Cycle Carriers

Jono

Jono

Jono

Man of Honour
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
13,262
Location
Northallerton/Harrogate
Herro,

I have a set of Thule aero bars with feet/fixing kits for a ford focus. I no longer have the focus, but instead have a car with rails on it.
I'm going to buy the feety things to allow me to put the bars on ze car - tis an estate.

Now, I'm looking at carrying 2-3 bikes around on my car, but don't know whether it's worth investing in some on-the-roof type carriers. I did consider a tailgate type thing, but presumably with bikes on you can't open the boot.

Does anyone have any experience with the posh Thule bike carriers that seem to just hold the bike with a single... arm... thing? Worth getting over something cheaperer?
 
We've got one and it just works but to be honest dont have a lot of experience with bikes on cars. There are few folk I know who are bike mad and use them so I guess those who know better must also rate them.

Pricey though!
 
i love my Thule roof rack carrier 691 springs to mind but am at work so could be wrong). My wife's and my bikes have been securely held on for many a mile in the car and their a doddle to take on and off.

They look like their only held on via the 1 clamp that 'grips' onto the downtube, but their is a strap that goes over each wheel rim as well so the stand part is just to keep it elevated, the wheel mounts hold it on securely.

Don't get a tailgate one, all you will do is scratch ur paint work and panic every time you go round a tight corner or through a gate :p
 
I'm after some Thule's soon as well, I'm currently using a tailgate mounted one which despite being very secure for my mountain bike completely negates the fact that I have a split rear tailgate. You need to remove the thing to get into the boot when you arrive at your destination. Thule's or any quality roof mounted carriers are the way to go.
 
I've got a Thule system on my Lexus, and 2 of my friends also have Thule systems on there vehicles (Nissan Navara, BMW 3 series) and we all use them regular with no problems. The dude with the 3 series often has 3 bikes on his roof (2 facing forward, 1 backward). There are 3 options of roof carriers for Thule, you have the basic freeride (which I own), the pro ride which is a little niftier but isn't worth the extra money or another one which mounts by taking your front wheel off and mounting via the forks. I'm not a fan of the bike carriers that go off a tow bar or are attached to the boot, the bikes don't look safe at all.

I had a boot carrier on my old Passat (halfords own brand) and was constantly looking in the wing mirrors watching the bikes moving all over the place!
 
Depends what you are planning on carrying. I use a boot mount rack (Saris Bones or Saris Bones RS) and there is no movement at all. I've regularly driven to the South of France topping a ton with no issues at all.

On the other hand I wouldnt put a carbon bike in a roof mount as the down tube clamps tend to damage the frames.
 
The best bet is the Thule towbar carriers. Very easy to use and excellent aerodynamics for fuel efficiency, plus safety from low barriers!

That said, if you don't have a towbar, nor the inclination to get one, the thule roof-racks are excellently made. You can squeeze 4 bikes onto them if the roof bars will support it.
 
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