Halfords cycle carriers, any experience?

haz_pro

Hey everyone,

I am looking at this cycle carrier:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65477#dtab

I have read the reviews and most of the recent ones seem decent, how ever there still is some bad reviews.

Has any one here used one? What did you think of it?

I actually work at halfords, or atleast i do until next week when i am leaving. I have been contemplating buying one for a while and thought i may aswell get it whilst i still have my staff discount card!

Cheers,

Harry.

tilt

Yep, I've got one.

Only used it once so far but it was fine. Take a bit of time to make sure it's set up to fit your car properly, suggest checking it after five mins or so of driving to make sure it hasn't slipped off the rear bumper and you should be good to go.

peter413

Been using it for the past year and a bit and its basically perfect.

Maybe bounces around a bit when loaded up with three heavy bikes but its rock solid with just one or two lightish (30ish lbs each) bikes on. Won't be getting any other for a good while yet.

I've had some very complicated designs of bikes on as well so no need to worry about bikes fitting and I can have a bike on and off in under a minute easily, its just 4 straps at most

nicklouse

bikes rest on each other. need well padding.

would not bother with one like that again.

haz_pro

Ah sounds awesome guys, the lads at work tell me its more hassle then it is worth. But in my opinion after a muddy ride you dont really want to be putting your bike in the back of your clean car do you?

I will be putting a carrera fury 2008 and an old specialized hardrock on it so i guess they arnt too heavy?

Thanks for quick replies guys.

Did you both fit it first time yourself? I might get someone at my work to do it but it would be less hassle for me if i could buy it at another store and avoid having to go to work and getting hassled by other staff haha.

haz_pro

Just read the above comment about the padding, hmm, that is annoying but its the same with the halfords advance rack i think?

I wont be using it that much as i am going to uni for the year in october, so im not sure i can justify spending much more money?

peter413

Was a doddle to fit according to my dad first time.

Once its set up at the right angles and stuff its really really easy to fit

And Nick, Halfords also sell a set of foam protectors for this rack and they work perfectly, no marking from other bikes, just riding the bike or other bikes when not on the rack

Ali82

I've got that one, it's a bit of a pain in the ass to put on and take off (as I would guess most carriers of this type are) but if installed correctly it's solid. I wouldn't put 3 bikes on it personally, with 2 bikes on you can just about stop them knocking into each other, although I do still get the occasional rub.

nicklouse

peter413 wrote:

Was a doddle to fit according to my dad first time.

Once its set up at the right angles and stuff its really really easy to fit

And Nick, Halfords also sell a set of foam protectors for this rack and they work perfectly, no marking from other bikes, just riding the bike or other bikes when not on the rack

yes I know I have had their racks before. but on a 900Km road trip they,Like I said need well padding. as constant contact cane put holes in any padding.

No such issues with a wheel supported rear rack.

ruswilks

I've got one, only use it a couple of times a year to get my bikes to uni and back, but it's 100 plus miles each way on motorways and A-roads and never had a problem. Normally stop at services half-way and so check the strap tension, never found them needing to be re-tightened. As it is only held in place by the straps it does move around a *little* bit if you're watching it in the rear view mirrors, but nothing unexpected or to worry about.

peter413

nicklouse wrote:

No such issues with a wheel supported rear rack.

Which also needs one of those electronic plate thingies, thats the whole point of this rack, thats not needed.

Everythings a compromise

tilt

haz_pro wrote:

Ah sounds awesome guys, the lads at work tell me its more hassle then it is worth. But in my opinion after a muddy ride you dont really want to be putting your bike in the back of your clean car do you?

I will be putting a carrera fury 2008 and an old specialized hardrock on it so i guess they arnt too heavy?

Thanks for quick replies guys.

Did you both fit it first time yourself? I might get someone at my work to do it but it would be less hassle for me if i could buy it at another store and avoid having to go to work and getting hassled by other staff haha.

We had an 08 Fury, a Decathlon Rockrider 6.3 and a fairly budget kids bike and had no problems.

atomic fox

i would look at all the options for bike carriers ,from my own expierience i had one from halfords for four to five years till it failed on me.luckily i was only going slow around a bend when the bracket holding the carrier sheared off chucking my bike down the road and it damaged my rear brake altogether (hydraulics too).took the carrier back to halfords and they didn t want to know .emailed customer services and still no joy as they reckoned no failures had been reported before. they might have improved since then but advise to check them carefully. i m not halfords bashing as they do stock some great VFM bikes.fury etc and mine was one incident but wish they had dealt with it better.

haz_pro

Yeah well i am on very good terms with the current boss of my branch who is soon moving up to regional manager so i am sure if i ever had any problems he would happily sort me out!

Reading what i have so far, i am pretty certain i will buy this rack tomorow, then use it to have a nice calm ride at box hill next week!

