After 70mph crash.. which bike rack!

gareth84

Hi,

Had a total nightmare yesterday, my new bike flew off the roof of my car and bounced down the motorway. I was using a Mont Blanc SCOTT Bike Rack, only a few months old and it looks like the main pivot on the arm snapped :shock:

My bike is a bit worse for wear as you can imagine, but i`m not really bothered about it as i'm just really thankful no one was hurt - i must have used up all of my karma now.

So can anyone suggest a roof bike carrier that has the handy design feature of keeping the bike on the car? money is not a factor now!

thanks.
g

tjwood

:shock: ouch! That just made me go and check my insurance policies. Hopefully your bike is covered for accidental damage but in any case you might have a claim against the seller and/or manufacturer if the rack is only a few months old and you followed the instructions correctly - incidents like that should never happen with a properly fitted rack in good condition.

I have a Thule ProRide 591 which seems very secure (in a "keeping it on the car" kind of way, not really in a "stopping people nicking your bike" sense) and highly recommended on other threads. The main arm is certainly very sturdy and it has a lockable clamp which holds the bike in place.

Andy B

What bike is it for?

Another vote for a Thule 591, if it fits your bike (fits almost all bikes)

gareth84

its a focus black forest, but its going to take a lot of work to get it ridable again :-(

I am not insured in this case, as i keep my bike inside all the time (covered by the house insurance ) and never leave them any where.

thanks for the tip about the thule, i think i will order two of those.

fletch8928

slightly off topic but for just £25/yr i have my bike insured as named on home ins and on thursday i had to make a claim and i am getting a new (slightly improved) bike. good on churchill.

the Thule system works very well, i dont have one but a riding mate does and they seem really good. I have a Saris Bones and i have not had any incidents but i do worry about a rear ending, probably like you will worry when you get a new rack.

just glad it wasnt incident riddled with going through a car window ect ect for you

landranger

Hi,
I swear by the Avenir Vermont. The bikes sit on rails and are clamped by arms. I also put a ratchet strap round it and they are rock solid. You can find it cheaper than this site but I think it's safe as houses!
http://www.cyclelife.com/ProductDetail. ... 59&pg=3743

paulscutt

I'd recommend any Thule bike rack - i use the 'clip on high' rear rack for my full sus and DJ bikes and it is ROCK SOLID! also used gthe saris bones which is almost as solid but wont fit full sus/strange framed bikes.

As for insurance: ( i work for an insurer) i's advise you to specify your bike on your contents insurance as an 'all risks specified' item and have full accidental damage cover on your contents to cover your pride and joy in pretty much every eventuality!

If you need a good quote let me know lol

snotty badger

Slighty off topic a few years ago when I was heading south on the M6 I noticed a bike rack with 3 bikes sitting in the middle lane on the North side- quite a busy day too :shock:

Levi_501

I lob my bike inside the car (estate)

If I where to buy a rack, I think I would go for a towbar mounted one, obviously the bike is behind the car and not taking the wide directly.

GHill

My own order of preference

In car > behind car > top of car

Houghty

I use the Thule Euroway on my tow bar. I can sit 3 full suspension bikes on it and taz down the motorway at 95mph. I've had a friend follow me and its apparently rock solid. I'm not suggesting for a second that I'd recommend these speeds but I'm just illustrating how well built the whole thing is.

Everything I've ever had from Thule is superb and don't forget their policy of any parts are exchanged at no cost so heaven forbid a light blows etc they ship a replacement.[color=blue][/color]

gareth84

I`ve got a 107, so the roof is the only option (no tow bar,glass tailback and too small inside )

I tried to get it on my house insurance but they wanted another £110 which i thought was a bit steep :? still lesson well and truly learnt! Thanks for all the advice, i went and got the thule proride, think i will buy a few bungey cords as well for my own sanity!

nicklouse

another vote for a Thule 591

BorisSpencer

I use relatively cheap carriers (£15 a go from Towsure), I have four on one car and two on the other. BUT I always make sure both wheel straps are on each bike properly AND I then add a PVC coated cable from one roof rail through each bikes main trangle and locked down to the rail on the other side.

Not only does this add a secondary method of securing to the roof, but it also adds a second security lock. Like this

fletch8928

gareth84 wrote:

I`ve got a 107, so the roof is the only option (no tow bar,glass tailback and too small inside )

I tried to get it on my house insurance but they wanted another £110 which i thought was a bit steep :? still lesson well and truly learnt! Thanks for all the advice, i went and got the thule proride, think i will buy a few bungey cords as well for my own sanity!

I had a citroen ax and that would take 2 bikes very easily if you took the front wheel out.

£110 does seem a bit steep, shop around next time, i am going to be holding my breath when my renewal comes

lesz42

few years back saw a MPV going some, on a motorway, with a bikerack on the back with 3 bikes



few miles later, i saw in the distance, what looked like a tree in the middle lane, said bikes and rack, it came off at very high speed, and the bikes were "rounded off" was like a tube

:shock:

half mile later, said MPV, stopped on the hard shoulder, with confuesd driver

spark1479

Ouch - sounded painful for the bike and for you having to watch it in the mirrors. I've had numerous problems with bike racks in the past so never use them, always go for bars now.

Go for Thule aerobars and the 591 pro ride carriers. They are by far the best setup - Gonna cost you about £200 but well worth it. The 591 uses the t-bar system with the aerobars and the ratchet system on the 591s works well with full sus frames.

The Halfords advanced carriers (made by Thule) are great for hard tails but need some adjusting for FS bikes