Best Bike Rack

Bike Rack Options

2010-03-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

By Thomas Morva

A bike rack is a frame used for holding a bike in position and protecting it from theft. These are commonly used on vehicles and in garages.

Some of the bike rack options are roof mounted bike racks, rear ball/hitch mounts, trunk racks, wall mounted bike racks, folding bike racks, spare tire mount racks, front bumper bike racks, and tandem carrier bike racks. With an array of models available, one can choose a rack as per his individual requirements. Bike racks are used for the protection of both the bike and the vehicle.

A roof mounted bike rack is frequently used, and it is ideal for carrying bikes in cars, trucks, and other similar vehicles. A roof bike rack can hold up to four bikes at a time. Some roof mounted bike racks come clamped with a camper roof and are used as a conventional roof rack for sports vehicles.

Rear hitch-mount racks are another commonly used type. Rear hitch-mount racks, better known as receiver hitch racks, can carry up to five bikes. To carry one or two bikes, rear ball-hitch mount racks are ideal. A vehicle with a high front end can use a front bumper rack, and this rack can hold up to five bikes. Trunk racks can hold up to three bikes, and are safer than other racks. In addition to these, there are spare tire mount racks to mount a spare tire in the bikes. Wall mounted bike racks and folding bike racks are some of the bike rack options that help save space in a garage.

Bike racks are usually used on vehicles such as cars and trucks. All the bike rack options are available in a wide rang of sizes, styles, and budgets. For those who want to shop from home or office, bike racks can be ordered through the Internet.

Ebike Bike Racks

2010-03-03T05:48:00.000-08:00

By Daniel Bing

When people say bike rack, they may be talking about one of two things. There are bike racks to put your bike on your car in order to transport it over long distances, and there are bike racks to put your stuff on your bike, in order to transport it shorter (or not so short) distances. Both options are good things to have for any dedicated biker.

You can put an ebike on just about any old car mounted bike rack for easy transportation if it holds the entire bike at the same time. Racks that require you to remove one or both wheels usually will not work (depending on the model of ebike you happen to have) as part of the drive mechanism for the motor is often in one or both wheels and you really do not want to go messing around with that. Sometimes it is not a problem, but if you are not sure it is better not to try it. To be on the safe side, your best bet when looking into car mounted bike racks is to choose one that lets you put the entire ebike on it without taking anything apart. These are more convenient anyway as when you get to your destination, you can simply unhook the bicycle and go, without having to put anything back together first.

Car mounted bike racks generally come in two varieties: trunk or rear mounted bike racks or roof mounted bike racks. Your best bet will probably be the trunk or rear mounted bike racks (depending on whether you have a trunk or a lift gate) as these will let you get that whole bike on without removing anything. Roof mounted bike racks do come for whole bikes but these can be interesting when going under low overpasses or garages. All in all though, if you are looking to transport your trusty ebike over a long distance and by transport you do not mean ride, a bike rack on your car is an absolute must.

As for the second kind of bike racks, the put your stuff on your bike type, there are many options to choose from, and most of them work as well with an ebike as they do with a traditional bicycle. Many bikes, including ebikes do come with either front or rear bike racks already attached, but as for those that do not, you can buy a rack cheaply and easily in almost any bike store or over the internet. A bike rack is a flat platform that you can attach baskets to or use to hold things in place. They can be used with zip ties, bungee cords or rope if you are adventurous and paid attention in scouts. You can also attach panniers to the sides of a bike rack, and hold even more stuff. Bike racks are a must for grocery shopping on your ebike, and with panniers or folding baskets you can even take heavy stuff along on your trip without fear of it falling off.

Bike Racks For Cars and Trucks - How to Choose the Right One For You

2010-02-28T05:45:00.000-08:00

By Robert Heathyard

Tips for choosing the right one for you:

You want to go biking out in the backwoods but it's too far from home to consider cycling there and back. What do you do? Try to stuff your bike in the back of your car and risk damaging the upholstery or getting dirt and grease everywhere? No, the answer is simple, get a bike rack for your car or truck so you can transport your bike there and back.

That's the easy decision made, the hard part comes in deciding what type of rack to buy. There's a bewildering range on offer these days. This article is going to help you make an informed decision so you choose the right bike rack for your needs. So, what are your needs with regard to bike racks? Here are some starting points to consider:

* How often will you need to use it?
* How many bikes will you want to carry?
* Will the rack need to fit different vehicles (say, for example you will need to switch one rack between two family cars)?
* Is security of the bikes and rack paramount?
* Are you able to reach a high rack to load a bike onto it?
* Is your bike pretty standard in design or something unusual such as a tandem or recumbent?
* Do you already have a towing hitch fitted to your vehicle?
* Is your vehicle an off-road type with a spare wheel mounted on the rear?
* How much money are you prepared to spend?

