I think what you are suggesting (clamping the wheel in front of the fender and using a strap at the bottom of the wheel) will work fine IF you use a proper strap (i.e., not Velcro).
heck it may even be fine without the strap, but I would not want to find out.
Long of the short is that in your situation, I would do exactly what you are thinking, and would not worry about it.