Car Racks

bubble_wrap

Anybody recommend a good car rack, i was going to go for the hollywood express rack, cheap, is it any good though ie secure, wont scratch the bike or the car

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=182&idproduct=11168

Keeping in mind the frame on my mtb - will this fit on the rack?

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/epic-fsr-comp-carbon-2010-mountain-bike-ec020334?query=specialized%20epic

Any info/recs appreciated, i drive an audi a3 hatch, cheers

gerardduff

I have a hollywood 3. Check here. Mr. Skeffington might still be selling on. See same thread

LostCovey

bubble_wrap wrote: »

Anybody recommend a good car rack, i was going to go for the hollywood express rack, cheap, is it any good though ie secure, wont scratch the bike or the car

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=182&idproduct=11168

Keeping in mind the frame on my mtb - will this fit on the rack?

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/epic-fsr-comp-carbon-2010-mountain-bike-ec020334?query=specialized%20epic

Any info/recs appreciated, i drive an audi a3 hatch, cheers

There are a lot of designs in that 'Hollywood Express" style, but the price on that looks mad. I saw them in French hypermarkets for 25 euros, so shop around. Maybe try eBay. There's nothing in them, metal tubes and nylon straps, some sweatshop is churning them out for pennies, and at that kind of money you are being screwed.

As for the frame, as long as there is one long tube in the frame, it will be fine (won't be horizontal, but will be secure. Kids bikes can be trickier because the tubes are so short.

LostCovey

gerardduff

People have done the shopping around and have posted their experience right here. Of course lots of things are cheaper in France than Ireland. But then they don't have our weather.
I kept an eye out for a 3 bike rack for a while and the best price I could find was about 60E. They don't seem to come up second hand either as I guess people just hang on to them.

Edit: By the way, the hollywood express would carry mountain bikes no problem. Alway a good idea to whip the pedals off any bike you put on a rack. Esp. if your as careless as me, or are particularly attached to your car, unlike me.

LostCovey

gerardduff wrote: »

Of course lots of things are cheaper in France than Ireland. But then they don't have our weather.

I don't believe the weather has anything to do with us being ripped off. These things are coming out of the same factories.

LC

threeleggedhors

I know of a girl who drove into the back of another car which was carrying three very pricy bikes on the back, tight beans .... for all involved :D:D

-Chris-

I bought a cheap rack originally and one of the pads split (after a good few uses) and it ended up damaging the paintwork on my boot and involved "limping" home in the hard shoulder.

I paid a bit more for a decent rack and haven't looked back. Often cheap and good value aren't the same thing - don't scrimp on it and you'll get something that will last you 10 years.

bubble_wrap

Thinking of this one now - appears to be getting very positive reviews, anybody know anything about them?

Saris Bones 2 Bike Boot Rack


http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Categories.aspx?CategoryID=6

-Chris-

If I were going for a rack at the moment, I'd only consider a 3 bike rack - 2 is too restrictive.

bubble_wrap

Why, the most bikes ill ever have on it is 2, i know this for a fact, either just my bike or my mates or my gf!

-Chris-

If you're absolutely sure, then go for it. I've just found the ability to take 3 bikes very handy - it seems fairly natural if you're going for a spin somewhere else to have 3 in the car and then whatever gear you need taking the 4th seat.

Who's to say you won't get the desire to cycle with your mate and your gf some day? You'll have spent a big chunk of cash, but you'll be in the situation where you're trying to dismantle one of the bikes and shove it in the boot, or you'll have to travel in a car with one passenger while the other person drives on their own.

-Chris-

Also, that one looks pretty expensive
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=39563

when this one is two-thirds the price and would give you the flexibility to take 3 bikes if the need ever arose.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=7282

bubble_wrap

-Chris- wrote: »

If you're absolutely sure, then go for it. I've just found the ability to take 3 bikes very handy - it seems fairly natural if you're going for a spin somewhere else to have 3 in the car and then whatever gear you need taking the 4th seat.

Who's to say you won't get the desire to cycle with your mate and your gf some day? You'll have spent a big chunk of cash, but you'll be in the situation where you're trying to dismantle one of the bikes and shove it in the boot, or you'll have to travel in a car with one passenger while the other person drives on their own.

lol - i wouldnt mind doing that at all, except my mate would rather die and would curse me for bringing her indoors along!

bubble_wrap

-Chris- wrote: »

Also, that one looks pretty expensive
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=39563

when this one is two-thirds the price and would give you the flexibility to take 3 bikes if the need ever arose.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=7282

yeah except the hollywood one is dodgey on the paint work, im thinking about the car too, a new paint job on the boot would set me back circa 300-400, SARIS appears to be ok on the paint

-Chris-

bubble_wrap wrote: »

yeah except the hollywood one is dodgey on the paint work

Where did you hear that? I've been using one for years and never had an issue with paint (and I used it on a lot of different cars).

bubble_wrap

-Chris- wrote: »

Where did you hear that? I've been using one for years and never had an issue with paint (and I used it on a lot of different cars).

really, how do you find it - easy to install? easy on paint work then yeah?

-Chris-

It's on in 2 minutes. The pads are fine and have held up to a fair bit of abuse, as long as you're careful with pedals etc. you should never have an issue with paint.

bubble_wrap

-Chris- wrote: »

It's on in 2 minutes. The pads are fine and have held up to a fair bit of abuse, as long as you're careful with pedals etc. you should never have an issue with paint.

cool, ill go with this so, the express one, cheers

alanucc

I have a saris bones 2, very happy with it for what its worth!

2 Wheels Good

Got a Thule 9103 for my Golf mk4 last week, good hour to set up but once done you're set. Only 4 clips, no straps and quick to put on. Would recommend big time for ease of use/stuck on tight. (And you can open the boot with it on.)

Ryaner

The saris bones was recommended to me too. Going to be buying mine from Slane Cycles most likely. They seem to be the cheapest I've found http://www.slanecycles.com/saris-bones-3bike-car-rack-p-274.html
Oh that and they have a 5% deal at the moment. Code: NXT5