What categories of rack are there?

There are four basic types: Hitch-mount racks. Roof mounted racks. Strap on trunk racks and racks that mount in the bed of a pickup truck. The cheapest tends to be the strap-on. They are fine for light duties but are the worst when it comes to security. The roof rack is good as it uses wasted space and doesn't hinder access to doors or the trunk but it can be quite difficult to load up due to the working height. The hitch mount is my favorite as it is easy to load and can take a lot of weight. If you've a pickup and don't need all the space in the bed for other stuff then the bed-mounted racks are great.

A bit more on the most important pros and cons of these racks:

Strap-on trunk mounted racks usually cost between $50 and $150. The rack needs to be tightly strapped onto the vehicle and the vehicle's paintwork must be properly protected from damage if parts of the carrier rest on the body. These strap-on racks usually carry one or two bikes, sometimes three. More than that and you risk damaging the car or bikes.

Pros

* They are good if you often change your vehicle as they are universal fitting.
* They are usually a manageable height for loading bikes on to.
* When not in use, they fold down for easy storage.
* With prices starting at just $50 they are the most affordable of all bike racks.

Cons

* The usual method of fitting means the weight of your bikes and the rack is all taken on the car's panels, risking damage (I speak from first-hand experience!).
* The polyester webbing securing straps can snap or wear out in the fullness of time.
* Theft is a high risk as the straps can be easily cut with a knife.
* Care needs to be taken when reversing as the bikes project way out beyond the tailgate.
* In many cases it's not possible to open the trunk once the bikes are loaded.
* The rack position means that the driver's view to the rear is often blocked.

Roof-mounted bike racks can be attached to your vehicle's existing rack mounts if provided, or you can install a pair of crossbars that the rack attaches to. Prices start from around $50 per bike but if you need to buy crossbars, the total will end up closer to $200 for a two bike setup.

Pros

* The bikes, once loaded, are up out of your way and don't restrict access to the trunk.
* Once you have your crossbars you are able to fit other carriers for different items such as skis or canoes.
* Most manufacturers offer lockable attachments so the rack stays on your car!
* You can carry more bikes than a strap-on setup, typically up to five bikes at once.

Cons

* This type of bike rack can be tricky to install
* Headroom is limited with bikes loaded. Many car parks etc will be 'out of bounds'
* Noisier when driving due to wind resistance. For the same reason, fuel economy can be badly affected.
* Can be a strain to lift bikes onto these racks, especially for shorter people.

Hitch-mount racks have been getting more popular recently. They can hold lots of weight and are easy to load and unload. Simple one bike hitch-mounts start from around $100, but can go as high as $400 for a 'top of the range' branded model with a swing-away feature.

Pros

* The easiest of all to install -just slide it onto the trailer hitch fitting.
* Bike front wheels can usually stay in place, unlike some roof mount systems â€¢ Easiest to lift and fix the bikes in place

Cons

* If your vehicle doesn't already have a trailer hitch you'll need to pay extra to get one fitted.
* Only the swing-away models are guaranteed to allow access to the car's tailgate. These cost more though so check before buying if this might be an issue for you.
* Like the strap-on racks, extra care needs to be taken when reversing. Rear vision might also be impaired depending on the height of the vehicle.

4 Bike Rack - A Problem With This Bike Rack You Might Not Have Thought of

2010-02-25T05:43:00.000-08:00

By Gary Frangs

Are you looking for a 4 bike rack? Visualize yourself cruising down the highway, on the way to a family holiday down the coast. This holiday is the first where you managed to fit you, your family and the bikes in. Why? Because you have a fancy 4 bike carrier with your whole families bikes, mounted proudly on the back end of your SUV.

Now can you see yourself stopping for a gas refill and quickly wanting to get a change of clothes out the back because one of your kids just got sick and needs to get cleaned up? Wait, you can't get in... your bikes are in the way so now you left with a very unhappy and somewhat foul smelling kid and the only way into the back of the car, is to take all 4 bikes off, get what you want, reload them and hit the road.

A bit too time consuming don't you think?

Problem number 1 and how to avoid it.

What type of trunk does your vehicle have?

If it's a hatch back, and you are going to need access to the back, forget the trunk mount option and get a hitch receiver fitted and then go for the hitch bike racks. They are a lot sturdier. If you have a swing away side door, then there are also models in this range that you can swing away letting you get in and out of the back.

