Carbon frames on roof racks

marc4099 · July 2008

Hi,
What is the consensus on using car racks which grip the frame down tube when that frame is carbon?
The frame is a Kuota KOM (paper thin tubes!)
The rack was fine for my old alu frame but i've heard you shouldn't use this kind with carbon and should use the kind that attach through the forks.
The rack is a Thule 591 where the wheels are kept on the bike and they are strapped onto the rack also. It cost a fortune so i'd rather not need a new one!

Thanks

gkerr4 · July 2008

hello - this has been covered a bit recently,

I think it will be ok - I have same type of roof-rack mount and while I have used it to transport my alu langster, and whilst I haven't had cause to, I would happily use it to transport my carbon S-Works Roubaix on it.

I think as long as you don't tighten up the tube grip thing too much - I use a bit of bubble wrap around the tube to add shock absorption - it'll be fine
I also use cable ties on the wheels and around the down-tube (looselyas a security measure

nice frame btw - the KOM - how do you like it?

marc4099 · July 2008

Cheers for that.
Bubble wrap!...was trying to think of something to take out / spread the vibration and you've hit the nail on the head there I think.
Only been out on the KOM twice but i'm impressed by what i've seen so far. It's probably a bit flash for my requirements but I got a real bargain and couldn't resist. You can litterally squeeze the downtube with your fingers though which is why I was a bit worried about putting it on the rack.

SteveR_100Milers · July 2008

I doubt that it is the structural part of the downtube you are squeezing, merely the cosmetic covering. Otherwise it would fall apart when you sat on it. IF CFC works ok as a tailplane for A320's then its not going to fall apart on a roof rack. Its much stronger than you might believe

GeorgeShaw · July 2008

Isn't is a good idea for any bike to put a rag between the cables and the down tube as well - don't want any nasty scratches :shock:

SteveR_100Milers · July 2008

Funny you say that George, yesterday I noticed that the rear brake cable has chaffed the tob tube, and removed the decal and some of the nice shiny outer layer. If it was a guitar it would be considered as ageing nicely....

aarw · July 2008

I wouldn't do it. i also have a Kuota, although it's a Kebel frame. The sidewalls on some of the Kuota framesets are especially thin around the area where the thule racks clamp on. I haven't seen or felt other frames with such thin sidewalls....but it seems to work!

I went for the rack that clamps the front fork (outride?). I can't imagine sitting to comfy in the car if my Kuota was clamped by the frame on the roof.

...and kiss your waranty good bye too! might be an idea to replace one of the racks?

bobtravers · July 2008

aarw wrote:

I went for the rack that clamps the front fork (outride?). I can't imagine sitting to comfy in the car if my Kuota was clamped by the frame on the roof.

...and kiss your waranty good bye too! might be an idea to replace one of the racks?

X2

For a bike of this price, you got to put a rack that clamps the front fork... I've already lost a cheap bike on a rack that clamps by the downtube in an highway exit... Scared the hell out of me, but did no damages on my car, what a luck! Since then I had only front fork type rack from Thule... If you live in North America (don't know??), you might check for Sportrack or Yakima, they are a bit cheaper than Thule, or try find a used one!

method · July 2008

I wouldn't do it, I heard of someone who who had a stone flick up on the motorway and crack one of the tubes. Chances are slim, but I would rather put it on the back or inside.

mtbking · July 2008

Don't do it!, many brands have a decal saying "don't clamp any tube" when sold new.This includes Scott and Giant. I have seen at least 3 frames fail due to clamping.
Not to mention an NZ Commonweath Games cyclist who lost her bike on the way to the road race due to someone not prepared to tighten it hard on the down tube. She never did find her bike.
Use a fork clamping roof rack like Thule.

shazzz · July 2008

Just to add a bit of clarity

to the debate, it'll be fine. Just don't tighten the clamp down hard.

marc4099 · July 2008

Oh bollocks, you've all got me worked up now!
The bike is on the roof and ready to set off in half an hour to N. Wales for the week! Just had a quick look on here and now i'll be a paranoid wreck bombing along the motorways.
Think I might have to take the wheels off and squeeze it inside the car. I'll put the kids on the roof instead!
Thanks

gkerr4 · July 2008

oh FFS - we're not clamping the tube in a vice here - not setting it up for milling operations or something!!

Of course it will be fine.

