hate to put a clumsy trunk mounted rack on a spider with a luggage rack. I am thinking about building something with a piece of 2in X 8in X 3.5ft wood and some spare parts lying around the garage that will fasten to and sit on top of the luggage rack. The best why I can describe it would be similar to what you see on roof racks with the bicycle facing forward. The front wheel would be off the bike and the bike would be held in place using a front fork mounting bracket (about $15 - $20) and strapping the back wheel to a V shaped piece of aluminum mounted to the wood. The wood would be secured to the luggage rack. I would leave room for the convertible top to go up so the rear bicycle wheel would hang over the truck lid slightly. All would be removable. Weight of board and Bike should not exceed 35 pounds preventing damage.

Any thoughts?

[4babycar]

Not mine but I have seen this picture before.

[narfire]

I guess having the rear wheel on the ground and as you suggested front tire off and forks mounted onto the rack somehow?
The rear bearings would have to stand up to higher speeds than what most could peddle unless a short hop to the trails.
I was thinking of the the same for my car,but I just stuff the mt. bike in the back of the VW or take the wifes tracker with a bike rack.
Love to see your final method and pics.

[TX82FIAT]

built it last week. cost $31.

[TX82FIAT]

I'm having issues posting pictys since I'm use shares space on a hotmail account. Below is a link to some pictures of my current white FIAT and one from a while back of my red 83.

http://cid-0d62debf96847a60.photos.live ... .aspx/FIAT


hopefully this works. Sorry, do not use oscial chat ot other public services other than the hotmail account. If there is a better way to directly upload a picture please let me know and I'll give it a shot. Thanks, Ray

[narfire]

That looks great. What were you using to hold the wood down? Will the bike tilt if/when taking corners at fiat speed

[TX82FIAT]

The bike was incredibly stable at about 85 *speedo pegged". The base is a piece of 2"X8"X40" wood. I took 4 additional 1" X 2" X 12" slats and drilled them into the bottom of the wood to line up with the chrome bars. One additional slat was mounted on the top to create an angle for the aluminum rear wheel guide and sit against the top rear chome bar on the luggage rack. Three screws in the bottom of each slat to attach it to the main board from the bottom. The board is unable to move side to side as long as there is down pessure to hold it against the tubes. For security I attached three bungee cords across the top of the wood to help hold it down. I considered the downward angle of the bike getting the front forks as close to the trunk lid essential to good stability with wind coming over the windshild. The more wind stable in theory. I would not recommend going sideways on a corner. However, going fast and straight it does not move. The one expensive part of the set up is a SARIS front fork mount $21. The wood is measured so I can put the roof up as well. I have not had to put the roof up yet while driving but would only imagine that would not be an issue for stability either.

[TX82FIAT]

http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p ... jpg?psid=1

Custom bike rack on fiat spider

[redcars]

I built a reciver that clamps onto my tube bumpers. I use a reciver bike rack with it. I don't have a piture of it. If you are intrested I will take a picture and see if I can post it.