Bike Rack

PachosMa

Howdy,

Looking to get a bike rack for my VW Golf....... any recommendations?
Was looking at this one -

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Saris_Sentinal_2_Bike_Rack/5360012194/

Thanks

Lumen

I have the 3-bike version of that.

It's fine as far as it goes, but I wouldn't put it on a car I loved.

Colmhayden76

get a garage to put on a hitch and then look on ebay got a thule rack for the hitch with lights built into it at half the cost if I was to buy it here. The old Mt Blanc one took a load of paint off the back of the car and we lost money on it when we traded it in ( not much but enough to swear never again with a boot mounted carrier)

Missyd

I also drive a VW golf and have a Hollywood rack (holds 3 bikes), and it's fine....except for the marks it has left on the back of the car...
Got full valet on my car recently and it was amazing how much the rubber pads marked it (all the paint rubbed down), not to mention the scratches from the pedals (as I don't cover them with socks as I was advised to do).

However I asked the garage about fitting a hitch to my car when I bought it (for the purpose of bike carrying) and they said 'no problem' but they'd charge about E500.00 to fit it...as its a real pain for them to fit it.
So not sure which is the best solution...

bcmf

If you are in Dublin goto Mr.Bull Bar.Am pretty sure he will be cheaper.It's their Bread and Butter but if you go to a standard garage it will be a bit of a pain to do.

douglastubbs

Hi,
Also have a Hollywood rack not sure about scratches on car (9 years old - and not much loved) and don't cover up the pedals or handlebards with socks (must remember) but easy to use and regularly have three bikes on it.

Ryaner

Lumen wrote: »

I have the 3-bike version of that.

It's fine as far as it goes, but I wouldn't put it on a car I loved.

Does it mark the car alot? Is there any that don't mark the cars? A tow bar isn't an option on my A4.

Lumen

Ryaner wrote: »

Does it mark the car alot? Is there any that don't mark the cars? A tow bar isn't an option on my A4.

The clips are painted metal, so it's a risk.

My cars are scratched from car park abuse (not by me), stone chips and the odd country lane bush scrape, so it doesn't really bother me.

As I said, I wouldn't do it on a car I loved.

Have you considered a roof rack?

Poncherello

just bought a roof rack, its only way to go if u want to make sure u dont damage ur car

Ryaner

How much was the roof rack? I'm not to fond of paying what audi will want to charge for their version.

Signal_ rabbit

I have the Thule pro ride. It is roof mounted, but it only takes 20 seconds to mount the bike in the rack. The rack is also lockable to the roof rack and the bike is lockable to the rack. No damage to the car either and I have access to the boot. Great rack and not too expensive.

Jawgap

I've got one of these:-

http://www.thule.com/Thule/ProductPage____83184.aspx

but you need a tow bar.

And one of these:-

http://www.thule.com/Thule/ProductPage____83123.aspx

if you have roof bars or you want to fit footings to your roof.

The pro-ride (the second one) is permanently fixed to my car (Passat) as I drive part of the way to work before cycling the rest of it and I use the Ride On when necessary if I'm taking the kids off somewhere to go cycling.

Got both in Halfords.

Gavin

Another thumbs up for roof ones, handiest. Gotta watch out for those low gates going into coillte car parks though

Poncherello

I bought roof bars from here
http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel3.php?query=4588&emulate=roofbar&vptype=
and attachements from here
http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=NP04591

FrankGrimes

I got a good price on the last Saris Bones 3 Bike Rack from PBK last week and am gonna test it out this weekend but am now a bit wary of all the talk of these things scratching the car.

I have some spare Elastillon from when I was laying my wood floors which is basically 4mm thick dense foam that is sticky on one side. I reckon if I wrap the legs in two layers of that, they should be grand. I have a good few feet of it left over so if you need a cutting for your bike rack, let me know and I'll bring some to a boards weekend spin (Dublin).

Had hoped to go with a towbar rack but it seemed like quite a bit of expense in total for something I'll only use a couple of times a year.