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fuzzyfreak
Joined: 05 Nov 2009
Posts: 9
Location: Saffron Walden, Essex, UK
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 Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 1:48 pm |
Cheers for all the replies. No, as mentioned before - chucking three bikes (or even two) in the boot of my car is not an option. You guys who talk about thievery, I can only assume you live in Salford, and not Cambridgeshire like me - the day my bike gets nicked off the back of my car while it is driving along is the day I eat my helmet....my bike helmet that is!
So now I start looking for a tow bar fitter in the area - and get a price.
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Ian P
Joined: 27 May 2009
Posts: 11
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 2:00 pm |
Sounds like a good decision- I had a tow bar fitted together with bar mounted carriertearlier in the year and its absolutely excellent. Carrier fits on / off in seconds, bikes easy to put on / off, straight access to boot once bikes are off, can also access boot with bikes of by loosening 2 holding bolts (even easier on more expensive carrier), and effect on petrol consumption is much less than my old high mounted carrier. Cost me £320 for tow bar and carrier including assembly of carrier and number plate, note the cheapest way but I haven't regretted it once.
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bails87
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Posts: 696
Location: Solihull, United Kingdom
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 2:02 pm |
I think the theivery worry is more to do with where you're driving to than where you're driving from. 
But towbar is probably the best option - most secure in terms of staying on the car, and you can run a cable lock through the bikes and through the towbar assembly for security. Unfortunately it's also the most expensive.
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Daz555
Joined: 11 Aug 2008
Posts: 1272
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 2:13 pm |
Right now I have a simple rear carrier but when possible (depending on what I'm carrying) I have always tried to put the bike in the car.
However my new car has a detachable towbar fitted so I'm gonna get hold of a towbar mounted carrier fairly soon as they look to me to be the best solution .
You only need two tools: WD40 and Duck Tape.
If it doesn't move and should, use the WD40.
If it shouldn't move and does, use the tape. |
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yeehaamcgee
Joined: 07 May 2007
Posts: 6057
Location: Worth Nails
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 2:19 pm |
| .blitz wrote: | | Saris bones. Put a bag over the rear view mirror so you can't see your bike swaying from side-to-side. |
I use a bungee cord to tie the bikes together, and to the rack. The seat-tube clips are in completely the wrong place for my bikes.
With the bungee, they don't sway at all.
Mae'n enw i wedi ei grafu, hefo hoelan wedi rhydu, ar y lechan las
New
Old
Hardtail
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.blitz
Joined: 02 Sep 2008
Posts: 2016
Location: Dick Slee's Cave
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 2:24 pm |
| yeehaamcgee wrote: | | I use a bungee cord to tie the bikes together, and to the rack. |
My problem is that the bikes and the rack are swaying from side-to-side lol
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yeehaamcgee
Joined: 07 May 2007
Posts: 6057
Location: Worth Nails
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scale20
Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 496
Location: North Wales
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 2:36 pm |
| fuzzyfreak wrote: | Cheers for all the replies. No, as mentioned before - chucking three bikes (or even two) in the boot of my car is not an option. You guys who talk about thievery, I can only assume you live in Salford, and not Cambridgeshire like me - the day my bike gets nicked off the back of my car while it is driving along is the day I eat my helmet....my bike helmet that is!
So now I start looking for a tow bar fitter in the area - and get a price. |
Have a look here at the witter towbars site
http://www.witter-towbars.co.uk/towbars/price_list.aspx
I think they have an option to buy the towbar online and choose a fitting location.
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.blitz
Joined: 02 Sep 2008
Posts: 2016
Location: Dick Slee's Cave
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yeehaamcgee
Joined: 07 May 2007
Posts: 6057
Location: Worth Nails
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 2:44 pm |
no, the side straps, they shouldn't get in the way of any spoiler.
Mae'n enw i wedi ei grafu, hefo hoelan wedi rhydu, ar y lechan las
New
Old
Hardtail
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Hercule Q
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
Posts: 1773
Location: On the floor by the bar
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 3:36 pm |
we usually put the bikes on the roof via a thule 951 racks
----------------------------------------pinkbike--------------------------------
One of Gods own prototypes, to weird to live, to rare to die |
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x-isle
Joined: 10 Mar 2007
Posts: 294
Location: Somewhere he probably shouldn't be
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delcol
Joined: 13 Jul 2007
Posts: 748
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 6:45 pm |
i cant get a mountain bike in my car even if it it is stripped down to just a frame. the joy of 2 seat sports car. (honda crx del-sol)
i cant fit a bike rack cause of the shape of the boot and the fact it's a targa top (roof come off)
i did not want to have a tow bar welded to it..
