You still come across some impractical suspension systems for two-wheelers on mountain railroads. But anyone who has been to large bike parks such as Châtel or Whistler knows that it is much easier. The cable car manufacturers Doppelmayr/Garaventa are also aware of this and offer various transport solutions for practically every type of cable car and beyond mountain bikes. Mountain bikes can be easily transported on mountain lifts thanks to bike clips, bike racks, tow lift solutions and more. The CE-certified mounts also enable operators to retrofit existing facilities with professional transport devices in addition to new ones.

Interesting solutions perfected

One of the most effective devices to date is the Bike-Clip for chairlifts. It impresses with independent loading and unloading by passengers, enables a high transport capacity and accommodates everything from 24-inch bikes to fat bikes or e-bikes weighing up to 25 kilograms. This attachment kit consists of the three main components Bike-Clip, Clip-Carrier and Bike-Stabilizer. The individual parts are made of high-quality aluminum and are attached directly to the back of the chair. The mountain bike can simply be attached to the front wheel in the bike clip by its owner, where it is secured by its own weight.

For the use of bike clips, Doppelmay/Garaventa also offers stand-alone transport vehicles consisting of a suspension bar with a carrier frame on which the bike clip is mounted. Such transport vehicles are used when chairlifts are fitted with protective covers. Whether attached directly to the chair or to a transport vehicle, bike clips are the ultimate solution for transporting bikes on chairlifts worldwide. Loading and unloading is actually very easy, and as several bikes can be attached to one chair, the high transport capacity is maintained.

Bike and T-bar lifts

The old T-bar lift is the ultimate child's dream and yet they are still widely used. Small, low-lying ski resorts in particular, which maintain bike parks from spring to fall, still have such lifts. Replacing them with new, more expensive chairlifts would not be financially viable for small parks. The solution is therefore to retrofit, and Doppelmayr has developed the ProTow for this purpose. This towing device is easy for passengers to use and lift operators can quickly convert their lift from winter to summer operation. Another advantage of this solution is that it can also be used to pull mountain carts, monster scooters or toboggans up the mountain.

New transport solution for gondola lifts

The Lenzerheide bike park is a good example of this. Mountain bikes are hung on the outside of the gondolas there, after which another bike is placed in the gondola. So far, this has only been partially successful: Hanging up the bike is not equally easy for everyone and the transport capacity is severely hampered. With the Bike Cab, Doppelmayr/Garaventa is launching a transport gondola that can transport up to eight bikes of all kinds. At the same time, the passenger gondolas can be filled to capacity with passengers - the capacity is therefore used much more efficiently.

Trasport gondolas are also nothing new. They have also been in use at the Whistler Bike Park for some time, with a slightly different principle that has seen the odd damaged bike arrive at the top in the past. This should not happen with the Doppelmayr/Garaventa Bike Cap. The system can be loaded just as easily by the passengers themselves and the bikes are transported safely. For heavily frequented bike parks that are reached by gondola lift, the Bike Cab should therefore be a purchase worth considering.

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