Bike carriers

davidof

what do folks reccommend for bike carriers these days? I'm looking at something that will be good for 120/130kph motorway driving. Is it worth going for a towbar model and how difficult are these to remove? I had one that hung off the back door but it left marks on the painwork.

davidof

oxoman wrote:

Personally I prefer towbar mounted as easier to load up, thule are best then acera get a good review and also pendle. Pendle are bit agricultural though the other 2 are better, you want the ones that the bike sits on rather hangs off and with built in lights. If you do a search on here you will find loads of advice to help you. No marks easy to fit and load.

Hi thanks for the feedback. I'll look further.

juanerasmoe

I've been using a Saris Bones (http://goo.gl/Tjl9ae) for years and it have work well; no marks in the paint. However, I do try to stay below 100kmh.
Just out of curiosity, why not a roof rack (http://goo.gl/j0B7S4)?

lostboysaint

Atera Strada IS the one. Thule do lovely kit (I have one as well) but the Strada is the dogs. Towbar models are the best - very little impact on fuel economy, no height issues, easily loaded/unloaded, most are lockable so security is good etc.

Big deal is to make sure that you get one that tilts or, as with the Strada, slides and tilts, to clear the boot/hatch. This means that you can leave it loaded and still do all the stuff you want in the boot.

Downside - well of course your precious cargo is in danger of being rear-ended, but then how many times have you been rear-ended (ooooooerrrrrr!!)? And the bikes are at a nice height for petty theft/vandalism - but how many times has that happened to you and will you leave them unattended?

navrig2

I went for a tow bar Thule on the assumption it would be easier for my missus to use compared to getting bikes onto the roof (her bike was a hybrid leaning towards MTB style) as her bike was quite heavy. My assumption was wrong because th tow bar unit is, itself, quite heavy and needs a firm hand to fix to the towbar.

That said once fitted it is rock solid. Once fitted I test it by standing on the extreme edge and gently bouncing. The only movement should bo in the car suspension. I was 85kg.

When we replace the current car I'll probably switch to Thule roof bars rather than pay for a tow bar to be fitted.

Roof bars and bike carriers are a little easier to stow in the garage.

davidof

juanerasmoe wrote:

I've been using a Saris Bones (http://goo.gl/Tjl9ae) for years and it have work well; no marks in the paint. However, I do try to stay below 100kmh.
Just out of curiosity, why not a roof rack (http://goo.gl/j0B7S4)?

I think the French toll roads are more expensive if you have a roof rack; but I may be wrong.

briantrumpet

This is the one I whizz up & down to the French pad with: http://www.halfords.com/cycling/accesso ... le-carrier - much lighter and simpler than the more expensive model Halfords do (or the more-than-double-the-price Thule version), rock solid, doesn't attract a premium on ferries or toll roads. I've been told that roof-mounted bikes hit fuel consumption much worse than towbar-mounted ones.

Anyway, this one has done about 10,000 miles on the back of my car, and the bikes have all been transported safely. No complaints at all. It doesn't even say 'Halfords' anywhere obvious on it, to give the game away you've been in the shop.

Just had to giggle when there was £10,000s-worth of bike on the back of a £300 Clio.