Transporting Longtail Cargo Bikes

We're heading out on a road trip with our bikes. We'll camp our way to Halifax, through Bromont, Baxter State Park, Fredericton, the Bay of Fundy, Wolfville and all kinds of other lovely and spectacular spots.

Sometimes we'll hike, sometimes we'll bike -- on roads and trails -- and sometimes we'll visit our friends. It's going to be fantastic.

But here's the tricky part:  How do we haul all the bikes we want to bring on our car?

We'll be bringing at least one kids' Opus Nix for Anna Sierra to ride when she's riding on her own, one Bike Friday Family Tandem for Anna Sierra and I to ride together on longer adventures, one Trail-a-Bike for Jasper to ride with Derek, and at least one other adult bike for the trail a bike to attach to. 

I'd also like to bring our longtail cargo Kona Ute because it's got such great storage we could easily use it to run errands from the campgrounds without using the car. Because my goal is to use the car as little as possible after we arrive at our destinations.

We have a roof rack and a back rack and may just use them both.

We've transported the Bike Friday Family Tandem before without taking it apart. Derek, in consultation with our ever helpful contractor neighbour, extended our roof rack by bolting an extra piece of metal to the rack. You can also buy ready made Tandem Trays that will allow you to transport both tandems and longtail cargo bikes. That's a more expensive option, but I'm sure we'd use it lots.

Apparently some people attach longtail cargo bikes to back racks at an angle. We may do that, although I'm not sure that's the most stable idea for longer journeys.

Alternatively, we could not bring quite so many bikes. I know some people have this 'dilemma' with shoes. But for us, it's all about the bikes.

The other thing to remember here, I suppose, is that the more bikes you bring, the more time you inevitably spend fussing with attaching them to racks each time you set off.    

What do you think we should do? Does anyone have any brilliant ways of transporting longtail cargo bikes? (Besides riding them, of course!)

Happy travels!

Kathleen