Challenges are good in life. So I figured, why not try to stuff a bike into the back of the Fiat 500? With something this diminutive, I knew it would be a total hassle and no doubt involve removing both wheels and who knows what else.
In other words, I'd make it fit somehow, but at what level of disassembly?
I chose my singlespeed mountain bike as the test dummy. It has normal-size 26-inch wheels (as opposed to 29-inchers like some of my mountain bikes), but a wider-than-roadbike handlebar with bar-end stubs, so it's not completely cheating. The singlespeed doesn't have a quick-release rear wheel, and I didn't want to have to remove that, but I was pretty sure it would be necessary anyway.
Well?
With rear seats folded, the front passenger seat moved all the way forward, and the one concession to the bike being lowering the seatpost (above and beyond removing the front wheel), believe it or not the mountain bike just barely squeezed in. With rear wheel still in place. I know, shocking.
And I didn't have to change my normal driving position one bit to do so. Of course, this wouldn't be the case if were a giant the size of, say, Dan Edmunds, or had a larger mountain bike.
But at least now I know the 500 can be used for bicycle transport in a pinch.
Mike Monticello, Road Test Editor @ 9,047 miles.
bankerdanny says:
09:25 AM, 10/20/11
It wouldn't have worked if you had a passenger either.
A regular owner would have a rack for this, but it's good to know that in a pinch you can stuff it in back for a quick run to the bike shop.
coxwill says:
09:35 AM, 10/20/11
Rim brakes?!?
lostboyz says:
10:06 AM, 10/20/11
^ ya seriously? I just picked up a 29er salsa spearfish, loving it so far, but no way is that thing fitting in a 500 with the wheels still on
milt721 says:
09:26 AM, 10/21/11
Isn't "single-speed" and "mountain bike" an oxymoron? I mean, a single speed bike is not going to go up hills, let alone a mountain.