Bike rack recommendations.

james1985 · 24 Jun 2015 at 22:15

I have always carried bikes in the back of my pick-up truck, but the truck only has 2 seats and the impending arrival of a sensible car lead me to wanting to carry 3 bikes on or around the vehicle.

So roof bars and bike attachments or fit a tow bar and have one of those big ol tow bar racks.
I have followed some proper wobbly roof ones in the past! I think for general security I prefer the idea of tow bar mount. Just the thought of getting rear ended would kill the bikes even if it was fairly light!

Or, can you get a good quality rear rack that wont make a mess of the paintwork if I'm not worried about opening the boot.

Any recommendations or makes to avoid would be appreciated.

touch · 24 Jun 2015 at 22:17

Get an estate, put the 3 bikes inside

james1985 · 24 Jun 2015 at 22:31

Yeah, problem is, heart ruled the head with regard to car choice

I am keeping the truck, so I guess I could just keep using that for the bikes and extra peoples will have to drive themselves.
Just thought for once, I would be one of those normal people with a sensible(ish) car.

neil_g · 25 Jun 2015 at 08:12

saris bones for the back or thule bars/carrier for the roof.

Beerbaron · 25 Jun 2015 at 08:21

I found it cheaper to add a tow bar to my car than it was to buy the roof brackets. I then bought a decent 2 bike Thule rack.

Jono · 25 Jun 2015 at 09:26

If you buy a Thule 3 bike rack it WILL carry 3 full sus bikes. Just. However you'll want to put some padding around the fork stanchions and chainstays as they WILL rub together. Also you'll have to do a shedload of titting about working out which bike goes where in the thing and which way round everything goes. You'll probably have to put at least one of the clamp arms upside down and through the frame of a couple of the bikes rather than having them all over the top tubes.

At least that's what we had to do with an Orange 5, Specialized Camber and a Bird Aeris.

I don't know if a Witter 4 bike one would be better. You also can't alter the spacing between bikes on a Thule towbar rack... not sure if Witter allows this.

The bonus of the Thule one at least is it can be swung downwards so you can actually get into the boot without removing all the bikes... but then with 3 bikes on it it can be quite heavy to lift back up if there's just one person (i.e. you) doing it... with one hand.

The 591 Roof Carriers are great.... except that having bikes on the roof absolutely kills fuel economy if you care about that... plus all the crap falls off them when they're dirty if you care about paintwork on the roof.
There's also the chance you might miss the rack when you're putting bikes up there and put a big dent/scratch on your car.

If I had a towbar, I'd go for that option. But I don't, so I use the 591s at the moment.

If at all possible, I just throw the bikes in the car, having removed one or both wheels.

james1985 · 25 Jun 2015 at 19:29

Some drawbacks above regarding roof mount I hadn't thought off too, all that mud falling off! Car probably wont be brilliant on fuel as it is either.

Saris Bones look good, and a good price! Think this is the way I'm leaning toward. thanks for all the advise.

Edinho · 28 Jun 2015 at 06:10

Best with a towbar mount.

I have a roof rack but I wouldn't go with that option again.
1. It never feels stable and going over 50 mph the bikes look like they will blow off.
2. as 1 you are limited to 50-60 mph.
3. You will forget they are on the roof and go into that multi-story car park. You think you wont be so stupid. But you will.

No way I would put my s-works anywhere outside the car in goes inside.

milko · 28 Jun 2015 at 13:01

I would much prefer a tow-bar mount to the kind that strap onto the car. I've got a Saris Sentinel (not as good as the Bones) and I try not to use it. Also quite easy to damage the paintwork with the straps as they're tight but still move around a little bit.

My mate's Thule roof rack is good for 80-90mph but it does have an effect on fuel economy.

Jono · 29 Jun 2015 at 08:57

Edinho said:
No way I would put my s-works anywhere outside the car in goes inside.

TL;DR:
If someone wants your bike and they can access it, they'll take it.

Well that's just it, isn't it?
No bike is going to be safe from thieves or damage from the elements if it's not inside the car.
The 591 roof carriers lock, but they're not that strong. They're just plastic and hammamilium after all. If a scrote decides he wants your bike and is brazen enough, all they need to do is climb up on your roof and wrestle it off.

The towbar ones are arguably more prone to thievery, as they're more accessible - they do seem to be more robust, but there's absolutely nothing to stop el scrotanibre from toddling up, snipping your cables and unbolting stealing your bars/shifters etc.

They could even take a hacksaw to the clamp arms and be through them in a few seconds then just undo the wheel straps and off they go.

I would never feel comfortable with leaving bikes on any kind of carrier unattended or at least not in view and a short distance away.

I've even taken to sometimes taking them off the roof and putting them in the car if I do have to go off and do something else (but there's been 4 people in the car, so keeping them there the whole time isn't an option)