Good thing I installed this heavy duty bike/ski rack

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678) 03/10/2020 at 10:34 • Filed to: None

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Since I took the Miata to the airport for my ski trip, I happened to have that car when I went to go pick up my bike from the shop. So instead of making an extra trip all the way home for the other car, I just crammed everything in the Miata. Good thing I have a roll bar bike rack!

This had to look hilarious going down the road. Surprisingly its actually pretty secure even though I didnt have any bungee cords with me. The seat belt is holding the bike down and gravity is generally doing the rest. With some proper tie downs it would have canyon carved no problem. And the added wind noise from the bike is negligible considering the open roof.

Anybody who says Miatas aren’t practical clearly aren’t trying hard enough!

atfsgeoff > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 03/10/2020 at 00:40

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It’s amazing what you can fit into (onto?) a convertible.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > atfsgeoff 03/10/2020 at 00:57

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Yeah I have to remove both wheels to fit the bike into my Subaru. Silly sedans! 

Nom De Plume > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 03/10/2020 at 02:41

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Cue footage of a pro (notably Sean Kelly standing next a notably despondent and soon to be ex-wife stating his priorities as the bike, the car , and then his wife) stuffing a race frame and wheels onto the luggage shelf in his 911 sitting in place of pride directly in front of the entrance of a luxury hotel.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 03/10/2020 at 06:34

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Do the rear seats not fold down?  Or is it the tall handlebars that prevent loading?

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/10/2020 at 10:36

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The rear seats do not fold down. I have not tried removing the seat and seeing if the handle bars will fit through there though. Too much other stuff in the trunk to fit the bike in there without effort anyways. I do want to try emptying the trunk and seeing if it will fit like that in theory anyways. 

facw > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/10/2020 at 10:40

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Yeah, that surprised me. I was able to get my flat bar bike into my S40/S60 just by taking of the front wheel and folding down the seats. I’ve only had to take off both wheels to fit two bikes in the back, or to fit one just in the passenger compartment.

Aremmes > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 03/10/2020 at 10:45

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When I left my previous job I had five boxes of books, pictures, and assorted tchotchkes to bring home. “No problem!”, I said to my coworkers, as they stood with a worried look on their faces as they watched me putting two of the boxes in the Miata’s trunk and the rest on the passenger seat. It worked out just fine!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 03/10/2020 at 10:46

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I did a week of field work with a Mustang convertible . It was great, we could put the coolers and sample containers in the back seat and on the rear shelf and access every thing with ease.

Ash78, voting early and often > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/10/2020 at 10:48

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There are quite a few sedans without folding rear seats, which would be a dealbreaker for me. From what I’ve seen, they’re either hi-po cars that need the rigidity or luxury cars.

dogisbadob > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 03/10/2020 at 10:58

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No trunk bike rack? :p

BeaterGT > Ash78, voting early and often 03/10/2020 at 10:59

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I'll just assume my car is both of those and not a early production year anomaly. 

BeaterGT > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 03/10/2020 at 11:00

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Woah, hey now! 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Ash78, voting early and often 03/10/2020 at 11:41

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That just seems like being lazy. Just make the crossbar under the parcel shelf really strong to leave the floor clear.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 03/10/2020 at 11:43

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No fold? Like at all? Surely there ain't that much rigidity in the rear seat backs.

Ash78, voting early and often > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/10/2020 at 11:48

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That’s how my last car was, the opening was more of an arch than a rectangle. But hey, in the overall history of cars, folding rear seats are still a newish thing. Early/mid-90s or so. Before that, a fixed rear seat was just a given. The trunk was completely separate from the car.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 03/10/2020 at 13:06

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I was in San Diego last year and they have those battery-powered scooters littering the sidewalk all over the place and giggers out collecting them and redeploying them and I saw a couple doing this in a convertible Beemer.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 03/10/2020 at 13:06

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I don’t see a problem with this.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/10/2020 at 15:15

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I mean I didnt design it, its just the way it is. I assumed it would have rear fold seats and didnt even check until after I bought the car. Obviously that issue was minor though and if I really cared, I’d just swap with the ‘07 back seat which does include it. Its a direct bolt in.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Ash78, voting early and often 03/10/2020 at 15:17

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Yeah my ‘99 Civic had the 60/40 split fold. So I assumed all sedans just had that. Then I learned about the silly tiny cubby hole that most cars do. That works sometimes but is rather inconvenient most of the time. But yeah this car is unique in that Subaru just didnt bother that year for the STi. If I am not mistaken, the regular impreza has a pass through. But they included it for the STi after the next model year. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Ash78, voting early and often 03/10/2020 at 15:18

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Well the seat isnt part of the rigidity regardless. The hole exists in my car either way. Its just the seat cushion that doesnt have a cutout. I assume for cost savings. And that people could just buy the hatch instead if they wanted practicality. I would have bought a hatch if I could have found one for obtainable money without mods. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Aremmes 03/10/2020 at 15:24

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I had my trunk full with a rollaboard suitcase, backpack, and ski boot bag. Along with some tools in the spare tire well and the usual extra oil, brake fluid, and some essential spares. Its only an issue when you also have a passenger. But who needs passengers, everyone should just have their own miata to drive! The luggage rack does solve that particular issue pretty well though.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > dogisbadob 03/10/2020 at 15:25

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I do have a luggage rack but it wouldnt be practical for a bike. Mostly because the pedals would bang around on the paint and it wouldnt sit flat. The roll bar works because I can mount the bike frame on it rather securely. I bet if I got a clamp of some sort it would be a legit secure solution.