Bike Transportation - best roof rack

arlowood

Up to now, any riding away from home has involved unshipping the front wheel and wedging the bike into the back of the car with the rear seats down. While OK for occasional forays, I am planning to do start sportive riding seriously next year. Consequently I would like to get hold of a roof mounted bike carrier over the winter period.

Have identified 3 different types and am wondering if anyone out there has any advice on which is best for ease of use and also importantly for the security and safety of the bike.

The Thule type involves mounting the complete bike using a lockable clamp on the down tube.The Avenir requires the front wheel to be removed and the bike is fixed by a lockable skewer mount through the front forks. I have also seen a type similar to the Thule but with the bike being fixed by a clamp on one of the cranks.

Does anyone have any thoughts or experience of these carriers with ideas of which is best.


My instinct says that the Avenir type would be the most stable and aerodynamic but is it likely to put a lot of strain on the front forks and headset?

Rich Hcp

Thule, easy to get the bike on and off and not at all fiddly

kevinp

Thule, for me every time over ten years use of various versions easy to use and robust

ajb72

Having previously used the boot mounted (Saris Bones) carriers, for the last 6 months I swiched to the Thule bike carier and roof bars.

They are so much less hassle to use - simply lift the bike straight on, strap the wheels down and clamp the frame and off you go - done in a couple of minutes. Just don't forget to lock the clamp.

Not the cheapest by any means, but very well made, robust and (relatively!) good looking.

Wheelspinner

Thule seem to be a popular choice. Read this though:

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12622405

My only query is that clamp arm on the Thule seems designed to fit around the middle of the downtube - on bumpy or windy days, does that not put a lot of crushing side load on the tube walls??? Is that good for carbon frames?

dmch2

Very happy with my thule as well.

The clamp is rubberised and not over tight so you're miles off crushing loads being a problem.

Having to take the front wheel on/off each time would be an extra faff (and where do you put the front wheel? In the car? When it's covered in brake dust and road grime? Yuck!)

ajb72

I've not heard of a case of damage to the downtube of a carbon frame, only problems where the clamp has not been locked and has later snapped open.

hopper1

I've just bought the Thule 561, which clamps the forks to the rack (wheel out!).

Thule also have a seperate holder available for the front wheel, so it can stay outside, too.

Not used mine yet, but it looks the part, and I got it in a sale at Halfords.

proto

I use a Thule carrier, the type that clamps the front fork dropouts. I've got two carriers and took two bikes to Itlay year before last. Very stable and secure, even at speeds up to 110 mph or so. Hardly a faff to drop out the front whee, what 10 seconds or so? I normally stow the wheel in the boot, but if fully loaded then I have two of the Thule wheel carriers.

Take a look at this link:

http://thule.basilicon.se/#/?guid=22_outride_561_v2

alan_sherman

I have the old elite san remo carrier which you take the front wheel out of the bike. The big advantage of this style of fiting is that the only contact points are the fork tips (same as the wheel quick release) and the rear wheel where the rim can easily be padded. So nothing is going to rub or get scratched. Also the fork clamp is very secure so the bike doesn't wobble around.

All the tour roof racks used to be like these but now they are also using the ones that clamp the down tube so they must be OK too.

dmch2

When you take the bike off the carrier and put it down don't you have to be careful not to damagw the forks? you can't just rest them on tarmac as you'll damage/chip/scratch the paint. If it's got a wheel on the it's easy.

How much cheaper are the wheel off jobs?

marco67

I bought Atera branded roof rack cycle holders, at the time they were rated above the Thule bars and were slightly less expensive.

They've served me well for 7 years carrying carbon, titanium, road and mountain bikes.

It seems Atera make most of the car manufacturers "own brand" racks and bars - I would highly recommnend them.

arlowood

proto wrote:

I use a Thule carrier, the type that clamps the front fork dropouts. I've got two carriers and took two bikes to Itlay year before last. Very stable and secure, even at speeds up to 110 mph or so. Hardly a faff to drop out the front whee, what 10 seconds or so? I normally stow the wheel in the boot, but if fully loaded then I have two of the Thule wheel carriers.

Hi Proto

Am leaning towards the front fork clamp type carrier which you indicate served you well on long distance high speed journeys. However I have found a disclaimer that Thule do not recommend this type of carrier on bikes which have carbon forks due to the likely stresses causing damage.

They recommend contacting your bike manufacturer if you have carbon forks and plan to use this type of mount.

I have a Specialized Secteur Elite with carbon forks and Zertz inserts. Any thoughts on suitability or should I be talking to Specialized before splashing out on a fork mount roof carrier

japsy

arlowood wrote:

.....However I have found a disclaimer that Thule do not recommend this type of carrier on bikes which have carbon forks due to the likely stresses causing damage.