There is one other model that claims that you can lower the bike rack to perform the same action. But, the one thing (in the fine print) is that you cannot lower it when the bikes are loaded! For me, I would usually need access when I am on my way somewhere, with my bikes and am packing into the trunk.

What about you?

Of course the truck bed bike rack would eliminate all these problems, but then you can't really fit you and the kiddies in too!

Is the 4 bike rack carrier suited to all types and makes of cars?

Yes and no!

It depends on what maker you buy.

The commonly known brands which carry 4 bikes include Allen, Yakima, Hollywood. These brands produce both hitch mount and trunk mount bike racks.

Bike Racks For Cars - New Ideas on How to Choose the Right One at the Best Price

2010-02-22T05:39:00.000-08:00

By Mark S Myers

There are so many choices when it comes to purchasing bike racks for cars. Here are some helpful new ideas on how to pick a right bike rack at the best price available today.

There are 3 types of bike racks for cars these days: the roof rack, the trunk mounted rack (sometimes called strap racks), and the hitch rack.

There are benefits and negatives to each. There are also ways to get your chosen bike rack for a great price-if you know how. You will learn all of that here.

Roof Bike Racks

The positives of a roof rack include: freeing up the rear and trunk area of your car so you can have access to this area. The roof bike rack has also always been status symbol. If you transport your bike on your roof-you are a serious cyclist.

The downside to roof racks is that it can be cumbersome to lift your bike way above your car top at the end of a long ride or grueling race. Because some vehicles are getting taller this can be especially difficult. It can also be a problem when you are tired and forget your bike is up there and drive into a low ceiling area. Ouch!

Another negative to the roof rack system is that a bike transported there creates extra drag for the car and that reduces your gas mileage. Plain and simple, it will cost you more in gas to transport your bike on the roof vs. at the rear of the car.

Trunk Mount Bike Racks

Trunk mounted bike racks can be great for short trips. They make transporting your bike quick and easy. There are many new designs out there today that allow you to attach and detach your bike quickly. Your bike transported at the rear of the car is also protected from debris that can hit and damage a bike on the roof.

On the negative side is the obvious-you lose access to your trunk or rear entry area of your vehicle. That's why these types of bike carriers are recommended for short trips.

Hitch Mount Bike Racks

Hitch mount bike racks are becoming increasingly popular today-even with serious cyclists. There are some designs that swing out of the way so you can access the rear entry areas of your vehicle. One company has a design that serves a dual function. It can be taken off quickly and used as a bike storage rack in your home or apartment or work.

Of course you need a hitch receiver on your vehicle to use this type of bike carrier It must be either 2 inch or 1.25 inch.

The benefits of hitch racks are similar to the trunk versions-better protection and increased gas mileage. However, they can be more stable and secure than their trunk counterparts.

How To Find the Best Deals and Prices for Bike Racks for Cars

Using the internet and Google if you know how to search properly, you can comparison shop and find who has the best prices for bike racks.

In the search field put in very specific words what you are looking for and add words "best price", "discount", "sale". For example if you were searching for Thule bike racks put in the words: Thule bike rack sale and hit enter. Try different combinations. You can also use the word "code" or "promotion". Sometimes companies will release codes that if you enter then in when making an online purchase you will get your product for a reduced price.

Bicycle Racks For Cars - Common Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Car Bike Racks

2010-02-19T05:37:00.000-08:00

By Gary Frangs

The trend of buying bicycle racks for cars has been increasing quite dramatically in recent months. This is not only to do with the high cost of gas but, the growing popularity of a very family orientated sport. The problem is that there are also a lot of returns of bike racks because people buy the wrong bike carrier and end up with scratches or loose racks and are generally unhappy with their purchase.

So if you are thinking of getting car bike racks anytime soon, read through this article to find out what common mistakes you can avoid when buying a bike carrier.

1. Choose The Correct Bike Rack for Your Car
There are 5 main types of bicycle racks for cars and trucks. They are the roof mount, hitch mount, trunk mount, tire mount, and truck bed mount. The type of rack you buy will depend on the type of car you have among a few other things.

If you have a car with a hatch back and no hitch receiver, your choice would be narrowed down to a trunk mount bike rack or the roof top bike rack. Now, you need to check that the model you are going with, will fit the car you drive. Also make sure that the rack includes all the extra's like locks, extra bars or straps if you need them. More expensive racks often have good padding for protection, life time guarantees and good customer support, but they don't always include all the parts you need.

The fine print and reviews of most products will soon let you know.

If you have a hatch back, but want a hitch mount bike rack, because of the reason that you need access to the trunk, then all you need to do is get a hitch receiver fitted. Before you rush out and buy a hitch receiver make sure you know how many inches it should be so that your rack fits it. Also be sure to get the hitch mount bike rack that is as swing away type or can be lowered. Some models are fixed so you won't be able to open your trunk anyway!

