All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

Yeah, on a short bed 2 full size bikes are about max in the camper. You'll need a rack or hitch combo for more. You can get a hitch rack for 4, then more can be added to a rack system. Orrrrr, throw a pad over the tailgate and get up to 6 across.

In the summer, 90% of the time I use a hitch rack for ease of use.
If I'm planning a lot of off-roading with bikes, I either throw them in the camper (softopper), or throw the rack on the back and the bikes on trays.
In the winter, rack is on, trays, and a Thule box for waterproof storage. I can try and dig up some pics...

 

I was toying with the idea of a one up hitch rack, it’s a little pricey though.
I couldn’t get my tailgate pad setup to work with the shell on, my bikes are too tall. I have two Yakima fork mounts however I always forget I have stuff on my roof and scrape in parking structures... :/

 

Here is my Bike and Taco! Thanksgiving ride.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Since I sold my hard shell and got a soft roll-up tonneau I either roll up the tonneau and use a tailgate pad(day trips or more than 2 bikes) or use our 1Up for the bikes and get secure dry/clean storage under the tonneau. But I’m tempted by a SoftTopper. On a short bed, can you really fit two decent sized 29-er and/or longer modern trail bikes inside the SoftTopper? The rear window slope seems pretty angled, like my ARE Z Series which was a tight squeeze for two. I’ve also been tempted by some of the taller, boxier shells like a DCU or the RLD or AluCab, but I do like quick conversion to an open bed for non-bike stuff. Do you have any pics with bikes inside ?

 

Who would drop $1100 on a 2019 chameleon D+. I have been wanting a FS but just don’t have 3k to drop on a bike. So I am trying to snag this while traveling.

 

Sounds like a decent deal to me. Looks like that’s $1800 new

 

Spent today teaching the nephews some single track basics and encouraging their inner daredevils.

 

Happy a thanksgiving all!
Went for an early morning ride. Dropped the pressures low, pedaled from the front door to the foothills. Beautiful day.
Hope everyone had a great day.

 

A good hitch rack is worth every penny. $700 to protect my $16k bikes is kinda worth it.

I don’t, but I don’t put mine in how most people do. I actually put the first bike in with the rear tire in the passenger side front, fork right next to the wheel well. Second bike opposite. That gives plenty of room for gear. Never tried, but it seemed like I could get a third in there too.
All bikes have modern long geo (1180-1220 wheelbase), 29ers, 150-170 forks.
The Softopper is really easy to use. No regrets.

 

Love my Chameleon and really, really love the frame color. Kinda wish the Tacoma came in that color.

 

I tried carrying mine forks front, forks rear, and one each way. Forks rear put the bars too close to the rear glass, even with just one bike oriented that way, and forks front was a hassle crawling in to attach the axle to the fork mount, though fit-wise it worked. With the ST it may be easier to reach in the sides to get the bikes in (I didn’t have windoors in my shell). Anyway, if you have pictures that would be great but it sounds like the ST works well. Since I have a hitch rack like you, I would probably only put the bikes inside occasionally and could put up with crawling in to do it. Thanks.

 

what cage are you running on the bottom? water bottle ever fly out on rough trails? nice bike, and truck!

 

This is how happy riding makes me.

I got out for a Thanksgiving and Black Friday ride.




And the back side of a pee-wee double.

 

THIS, is what riding bikes is about. Smiles for miles.

 

$7 Kinetic by Kurt Twenty20 Bottle Cage, Red

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TCQR8GC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Never had an issue with losing a bottle, even on the Front Range, which can be a little chunky.

I'm not a fan of carrying a bottle there, but sometimes its a necessity. I think Santa Cruz could have fit two inside the frame if they moved the one on the down tube up a little, even on my medium. Like so: https://dirtragmag.com/articles/two-fish-unlimited-quick-adapters

 

anyone BMXing???? we riding 29er BMX here in dallas/houston

 

Anybody have a recommendation of a slimmish profile helmet that doesn’t look like a giant mushroom? I have a small head, size 7 fitted hat. Currently running a Troy Lee Designs A1, which fits well and isn’t terribly goofy looking on my pin head. Just thinking it may be time to retire that lid.

As the thread title states; bikes and tacos.

 

I don’t know your definition of goofy, but my wife and I both wear Bell Super2’s, or maybe she has a Super3. Both MIPS. She wore a TLD A1 before that, and I think slightly preferred it’s venting but the fit of the Bell and TLD are similar, and good. She won a Kali helmet in a raffle but it didn’t fit her fairly small head very well.

 

I have the Bell Super 3 MIPS and love it. Super versatile with the removable chin bar depending on your riding and fits nice. I don’t know that I’d use it for DH, but anything up to Enduro you’re good to go

 

I’ve seen some friends take some pretty hard falls to the face with those. One of my friend’s helmet was destroyed but he walked away without a concussion.