Bike rack/carriers - what is the best?

samsemtex

Hey, I'm looking for a new mtb carrier that will fit on my Alfa 156. I am willing to spend a fair bit as long as it means my car wont end up scratched. I dont really car about the bike getting scratched as that is going to happen anyway.

Bear in mind that I dont have a hitch.

I was thinking about one of these.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=39563

Any info please?

Bluefoam

Best bike racks are the ones that mount onto a towbar, otherwise that saris is the one I'd recommend - nice to see CRC doing them now.

samsemtex

Bluefoam wrote: »

Best bike racks are the ones that mount onto a towbar, otherwise that saris is the one I'd recommend - nice to see CRC doing them now.

Yeah, unfortunately i think towbars are ugly on a car and they often put off people when you sell it on. It'd work out pretty expensive by the time I'd have a hitch fitted and the carrier bought. I presume its generally the bike rather than the carrier itself that causes scratches on cars. surely if i keep it on the rack furthers from the car and maybe even put some extra padding under the pressure points it should be okay?

cdaly_

A properly secured bike won't touch the car. You have to ensure that the front wheel / handlebars cannot swing inwards to hit paintwork. Pedals are the other thing you have to watch out for, they might hit the bumper.

I use a couple of folded baby wipes under the contact pads as extra paint protection. I also make sure to wipe off any dust/dirt with a wipe before mounting the rack. Dirt is the most likely source of scratches to the paintwork.

el tel

I have a Saris Bones 3 bike rack which I use on an Audi A4. I bought the rack form Slane Cycles. At the time they only did a 3 bike carrier but it was cheaper than the two bike carrier in CRC. I only carry one bike at a time though.

The carrier has grippy rubber feet which rest on the boot lid and bumper, although on the A4 the bumper doesn't stick out far enough so I put them in the bottom of the number plate recess. My car has been detailed a few times and is polished and waxed to high heaven so I'm paranoid about scratches. You will nevertheless pick up minor scuffs and scratches no matter how hard you try not to as the rubber feet will pick up dust and dirt which in turn will cause swirls and light scratches as they move around (but nothing too deep that can't be buffed out). I use the rack so often I've resorted to putting some adhesive plastic film on the boot lid where the feet go, hopefully this will prevent further marking.

The rack itself is very secure. When fully fastened it doesn't budge and the bike is held very securely. I use toe-clip straps to stop the cranks rotating and to prevent the front forks turning. Overall I would recommend one.
Can show you pictures of it in situ if you like.

Bikerbhoy

Roof Rack yer only man....... cant go wrong none of the aforementioned issues

Bike specific racks Proride or Outride (Fork Mounted) by Thule.

amused2death

I got one of the type that "hang off the Boot" and I hate it. By the very fact that it just "hangs" off the car never made me happy. I ended up with the paint been rubbed off to bare metal at one point of contact and on 2 long trips one of the undercarriage straps got loose. I ended up getting 2 roof rack carriers from the UK plus 2 free wheel bags for £130. The Thule carrier is lockable and I would recommend it. I also bought wheel carriers for the front wheel but I dont use them

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php/bike-carriers/thule_outride_fork_mounted_bike_carrier_no_561/Qx%40w%2C6M42VAwp3%40Rb%7B~cC4ure%60xMXABGTp6t

tyler71

+1 for the Thule roof carrier - I have one and love it as it's so simple to secure your bike - been on a lot of long journeys with it and never an issue. The only negative is you have to be very careful when going into carparks with height barriers -as in don't. A friend of mine was going to the ROK and forgot this vital fact when parking the car the night before - bye bye brand new bike. Ouch.