2. What Type of Bike Do You Have?
A 4 bike rack will carry 3 bikes comfortably but you often find the 4th will only just squeeze in if not at all. This is because the carrier is designed for general frames and not for ladies bikes, kid's bikes, a tandem and so on. Be sure to ensure that your bike frame and size will be best suited to the rack you choose.

3. Choose a bigger rather than a smaller rack
Bikers get so into their riding that they often rope the whole family in. So if you are planning on only getting a bicycle carrier for one or two bikes, maybe think of getting one for 3 bicycles. They are not that much more expensive and you will most likely find yourself inviting a friend or family member along because you have the extra space for friends.

4. Be Careful of Damaging the Paint Work on Your Car
This happens to those people who buy the trunk mount bike rack that come with straps. This doesn't imply that this type of rack is a bad one, just takes the necessary precautions to prevent scratches. You can buy some cheap rubber padding and put it between the frame and car for extra care. Also make sure the car is clean and dust free when you attach the rack to avoid the sandpapering effect. Lastly choose a rack that is going to fit your car properly. A bad fit will mean it will be a tad loose and end up rubbing badly. If you do have to get a trunk style bike rack, then choose one that doesn't rest on the back bumper. That will help you out a lot.

Bike Racks For Cars - The Pros and Cons of a Trunk Mounted Rack

2010-02-16T05:34:00.000-08:00

By James L Henry

When looking for bike racks for cars you will need to think about how often you will plan on using it. If you plan on using it a lot, a more permanent rack might be a better solution. If your use will be infrequent a removable trunk rack might be the best solution.

You will also need to consider how many bicycles you want to transport, most trunk mounted bike racks will only hold two or three bikes. Do you want to be able to use the rack on several different vehicles or will the rack be used on one vehicle only? If the answer is more than one vehicle the trunk mounted rack is probably the best option because of the ease of taking it on and off a vehicle.

Price is always an issue when deciding what rack to buy trunk mounted rack tend to be the least expensive ranging in price from about $40 to $300 depending on the quality and options you choose. Most of the good quality racks are priced at $75 and above. Often after a ride I stop somewhere to get something to eat, usually with the my fellow riders, and when I leave my bike on the rack I want to know it's secure. I spent a lot of money on my bicycle and cannot afford to easily replace it. Trunk mounted racks are held onto the vehicle with straps that are not to difficult to cut, and security is more difficult. There are metal cables on the market that help secure the bike to the vehicle but they will only be of use if there is a place on the vehicle where the cable can attach. The Saris Bones 3 is an exception b/c it is secured to the vehicle with metal strapes.

When deciding which bike racks for cars will work best for you, consider how high you can lift a bike by yourself and then hold it in position with one hand while securing the bike to the rack with the other hand. A rack on top of an SUV can be quite a reach, especially if your bike is a heavier model like a full suspension mountain bike. Most trunk mounted racks suspend and hold the bike by it's cross bar. A lot of the full suspension mountain bikes as well as other styles of bike have an unusual cross bar making the mounting of the bike on the rack more difficult. If your vehicle has a rear mounted spare tire you will need to buy a special rack that mounts on the spare tire or go with a roof rack or a hitch mounted rack.

If cycling is not the only activity you enjoy that requires you to haul your toys around a trunk mounted rack might be the best option. If this is you a roof mounted rack might be the best option as you can buy component for a roof rack that will secures all types of different toys. The better trunk mounted racks have individual cradles for each bike. These cradles insure the bike does not slide around on the support bars and makes securing the bike much easier. When hauling more than one bike the cradles help keep the bikes seperate so that your custom paint job is not ruined. It is also important that the bike racks for cars keep the bikes off the vehicle, if you plan on switching the rack from vehicle to vehicle this is something to be aware of when you put if on a new vehicle, put a new bike on the rack, or change up the regular order in which the bikes are placed on the rack. Remember the purpose of the rack is to get your bicycles, safely, securely, and conveniently to and from the rides.

Bike Racks - What Are My Choices?

2010-02-13T05:32:00.000-08:00

By Ken Geers

Fall is on the way. A great time of year to get out and enjoy the colors of the season. Why not experience those colors with a family bike ride. Most areas have designated bike trails for riding enjoyment.

Assuming you have the bike and not the bike rack this information will give you an overview of what is available. There are hitch bike racks, ball mount bike racks, trunk mount and roof mount bike racks, and tire mount bike racks.. The bike rack that will make sense to you is the one that works for your vehicle.