They recommend contacting your bike manufacturer if you have carbon forks and plan to use this type of mount......

Do you have a link to this disclaimer? I thought these racks were designed to take carbon framed bikes in the first place and I'd imagine most carbon road bikes will have carbon forks.

proto

I think that originally Thule were referring to carbon dropouts only, not carbon forks as such, but I'm fairly certain that even this has been rescinded and they now recommend this mount for forks of any construction.

I have just browsed their website and can find nothing mentioned. When I bought mine I asked about this and was told the warning was no longer applicable (I suppose they would say that though, wouldn't they!)

For what it's worth, I have no qualms about putting my LOOK 585 and my daughter's BMC Pro Machine on these bike carriers, and both have 100% carbon forks, not an alloy dropout to be seen!

From the Thule website:

Features

Easily adjustable snap-on fastener for all types of forks.
Light and elegant aluminium design.
Also for bikes equipped with disc brakes and 20mm through axle (adapter included).
With quick-release wheel straps for quick and convenient loading and unloading of bikes, adjustable for different wheel sizes up to 2,5 inches, the wheels are securely fastened.
The recommended roof option for transportation of bikes with sensitive frames (e.g. Carbon)
Universal Quick-attachment allows mounting on various roof bars, up to 60 mm width.
This carrier is pre-assembled, no tools are required.
The maximum allowed weight per bike is 17 kg.
Locks are included in the product.
Lockable – bike to bike carrier, bike carrier to load carrier.
One Key System compatible. With this accessory you can replace the locking cylinders to use one and the same key for all your Thule products.
T-Track adapters (20x20mm) are included for mounting the carrier directly into the T-tracks of the roof bars.
Fulfils the City Crash norm.

alan_sherman

When you take the bike off the carrier and put it down don't you have to be careful not to damagw the forks?

I take the front wheel out the boot / off the roof first so the fork ends do not need to go anywhere near the ground.

arlowood

japsy wrote:

arlowood wrote:

.....However I have found a disclaimer that Thule do not recommend this type of carrier on bikes which have carbon forks due to the likely stresses causing damage.

They recommend contacting your bike manufacturer if you have carbon forks and plan to use this type of mount......

Hi Japsy

Do you have a link to this disclaimer? I thought these racks were designed to take carbon framed bikes in the first place and I'd imagine most carbon road bikes will have carbon forks.

Saw the disclaimer on one of the listings on Ebay. However like Proto I went to the Thule site and could find no reference to a disclaimer about carbon forks. In fact their Outride 561 carrier (skewer clamp model) is described as being specifically recommended for carbon framed bikes.

http://www.thule.com/en-GB/GB/Products/ ... 20561.aspx

Guess the Ebay lister was quoting some older fact sheet.

Just for peace of mind I have contacted Thule directly to confirm.

japsy

arlowood wrote:

japsy wrote:

arlowood wrote:

.....However I have found a disclaimer that Thule do not recommend this type of carrier on bikes which have carbon forks due to the likely stresses causing damage.

They recommend contacting your bike manufacturer if you have carbon forks and plan to use this type of mount......

Hi Japsy

Do you have a link to this disclaimer? I thought these racks were designed to take carbon framed bikes in the first place and I'd imagine most carbon road bikes will have carbon forks.

Saw the disclaimer on one of the listings on Ebay. However like Proto I went to the Thule site and could find no reference to a disclaimer about carbon forks. In fact their Outride 561 carrier (skewer clamp model) is described as being specifically recommended for carbon framed bikes.

http://www.thule.com/en-GB/GB/Products/ ... 20561.aspx

Guess the Ebay lister was quoting some older fact sheet.

Just for peace of mind I have contacted Thule directly to confirm.

Thanks for the update. Would be interesting to here what Thule officially say on the matter. I have just bought this rack for taking my bike to races and obviously wouldn't want to do any damage.

arlowood

Hi Guys

Just got this response from Thule regarding the 561 carrier and carbon forks.

"Thanks for the mail - please be advised that the 561 is suitable if you
bike has metal drop outs. If the forks and the drop outs are 100% carbon
then it's not suitable. "

Just puzzles me that their advertising blurb for the 561 carrier specifically mentions carbon framed bikes. Might go back to him and query that part of their literature.

Watch this space

ajb72

Seems like common sence to me though. If the only thing holding the frame to the rack with any force is the drop-outs, you would need to exert more force that I would be happy to apply to apply to such a fragile area.

bigpikle

I bought the Thule one but the clamp just wouldnt fit on my road bike - no way I could get it to reach the tube and clamp on.