All the tube clamp does is stop the bike falling over to the side - the clamps / straps / cable ties around the bottom of the wheels stop the bike moving - all the tube clamp does is stop it falling over sideways - it doesn't have to be tight - use a bit if 'feel'. Put a bit of bubble wrap around the tube to protect from scuffs and just secure the clamp so that it prevents side to side movement.

As long as the wheels are done up ok on the skewers and that the bike rack is well attached to the roof bars then this will be perfect!

Interstingly - the 561 model that clamped the forks used to specifically state "not for carbon forks" although I see they have changed the website to inclue "all forks including carbon"

for the record - not only would I use the tube clamp - but I also do actually often clamp the seattube in my maintenance stand too!

SteveR_100Milers · July 2008

I know several people that have only ever used either a Halfords or a Thule clamp type carrier on a roof rack, with no problems at all. I have managed to scratch my car, my bike, evevn bend the rear mech hanger by continually hoiking it in and out of the boot, so its on the roof from now on. The biggest risk is forgetting its there and driving into a multi-storey carpark.....

Barney 2 · July 2008

I was warned against using the "remove the front weheel and clamp the fork" type rack
with carbon forks so went out and bought the other type for my all carbon bike.

It would ne good to hear from a manufacturer or as to what is the correct way to transport a carbon bike, the pro teams use both methods I seem to recall.

heatonrider · July 2008

I rang Thule this week and they said don't use the front fork type with carbon forks .... but logic tells me i trap them in the wheel and i ride the bike - putting the whole show under pressure/stress!. Roofbox.co.uk now says "carbon fibre forks with steel dropouts" - my carbon forks (Look HSC4) seem to have composite drop outs - although some websites say alu. I did try emailing Look but no response!

The Atera GIRO AF grips the tube but more cradles it than clamps. We have used one with a carbon roubaix.

aarw · July 2008

the tubes on the specialized frames are considerably more thick than the Kuota's.

gkerr4 · July 2008

aarw wrote:

the tubes on the specialized frames are considerably more thick than the Kuota's.

not a huge amount though surely - size for size his KOM is around 12% lighter than my S-Works - and a lot of this wil be due to the KOM having shorter stays / headtube - so it;s not going to be a huge amount different in tube thickness is it?

That said - I dont think I can deform any of my tubes with my thumb - will try later though!

cougie · July 2008

I've put my Giant Carbon TCR on the roof rack with clamps on the down tube many times with no problems. I dont think i can deform the tube by hand though !

aarw · July 2008

it's just the down tube that you can feel the lack of thickness. it freaks you a little the first time you squeeze it with your thumb.

gkerr4 · July 2008

I just checked - (wandered out to the garage - first time I have left the house in some time - I am recovering from knee surgery last thursday. It hurts)

I can't deform any of the tubes on my roubaix - they are all rock solid.

jmccabe · December 2016

I know this is an old thread, but it's come up when I was searching for ideas about this subject. Based on some of the comments I had a look a the Thule Outride but, as of today at least, the user's manual at https://cdn1.static-tgdp.com/assetloade ... t=GB&att=1 explicitly says that it's not compatible with carbon fibre forks, so that presumably means it's not even an option for ally bikes with carbon forks.

Wonder why the race teams get away with both types?!

John

wishitwasallflat · December 2016

jmccabe wrote:

I know this is an old thread, but it's come up when I was searching for ideas about this subject. Based on some of the comments I had a look a the Thule Outride but, as of today at least, the user's manual at https://cdn1.static-tgdp.com/assetloade ... t=GB&att=1 explicitly says that it's not compatible with carbon fibre forks, so that presumably means it's not even an option for ally bikes with carbon forks.

Wonder why the race teams get away with both types?!

John

Many c forks have metal drop outs (my sworks roubaix does) I asked the spesh dealer if it was ok in an outride and they looked at me like I was mad and said of course it is thats where you fit the wheel. Ive done thousands of miles with mine on tbe outride and would rather it was clamped at the dropouts (which are designed for clamping forces) than any frame tube (least of all the down tube).

If i was buying again though I would buy one of those newer racks that clamp around the wheels and dont touch the frame at all.

