Assembled tri bike in an E

[Matt Ward]

If anyone is curious, it works! I didn’t disassemble the seat post or aerobars. Just removed the wheels. Not a lot of room for passengers but you can at least get to the race with your gear!

[Igor_U]

I've seen a picture of two full size road bikes in the back of an E. Not an easy task. I have an F and placing one bike was not easy.

[Matt Ward]

I think all it's all about your pain threshold!  For me, changing the position of the bars or the seat is something I don't want to mess with so I'm optimizing for ease-of-transport.  Getting this in there is really quite easy.  I grabbed a basic bike bag off Amazon and just lay it across the backseat.  I'd strap it in for actual flight.  Next time I'll probably drop the wheelset in the luggage area instead of this.

[MooneyMitch]

Never put a bike in my Mooney, but carried a Fender Rhodes 73 key suitcase piano once !  

I guess anything’s possible 

[Niko182]

It isnt too bad in the long bodies either.

Edited March 26, 2021 by Niko182

[Igor_U]

 

 

Yeah,

it fits but too much hassle fitting through the door and disassembly and assembly. 

Couple of summers ago I commuted for work to KMWH and used one of these to ride around over the week. Not bad for a flat and if you're not in a hurry. Easy fit through Mooney baggage hatch with it's 16" wheels.

  

Edited March 26, 2021 by Igor_U

[flyingchump]

I've had two full sized road bikes in my E.  Its not that hard after you do it once.

I had room for baggage in the back seat and the baggage compartment. 

[N201MKTurbo]

Make sure you degrease it before you stuff it in there. A little chain grease will permanently stain your seats.

[BDPetersen]

Maybe I have one more RAGBRAI in me.

[Matt Ward]

13 minutes ago, N201MKTurbo said:

Make sure you degrease it before you stuff it in there. A little chain grease will permanently stain your seats.

Mine is in that bag up at the top. Was about $30 on Amazon and works well. 

[LOCOLJ]

If you remove or fold down the rear seat you should be able to fit two.  I have gone all over the west with bicycles in my E model.  I live in Denver, so  Moab, Custer, and the tetons are all doable for a day trip with a buddy.  Riding in cool places is one of the best perks about owning a plane.  Instead of a 100 dollar hamburger its a two hundred dollar ride:)

[Matt Ward]

2 minutes ago, LOCOLJ said:

If you remove or fold down the rear seat you should be able to fit two.  I have gone all over the west with bicycles in my E model.  I live in Denver, so  Moab, Custer, and the tetons are all doable for a day trip with a buddy.  Riding in cool places is one of the best perks about owning a plane.  Instead of a 100 dollar hamburger its a two hundred dollar ride:)

You’ve got foldable seats in your E? That’s awesome!

[LOCOLJ]

Just now, Matt Ward said:

You’ve got foldable seats in your E? That’s awesome!

The rear seat back is attached with 4 bolts.  The two bottom ones are a little hard to get to.  Piperpainter had a nice write up of a fold down modification for a C several years ago.  I think it is still on here?  My previous owner had  done a modification similar to that.

[Hank]

Just now, LOCOLJ said:

The rear seat back is attached with 4 bolts.  The two bottom ones are a little hard to get to.  Piperpainter had a nice write up of a fold down modification for a C several years ago.  I think it is still on here?  My previous owner had  done a modification similar to that.

My back seats are individually fold-down-able from the factory. 1970 C.

Any idea when it started?

[aviatoreb]

48 minutes ago, N201MKTurbo said:

Make sure you degrease it before you stuff it in there. A little chain grease will permanently stain your seats.

I got a (pair) of BBQ covers which are like a big bag that just goes over the whole bike easy and closes at the other end - keeps the airplane clean and the grease inside the bikes bag.

Taking pedals off makes it easier to slip into the airplane.

Wheels off - wheels into a special wheel bag also keeps things clean.

[carusoam]

Nice work Matt...

Just got to finish one thing...

Turn the gravity back on when you are done...

-a-

 

[LOCOLJ]

 In my experience,cases or bags to be difficult in getting around the seats, so try not to use them.  I have found a couple of items are really helpful instead.

1. Wheelbags-https://www.amazon.com/VCYCLE-Cycling-Wheelset-Waterproof-Bicycle/dp/B0739Z8FLF/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3BZMYR8285EY7&dchild=1&keywords=bicycle+wheel+bags&qid=1616809889&sprefix=bicycle+wheel+bags%2Caps%2C248&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExU05BV1g4WlEzOUtEJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjY4MTkxMlcyOTJCRDZUNFFaNyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUExMDIwMzg0MldYSVkyMVQyM0VGSSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

2. chain sleeve- https://www.amazon.com/White-Lightning-Chain-Johnny-Black/dp/B007FWDODQ/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=bicycle+chain+cover&qid=1616810206&sr=8-3

3. A foldable bike is certainly the best option of ease of getting them in, and for packing.  I have modified normal bicycles to fold using these and they work great. http://www.sandsmachine.com/

[Matt Ward]

1 hour ago, LOCOLJ said:

The rear seat back is attached with 4 bolts.  The two bottom ones are a little hard to get to.  Piperpainter had a nice write up of a fold down modification for a C several years ago.  I think it is still on here?  My previous owner had  done a modification similar to that.

Was this the mod?

http://mooneyspace.com/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=34072

[gsxrpilot]

5 minutes ago, Matt Ward said:

Was this the mod?

http://mooneyspace.com/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=34072 3.44 MB · 8,247 downloads

Yep, that's it.

[Prior owner]

5 hours ago, Igor_U said:

 

 

Yeah,

it fits but too much hassle fitting through the door and disassembly and assembly. 

Couple of summers ago I commuted for work to KMWH and used one of these to ride around over the week. Not bad for a flat and if you're not in a hurry. Easy fit through Mooney baggage hatch with it's 16" wheels.

  

We’ve got two of these- it’ll go right through the baggage door. Great for cruising, as long as it’s perfectly flat. They won’t climb a grade at all, though.

[m20j]

Revisiting this thread, as my wife and I have found a solution we’re very happy with. 

Believe it or not, the Bike Friday Family Tandem fits in the cargo area, through the cargo door, without messing with the rear seat back.  

For the most part the entire bike fits below the rear seat back, and if I disassembled it a bit further, it would be completely below the seat back.  Takes a 5mm and 6mm hex key to break down.  They make a folder as well, but I doubt it would fit through the cargo door.   

It’s so much smaller than 2 folding bikes we used to take, which required passing through the main door and folding the rear seat back down. 

They are a bit pricy new, but I grabbed this one on Craigslist for $600. 

We’ve got a pair of Pannier bags that convert to backpacks that fit it as well. 

Only two downsides is the assembly / disassembly process takes a few times to figure out, and it tends to draw a crowd when you pull a tandem through the cargo door. 

Mine has 48 speeds, and will both climb some pretty steep gravel grades loaded, and will cruise well too.  (8x2 with a 3 speed rear hub)
 

Thought some folks here might be interested.  As a matter of fact, we’re on Catalina island with it right now. 
 

Edited September 3, 2023 by m20j

[Fly Boomer]

Well that was unexpected.  Nice report with pics!

[m20j]

One more shot, disassembled. 

[exM20K]

2 hours ago, m20j said:

One more shot, disassembled. 

Looks like you crashed :-)

that’s really nice that you can fit it in the baggage compartment without removing the pedals.

-dan