Parking garage mishap

OK, I’ve heard the stories, seen the damage, even chuckled a bit when listening to some of the accounts of people running their roof mounted bicycles into the garage door. But Karma is a powerful force not to be reckoned with….I too have finally felt the wrath of the low overhang.  In my defense, I was not driving but I was playing an active role as back seat driver along with others in the vehicle.

After a day of riding, some might say racing in Winter Park, what could be better than to top it off with some live Blues music at Smokin Moe’s?  “Nothing.” So off we go, anxious to hear some Tab Benoit and Category 5.  Just as we approach Moe’s the “Parking Garage” sign seems to pull us in like a magnet. “How about the parking garage?” the back seat drivers shout and without hesitation (and too fast to heed the warning at the entrance “NO ROOF MOUNTED BICYCLES”), we whip in. Two milliseconds later…. oh that sickening noise of metal being ripped off metal – what the @#$&! All heads look to the center of the car……THE BIKE!!!  Rut roh Spanky, this may not be pretty…  Sure enough, the bike and rack were lying on the ground behind the car.  The bike was fine but the rack had seen better days and the aerodynamics of the car have changed slightly.

Judging by the sign at the front of the garage, we were not the first to figure out too late that they should be parking on the street!

What are owners of small vehicles to do?  Hitch mount?  It’s not that much safer….I have been on the wrong end of an uninsured motorist rear ending me and then spending some quality time at the bike shop buying wheels and a crank.  That’s no fun. So what are roof rack owners to do to prevent ruining their rides?  First, if your bike is worth more than your vehicle, which is all too common these days, ride your bike more and save the gas money for better homeowner’s insurance (under which the bike is covered). There are numerous other tricks out there to force you to think about your bike on the top of your vehicle.

1.  Take the remote out of your car the second you put your bike on the roof.

2.  Put the remote in the glove box when bike is on the roof.

3.  Place a note on the rear view mirror when the bike is on top.

4.  Run a fluorescent string from the bike to front of the car.

5.  There are sensors but I have not heard of any that really work.

6.  Coachlevi.com suggests a sign saying “stop” mounted in the garage, if you carry a bike on top of the car.

7.  Buy a bigger vehicle and put your bike inside or in the bed to be truly safe.

I hope my tale of misfortune reminds you to always think about your roof mounted bike and if you thought it was funny…..beware — the joke may be on you next time!