StillGoing · December 2016

I've clamped all my carbon frame bikes on such a carrier. As has been stated, your front wheel in clamped in that way so what is the difference. Ultimately preferable to clamping the downtube or having it dangling on the back of the car.

jmccabe · December 2016

wishitwasallflat wrote:

Many c forks have metal drop outs

I thought they all did to be honest! I'll ask Giant about the OutRide; they were very clear about the ProRide:

Giant UK on Facebook wrote:

We do not advocate the use of any clamping system whether it be car, work stand or storage that clamps around a carbon tube. Any damage caused due to clamping would not be covered under the terms and conditions of the warranty agreement.

So any use of clamping devices are take on at the consumers own risk.

With carbon we would always recommend carrying in the car and not strapping it to it.

wishitwasallflat wrote:

If i was buying again though I would buy one of those newer racks that clamp around the wheels and dont touch the frame at all.

Is that a Thule device? I saw a link earlier to one like that but it didn't look like it was available in the UK.

John

flanners1 · December 2016

My mate safely transported his carbon road bikes on the roof of his people carrier with no ill effects to the frame, that was until he forgot he had his bike on the roof and drove under a height restriction bar entering a car park in Morizine, France, he exited the car looked at his bike which had been ripped off the roof along with the rack and then adopted the foetal position on the car ground adjacent to his bike.

wishitwasallflat · December 2016

jmccabe wrote:

wishitwasallflat wrote:

Many c forks have metal drop outs

I thought they all did to be honest! I'll ask Giant about the OutRide; they were very clear about the ProRide:

Giant UK on Facebook wrote:

We do not advocate the use of any clamping system whether it be car, work stand or storage that clamps around a carbon tube. Any damage caused due to clamping would not be covered under the terms and conditions of the warranty agreement.

So any use of clamping devices are take on at the consumers own risk.

With carbon we would always recommend carrying in the car and not strapping it to it.

wishitwasallflat wrote:

If i was buying again though I would buy one of those newer racks that clamp around the wheels and dont touch the frame at all.

Is that a Thule device? I saw a link earlier to one like that but it didn't look like it was available in the UK.

John

Some forks are all C including dropouts but AFAIK its less usual.

AFAIK Thule dont do those racks the ones Ive seen are Yakima or Inno check - http://www.roofbox.co.uk/bike-carriers/ ... -range.php and click on tyre holders option

jmccabe · December 2016

Thanks for that info. The Thule one mentioned is here: https://www.thule.com/en-us/us/bike-rac ... -_-5546509 but it's not shown on their UK version of the site. Now you've sent me that link, I remember having looked at them before but they looked too expensive at the time :-)

BTW - I got this reply from Giant about the OutRide:

From Giant UK on Facebook wrote:

Hi John, yes it is, it applies to any clamping mechanism on the bike itself. Kind regards, Ricki.

I've gone back to them with:

jmccabe wrote:

What about on the wheels, like these - http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehs ... ure5Lf%60~? Sorry to keep asking, but spending £1000s on a new car because I can't fit my bike and family inside the one we've currently got isn't really an option! BTW - how come it's ok for the race bikes to be clamped onto the top of the team cars for the multi-thousand mile jaunt round France every year?

John

wishitwasallflat · December 2016

Will be interested to see what they say re race bikes. Never seen that Thule model, like the look of the INNO myself Ive also got one of these ones

http://montblanconline.co.uk/mont-blanc ... le-carrier

which is great and holds three bikes including the kids also the saris gran fondo is another option.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... -12-47424/

In that pic though the rear wheel looks mighty close to the ground but Ive read a few places they are good and there is a single bike version too.

jmccabe · December 2016

I didn't think the tailgate ones were much use on our cars; we have one we got from Halfords years and years ago that has straps to keep it on and they go at a funny angle over the spoiler at the top of our i30s tailgate. Saying that, I see from that link that the MontBlanc one looks like it's got solid metal rods.I can't see anywhere that says it'll fit an i30 though. Our other car's a Ford Cougar, so the tailgate's way too slopy for that sort of thing really.

jmccabe · December 2016

wishitwasallflat wrote:

Will be interested to see what they say re race bikes. Never seen that Thule model, like the look of the INNO myself

It's interesting looking at the difference between the Yakima and Inno ones. The Yakima's a helluva lot cheaper, and I quite like the idea of the front wheel being held in two places which should hopefully stop any side to side wobble. It's nice to have that extra support at the back of the Inno one though so that the whole bike isn't being held vertical by just the front wheel. It does look enormous though!

Carbon frames on roof racks

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