I ended up with the other Thule design where you remove the front wheel and attach the front forks to an axle in the roof rack. It means having to stow the front wheel somewhere but is actually a great design and because of the stability you get as soon as the forks sit on the axle it makes the on/off process really easy.

Not cheap though but looks a good bit of kit....

DeadlyDarcy

I ended up with the other Thule design where you remove the front wheel and attach the front forks to an axle in the roof rack. It means having to stow the front wheel somewhere but is actually a great design and because of the stability you get as soon as the forks sit on the axle it makes the on/off process really easy.

I have both - the one where you place the full bike on and clamp the down tube, and the one Bigpikle describes above. I bought them second hand and the chap selling had one of each so that's what I ended up with.

Will probably never use anything apart from Thule - everything works really well and nothing breaks. If I'm taking just my bike though - I use the fork mounted carrier...feels more stable and easier to get a bike on and off. I have a wheel bag for the front wheel.

Having said that, if it was a mountain bike that was going to be covered in crap, the carrier where the whole bike sits on it has its advantages.

arlowood

proto wrote:

I think that originally Thule were referring to carbon dropouts only, not carbon forks as such, but I'm fairly certain that even this has been rescinded and they now recommend this mount for forks of any construction.

HI guys

Just got a response back from Thule to clear up the confusion over the suitability of their Outride 561 carrier for bikes with carbon forks.

I challenged the the guy at Thule when he said this carrier was not recommended for bikes with carbon forks.

Thule state that as long as the drop-outs are metal then the carrier is OK - irrespective of the fork construction material. If the forks and drop-outs are carbon - then Thule do not recommend this design of carrier. So it appears that this restriction has not been rescinded despite what Proto said earlier.

Will now have to check if my Specialised FACT carbon forks have metal drop-outs as I was keen on getting this carrier to transport my bike.

arlowood

"Will now have to check if my Specialised FACT carbon forks have metal drop-outs as I was keen on getting this carrier to transport my bike.[/quote]"

Just had a response from Specialized in the UK that the dropouts on my Secteur Elite are metal with only the fork blades being carbon.

On that basis I am probably going to proceed with buying the Thule 561 type carrier since I believe it to be a more stable option than the other design that clamps onto the downtube.

OK so I have to take off and refit the front wheel but that is only a 30 second job at most

For anyone else thinking about buying a 561 type carrier i would check out the construction of your front dropouts before buying.

proto

I really can't see what Thule's concern might be. It clamps just as a front wheel does, same surfacess, same method, similar forces involved.

Carbon dropouts on my LOOK and BMC. Examined them, can't see a probelm, so I'll carry on using the roof rack.

dmch2

Bigpikle wrote:

I bought the Thule one but the clamp just wouldnt fit on my road bike - no way I could get it to reach the tube and clamp on.

Which road bike have you got? Is the tube just too thick or something?

It's fits mine fine although i feel slightly guilty clamping (even so it's covered in soft rubber) the gear cables against the tube...

bigpikle

dmch2 wrote:

Bigpikle wrote:

I bought the Thule one but the clamp just wouldnt fit on my road bike - no way I could get it to reach the tube and clamp on.

Which road bike have you got? Is the tube just too thick or something?

It's fits mine fine although i feel slightly guilty clamping (even so it's covered in soft rubber) the gear cables against the tube...

Look KG386

it was a while ago but IIRC the problem was that the arm would only reach the downtube at a point where it was impossible to actually get the clamp on. The frame is a monocoque design and doesnt have a slim round downtube like most designs but I think it was the front wheel that obstructed it.

The 'wheel off' version was a tad more £££ but I'm actually happier with it as I reckon its a more secure design anyway.

dmch2

You can slide the wheel rest bits fore/aft which can help but a quick google shows that you've got a pretty big diameter down there (hmm... that sounds like a euphemism somehow...). Worth considering for anyone considering buying one!

arlowood

proto wrote:

I really can't see what Thule's concern might be. It clamps just as a front wheel does, same surfacess, same method, similar forces involved.

Carbon dropouts on my LOOK and BMC. Examined them, can't see a probelm, so I'll carry on using the roof rack.

Not really qualified as a structural engineer but it may be that the lateral forces placed on the carbon dropouts while the bike is clamped on the roof of a car at full tilt on a motorway may be the issue. Side winds and lane changes plus buffeting when overtaking HGV's might put stresses on the carbon that are not encountered during normal cycling.

On the other hand Thule may just be being over-cautious since full carbon fork/dropouts are generally found on more expensive bikes and they want to avoid costly compensation wrangles.

bigpikle

thats interesting - 3 of my bikes are CF forks with metal dropouts but my Look has CF forks with what appear to be CF dropouts...not good then

glaw5

Daft question probbly but I take it you need a roof rack to use the thule spoken about here?