Im trying to find the foam protectors for the bikes on the halfords website but cant find them, can you link me peter413?

Any further input is appreciated.

haz_pro

Found them now, bloody 9.99! aha.

peter413

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_169597_langId_-1_categoryId_202503

haz_pro

yeah thanks, just realised you get a pair, although i would only ever have 2 bikes on it, guess i could double up the padding!

paulbox

I have one of these and it is crap, complete pain in the backside to get everything at the right angle. Then when you're driving it bounces about and gives you no confidence.

Buy a roof rack, it's worth the extra.

haz_pro

Aww i see, that sucks. Hmm gunna have to have a think!

funky_munky

I've got the advanced one (i think), and that works perfectly. Have done a fair few miles with a couple of bikes on the back and its doing its job fine.

Used to have a (very) old Halfords carrier which was put on using the straps and that lasted for years, it was one my parents had and I *stole* when I went to uni, it lasted ages!! The only reason I got the new one was because I had a new car and it fitted better.

haz_pro

Thanks for the input mate, i had a look at the advanced version but cant really justify the extra 45.99 since i dont think ill use it that much once i go to university!

earls

I'm currently using one very similar, a little older than this one and it works just fine, i only transport one bike on it though.
The issue i have with it is the set up. It's really difficult to change the positioning of the bars (reckon there must be a 'special' way that i don't know about - it was a hand me down). If you've got room to set it up and then and leave it set up it'll do just fine.

A roof mounted would be better and as soon as i can afford one thats what i'll go for. You can lock your bike to a roof mounted as well for a bit of reassurance while your in the dunny!

bracknelldave

I have had one of these for a three weeks now and is far better than the low one i used to have, As for the bikes touching eachother this was very easy to solve using pipe lagging cut to about 3 inch then put velcro around them. so now where ever there is contact just pop them on secure velcro .

had no problems fitting 3 bikes on

haz_pro

Sweet mate, where does this pipe and velcro go, i am a little confused!

I presume you put the pipe around the frame of the bike, and the velcro is to prevent the pipe scratching the bikes?

bracknelldave

Couple of photo to explain





can be fitted around bike or rack

Dave[/img]

haz_pro

Ohhh i get it now, i had completely the wrong idea, i bet that is probably cheaper then buying them halfords foam protectors, and probably better too!

Thanks for the pictures, glad i signed up didnt realise people would be so helpful!

I have only just got back into MTBing again after having a break for about 5 years whilst BMXing. I picked up my brand new fury 08 for 145 quid so it was a no brainer really!

Think ill deffo pick up one of these racks and some of that foam tomorow!

bracknelldave

wickes or B&Q think it about £6 for a pack of 5x Metre lenghts

haz_pro

Cheers mate i have had a look on both shops websites and can find insulation up to 28mm. This will ofcourse fit chain stay, seat stays, seat post and forks. But it wont fit the top tube or down tube, so hopefully these dont rub when multiple bikes are on the rack?

haz_pro

Bought one earlier this evening.

Took me a while to fit it as i couldnt find 2 anchor points underneath my polo. Ended up having to settle for the thing at the exhaust connects to so hopefully it wont rip it off haha, seems pretty sturdy though!

Bought some of that foam tubing and used it where the pedal hit the cycle rack, and where the spokes of the bike his the cycle rack. Over all i am very happy, only a long drive will tell how well the straps stay tight but so far i am pleaed!

Thanks for all the input!

stigofthedump

Halfords do a rack with metal attacment to the car and rubber cups with velcro to hold the bikes. My mate has one and it is excellent.
This one
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165477
I bought the rubber cups seperately from halfords and use them on my Pendle rack.
I would also recommend the pipe lagging, but it is worth spending a bit extra on the original rack to prevent damage to your bike.
One other thing, if you are ever going to France the gendarmes dont like strap mounted racks or using one without a lighting board, even if it is high mounted. they will issue on the spot fines. Apparently strap mounted racks falling from cars have caused some accidents in Britain, including the death of a motorcyclist, and the police here are checking them more carefully too.

TommyK

Hi Haz,

I've had the 2 bike model for a few years and it seems to share the same foam and plastic locking teeth on the adjusters as this one. The plastic adjusters on ours jammed and can't be opened any more without writing the thing off, the foam pads eventually split leaving steel tubing against your car's paintwork.

The lower hooks free themselves and the rivets holding the smaller bike straps on came off. Roundabouts make for a nervous few seconds too.

It's obviously for you to weigh up the pro's and con's and justify cost, I'll personally never buy one again of similar design. I think a nice van is hard to beat! But for better affordability I'd probably look for a Saris Bones or consider a Thule roof rack (just don't do what my mate did and drop a freeride bike on his Mrs' car roof!)