Which bike rack
Bike racks are available in 3 main styles: those that strap onto the rear of the vehicle, bike racks where special brackets, rails and frames are attached to the roof to hold the bikes and tow bar mounted bike racks. Click on these links for advice about the advantages and disadvantages of each style. Safety, strength, security are vital qualities you should demand from any bike rack. Remember that a rack that is simple to fit and easy to load will be used more often, allowing you and your family to enjoy riding your bikes regularly.
- TABLE comparing carrier types
- REAR MOUNTED, STRAP-ON cycle carriers
- ROOF MOUNTED cycle carriers
- TOW BAR MOUNTED cycle carriers
TABLE COMPARING RACK TYPES
This table shows the various benefits available when using each of the various types of bike rack.
| Strap-on | Roof mounted | Tow bar mounted | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety | X | √ | √ |
| Strength | X | √ | √ |
| Ease of use | X | X | √ |
| No damage | X | X | √ |
| Fuel consumption | √ | X | √ |
| Security | X | √ | √ |
| Boot access | X | √ | √ |
REAR MOUNTED, STRAP-ON CYCLE CARRIERS
Popular racks which are usually cheaper than other styles. Because they fit directly onto the rear of the vehicle, no special fittings are required so appear to be easier to use. However, take the following points into consideration:
Often complicated, difficult and time consuming to fix to the car.
Many buckles and straps which can come loose or simply damage the paintwork.
Rarely strong. Ask your retailer if they believe they really are strong enough to carry 3 or 4 bikes.
Bikes usually close to and often damage paintwork of vehicle.
Require complete unloading to gain access to the rear of the car.
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| Potential damage to paintwork from bike pedals. Towels and foam added to protect paintwork. |
Extra straps, buckles and bungees added for security. No access to boot without completely unloading. |
These bike racks tend to be the initial experience of owning a cycle carrier. Owners often add extra straps to secure the bikes and towels or foam trying to protect the car. The apparent benefit of low cost is soon replaced with frustration. The result is that these cycle carriers are rarely used and usually consigned to the loft or jumble sale.
ROOF MOUNTED CYCLE CARRIERS
These racks have become very popular as they are strong, hold the bikes firmly and you can carry as many bikes as there is room on the roof. However, you should also take the following points into consideration:
Very difficult to load bikes. Almost impossible to use on high, family cars or 4x4s.
Bikes are in the airsteam which substantially increases fuel consumption - as much as 30%.
Combination of roof-brackets, rails and bike holders make them expensive and complex.
Very easy to damage paintwork of vehicle during loading and unloading.
Extra height to your vehicle can restrict access to ferries or car parks.
The need to buy different mountings means extra costs when changing your vehicle.
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| Very difficult to load family saloons. | Increased drag produces high fuel consumption. |
These cycle racks are usually a major investment, bought with the intention of providing secure mounting for the bikes. Also, with the bikes loaded, it is still possible to gain access to the rear of vehicle. Unfortunately the difficulty of loading the bikes means these cycle carriers can be intimidating and time consuming to use. They can substantially increase fuel consumption which should be included when assessing the costs of these cycle carriers. Even driving with the empty rack on the roof can reduce fuel consumption by 10%. Paintwork damage to a new or prestigeous vehicle can also be extremely expensive to repair. Oh yes, and do not forget that the bikes are on the roof before entering a car park.
TOW BAR MOUNTED CYCLE CARRIERS
Much less widely used in the UK than roof mounted or strap-on cycle carriers but very common in other countries such as USA, Canada and Netherlands. Dependent on having a tow bar fitted to your vehicle. If you need to fit one, this needs to be added to the initial cost of the cycle carrier. Many car owners are initially unhappy at having a tow bar fitted. However, you should take in to account the following additional points before deciding which cycle carrier to choose.
Very strong. Genuinely capable of carrying 4 or even 5 bikes safely and for many years.
Bikes are held clear of the vehicle to prevent any damage to paintwork.
Tow bar mounted bike racks give the lowest increase in fuel consumption.*
In most cases one rack is suitable for use on a second car or if you change your vehicle.
Bikes are extremely easy to load.
* Which report May 2003: Bike racks. "If you're planning to transport several bikes regularly, we recommend you use a tow ball mounted carrier, as these tend to cause the least disturbance to airflow around the car, keeping effects on fuel and noise to a minimum."
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| Bikes held well clear of paintwork. Easy height for loading and unloading. |
Aerodynamic shape of car retained to reduce fuel consumption. |
The total cost of a tow bar and suitable bike carrier can be very similar to the total cost of a 4-bike, roof mounted, bike carrier system. The increased fuel consumption with current petrol prices quickly makes the overall cost of using a tow bar mounted bike rack cheaper than that of a roof mounted sytem. The ball of many modern tow bars can be removed when not in use making the tow bar virtually invisible. Time is spent using the bikes not loading racks and bikes onto the vehicle. In particular with a MAXXRAXX cycle carrier, once the foot is attached to the tow bar, the rack and bikes can all be loaded in about 5 minutes.
