Why carry bikes inside
A tow bar rack has its limits. The number of bikes, the weight, covered lights, taking the bikes off every time you need to open the boot. Plus rain, salt and insects along the whole route. A van for a holiday with bikes solves all this simply — the bikes travel inside, dry and out of sight.
How many bikes fit
The load space will usually take four bikes standing side by side without dismantling them. If you take off the front wheel, more will fit and they stack better. You'll find the load floor dimensions for each model in our fleet — bear in mind that the handlebars are the widest part of a bike.
E-bikes and children's bikes
An e-bike typically weighs over twenty kilos and is awkward to load onto a rack. You can lift it into a van on one level without having to hoist it up high. Take the batteries out and carry them separately in the cab. Children's bikes and balance bikes fit into the gaps between the adult ones.
Nobody can see the bikes in a van
On a rack, the bikes are on display in every car park. In a closed load space nobody can see them, and you can leave the van outside your accommodation without unlocking the bikes and carrying them inside every time. What's more, a bike kept dry doesn't suffer from salt or road dust.
You can plan a cycling trip differently
With a van you don't have to ride loops. In the morning someone drives you to the start, and in the evening picks you up at the finish. So you plan the route from A to B and don't have to ride back for the car.
Preparing before the trip
Check the bikes before you load them. Tyre pressures, brakes, tightened quick releases. On holiday a bike shop is harder to find than at home, and the rental company can't help you with that.
Take basic tools with you. A multi-tool, a pump, a spare inner tube and a chain link take up minimal space in a bag. If you don't need them, no harm done.
Book well in advance, especially for the summer holidays. You can cancel free of charge up to 72 hours before the rental starts. For pick-up you need two valid proofs of identity, one of which must be a category B driving licence.
Mileage within the Czech Republic is unlimited. So you don't have to count kilometres or think twice about an extra trip. However, the vans may only be driven in the Czech Republic; you can't take them abroad.
How to load bikes so nothing gets scratched
Standing up or lying down
The easiest way is to carry the bikes standing on their wheels, as they normally stand. They take up the least space and there's no risk of bending the chainring or knocking the chain off. If you have to lay them down, always put them chainring side up so the rear derailleur doesn't get damaged.
Keep them apart
Bikes get scratched most by rubbing against each other. Put old towels, a blanket or a piece of sleeping mat between the frames. Turn the handlebars alternately, one to the left and one to the right, so the pedals don't get tangled up.
Secure them against movement
A free-standing bike will fall over at the first braking and bring the others down with it. Strap them to the side wall or wedge them between the luggage so they can't turn. Point pedals and chainrings away from the walls so they don't scratch the panelling — you're responsible for damage to the vehicle according to the insurance you chose.
Luggage, children and the rest of the holiday
Luggage goes at the front
Load suitcases and bags against the front wall of the load space, with the bikes behind them. That way the weight sits closer to the front axle and the van handles better. At the same time you can get to the bikes without having to unload the whole holiday.
Keep the vehicle's height in mind
A van is taller than a car. Underpasses near cottages, barriers at accommodation car parks and branches over the driveway are the places where drivers are most often reminded of this. Memorise the van's height right at pick-up.
How much space is left in the end
The bikes take up roughly half the length of the load space. The rest is enough for suitcases, a tent and bags of food, if you pack into soft holdalls instead of hard suitcases. Holdalls fit better into the remaining gaps and don't rub against the bike frames.
Where to leave your own car
You can leave your own car parked at the location free of charge for the duration of the rental. So the family arrives in one car, moves the things across and drives off in the van. However, parking in blue zones isn't part of the service — keep that in mind in Prague and in town centres.
The van is picked up and returned with a full tank, at the same location. Pick-up is contactless through the web app — you photograph the van and unlock it with your phone, and you'll find the keys in the compartment on the passenger side. You can read other customers' experiences in the reviews section.