we ended up getting a peugeot partner escerpade combi van come mini mpv it will take 2 complete bikes and all the luggage you could need.
or 3 bikes and 3 people if you remove the front wheels and luggage,,, bikes are in side van has tinted privercy glass so no one can see your bikes in side so bikes are not on display, and yes salford is only a stone throw away from me..
fuel wise it does around 52mpg so it not that bad on long road trips.....
i had no other option there was no way the sol would take a bike so i had to either change the car (not an option) or get a second one....
www.bearbackbiking.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/MrDelcol#play/uploads
hd vids
http://www.youtube.com/user/topasassin#play/uploads |
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dave_hill
Joined: 16 Oct 2007
Posts: 3638
Location: Burnley, Lancs.
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 7:10 pm |
Get a Volvo V70, they're great.
I can get all my bikes, all my mate's bikes, a picnic hamper, Snap-On tool chest, a small wardrobe, dining table and chairs, bale of hay, skis, and a 25kg sack of dog biscuits in mine.
Just not all at the same time obviously...
Give a home to a retired Greyhound. Tia Greyhound Rescue
Help for Heroes |
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Jay dubbleU
Joined: 18 Sep 2008
Posts: 1203
Location: Armpit of the known universe
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 7:12 pm |
I use a Pendle rear rack - well engineered and solid as a rock even carrying two bikes
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn’t work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.”
Emo Philips
Evil Commuter - Voodoo Bokur on semislicks
FCN 9 |
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scottyjohn
Joined: 02 Jul 2008
Posts: 117
Location: Glasgow, the bumpy country
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 7:43 pm |
I already had a tow bar on my car, so got a Thule ride on tow bar carrier. Carries 3 bikes and leaves the rest of the car for luggage an bodies  Got mine from Halfords for about £100. Fantastic bit of kit, comes on and off the towbar in two minutes. Has a lightboard with connections included, and you loosen two levers and the whole thing tilts back so you can still get into the tailgate. Its been great
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sparrowlegs78
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Posts: 771
Location: Blackburn ,lancs
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 8:03 pm |
We use a halfords bike rack for our 2 bikes, it stays put but we do crank it on tight.
The is on a Daewoo Matiz as well ! 
Caz xxx
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Raymondavalon
Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 615
Location: Between the chair and monitor
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 8:06 pm |
| x-isle wrote: | I see far too many of those strap on bike racks that are not designed to carry heavy bikes.
Roof rack ones are fine, but I don't like the idea of not being able to see the bike coming loose. |
I agree on the first point, I often come across people carriers with three bikes strapped on to a budget rear mounted bike rack.
As for the "not being able to see the bike coming loose" well as someone who carries up to four bikes on Thule 591 bike carriers, the chances of a bike ever coming loose is negligible. Yes I always ensure the bikes are correctly mounted and the jaw/wheel straps are tight AND locked
The only instance I've read (heard) of a bike coming loose from roof mounts was with one of those budget (spring and wingnut) Halfords type roof carriers.
However I've heard first hand and read many a story about bikes coming loose from rear mounted carriers.
Like all things in life you get what you pay for, but even if a bike were to come loose on a towbar / rear window type mount on a motorway, would you notice it at first? Remember most people are quite complacent with their bike carrying arrangement and take it for granted all is well back there.
My dedicated bike hauler is a Land Rover Discovery [V8] and I sometimes do carry bikes inside, but usually when they're clean and en route to the LBS for indexing etc.
Of all the options out there I still swear by [good quality] roof mounts and I can opt for loading bikes inside, towbar, rear window or spare wheel mount.
| Kona Kula | Felt Compulsion 2 SE | Diamondback M40 | Apple Mac Lover | 4x4 Owner: Get over it! |
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Surf-Matt
Joined: 22 Apr 2008
Posts: 4257
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scale20
Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 496
Location: North Wales
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 8:34 pm |
| Surf-Matt wrote: | On the roof rack on 591 carriers (x2) - brilliantly designed and very easy to use. I used to have "box" bars but now have aero bars - the carriers are MUCH easier to fit to aero bars.
The car JUST about copes with the extra weight (Stumpy - 23lbs, Rockhopper - 27lbs, Allex Elite - 18lbs)
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You just wanted to show off your car I do like them, and a strong contender for my next spend!
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