Hi everyone,

i have a 2011 Honda Fit that my wife and use to move our bikes around for rides/vacations. We love the 2011 Fit because we can put two bikes inside, vertically (front wheels off) which leaves space in the middle to put luggage and such. it's a perfect solution.
Sadly, the later Fits got a slightly lower ceiling height and different radius on the top corners, and now my bike doesn't fit anymore! I'd seriously love to update our Fit with a later model (before they vanish completely cuz america can't seem to drive small cars), but i can't do that unless i can find a way eek about 40" clearance from the lowered back seat to the ceiling of the car.

Anyone know how doable it would be and whether there are people who'd know how to move some plastic around to get me the space i need? (provided of course the sheet metal allows for it).

 

Can you remove or lower your seatpost? Or is it an integrated one?

Or, what if you used two planks of wood? First plank is long enough for the front forks to mount on (facing toward the rear of the car). The second plank in the middle of the car with two vertical thing-a-ma-jigs (like a truing stand) to hold the rear of your bike on the dropouts.

 

yeah good thoughts on the seatpost, i've explored those thoughts as well. Removing the seatpost each time introduces some risk - having the tool to do it, carbon seatposts won't like overtightening so the process will need caution each time (spose i could have a small torque wrench always), and height matters in keeping the fit of the bike right so i'd rather not mess with it much.
i have considered a dropper post on my road bikes though... could explore further

yeah i get your idea too do the planks/mounts to hold the rear of the bike lower, but that means removing both wheels too... and all this gets far less convenient doable though of course! just looking to make it easy like my current setup

 

I hear you on keeping the process simple.

I used to use a similar mounting system with the front fork and rear seats lowered. Later, I would put my bike across the second row - it would fit, but just barely (56-58cm bike). I still had to remove the front wheel, but it allowed me to keep the rear cargo area for only cargo.

I still think removing the seatpost is the easiest method. Bring some masking tape, or even a rubber band, and use it to mark the level at which you are inserting the post. As a backup, use tape measure to record that reading. And torque wrenches are fairly inexpensive - definitely get one. It does not have to be Park Tools - I have one that I use from Speedplay for my pedals that is 5 Nm. I think that is generally the number for seatpost clamps.

 

wow i have only 54cm as the largest and i can't fit the bike in my Fit width-wise! certainly can't do two when traveling with my wife. tried all that again the other day just to verify... maybe newer fits would have more space but i think i remember needing more than felt possible.

i'll poke again at droppers perhaps. i could do the electrical tape/rubber band/tape measure stuff for sure and i already have a decent enough small torque wrench...it just won't all work for either of the two steel bikes i ride due to the fragility of the campagnolo seatpost bolts and the need to tighten those to JUST under the point of breaking in order to not have slippage. that's too touchy to do all the time for sure...

really wish i could bribe honda to either give a touch more height inside OR bring over that cycling specific touring civic which would do the same thing...