The hitch mount bike rack requires a receiver hitch. Check to see if you have a receiver hitch. The receiver hitch will be either a 2" receiver or a 1.25" receiver. It is important to know this so that you choose the correct hitch mount bike rack for your vehicle. There are hitch mount racks that are available that will accommodate both receivers but check to make sure you are buying one of those or make sure to get the correct size for your receiver. Hitch mount carriers are available for up to five bikes and can be stationary or folding. The folding racks will give you access to the rear area.

Ball mount bike carriers require a tongue for your receiver and are mounted to that tongue by bolting the rack to the tongue. Some vehicles have a towing hole in the bumper and these racks can be bolted to that hole. Ball mount racks will carry up to 3 bikes.

Trunk mount racks will accommodate up to 3 bikes and are designed to mount to the trunk. The roof mount rack will handle one bike per tray. The roof carrier is the most difficult rack to access.

If you want to mount your rack to a spare tire check with the supplier to confirm the brand chosen works on your specific vehicle. There are some brands that will not work on certain vehicles.

Enjoy the ride!

Best Bike Racks For Sedans

2010-02-10T05:30:00.000-08:00

By Gary Frangs

You can choose from one of three options for the best bike racks for sedans. Most of the bicycle carriers are designed for up to 2 bicycles and some can carry three. At the end of the day, your choice will come down to which bike rack will actually fit your car. Keep in mind that the maker often sells additional straps to help to secure the rack if it doesn't fit completely.

The Car Roof Rack

The trouble with this is that it's the most expensive option. You will have to get crossbars and bike trays installed onto the vehicle first and only then can you think of adding the bike rack too it. Another down side is the added wind resistance when traveling. The height of the bikes on the car adds hectic drag to the car hence you gas bill goes up too.

The Trunk Mount Bike Rack

The second idea is to the get a trunk mount rack. This type of rack straps onto the car with special nylon webbing straps and has cushioned contact points so you don't damage the paint. Most models are easy to get on and off.

There are a few downs to this type of bike carrier too. You will not be able to get in and out of the rear end of the car because the straps are fastened down onto the car. Plus, a sedan's are usually low and the clearance between your bike tire and the ground maybe a few millimeters. You can overcome this problem by taking off the front wheel, but I am sure that you are already limited with space and the reason for getting a bike rack is to free up space in the car.

The Hitch Mount Bike Rack

The one way to avoid these two problems is to look into getting a hitch mount. You would have to go over to your local tow-hitch service center or garage and get a quote for a two-inch receiver to be fitted.

Why would this hitch mount rack be more recommended than the trunk mount?

Well first of all the fact that the bikes will be mounted on a bar which is free from the car, means that you will have access to the trunk without having to take off the bicycles. Secondly the bikes are a lot safer because you can lock them to a bike rack and lock the rack to the hitch-receiver. Lastly, bikes tend to be more stable and travel well on this type of rack.

So it looks like the trunk and hitch mount racks come out tops. If you are concerned about security of your bikes and want to have quick access to the trunk then you can see which one is your best option already.

Saris Bike Racks - Bike Rack Installation Ideas For Bad Fits and How to Prevent Scratches

2010-02-07T05:25:00.000-08:00

By Gary Frangs

In the Saris Bike Racks range there is a model called the Saris Bones which is a trunk mount bike rack. The rack is designed to fit most cars but there are many vehicles that are still not ideally suited to it. The top straps appear to go over the spoiler and people have concerns that acceleration while the rack is fully loaded will cause some sort of damage to the spoiler, let alone the paint work.

Can you picture yourself driving over rough terrain or driving at a pace down a windy ravine? Surely there is potential for damage to the paint work?

Preventing Damage to the Spoiler and Paint Work.

Well first off it's safe to assume that the manufacturer would have tested the product before releasing it to the market. Actually the straps don't attach to the spoiler but to the back of the hatch. This still means that there is considerable weight on the hatch of the car when the bikes are loaded.

There have been reports of scratches and other damage happening so if you are worried about your "baby" and it's paint job then there is a simple solution.

All you have to do is to get a small rubber gauze-like mat. Cut it and put the pieces under the cups. This is like a thin type of cushioning between the rack and the body of the car.

Fitting the Rack more Securely

If the bike carrier does not fit onto the car body very well, there is a way of overcoming this.

Use something called hatch huggers. The Saris Bones comes with straps and clips which work by running over the spoiler and clipping onto the hatch. If you think the rack is not strong enough because there is not a good place to fix the clips to then use the hatch huggers. They run on the inside of the hatch to a point where the hatch hinges and rear roof meet.

There are 2 models in the bones range; one carries 2 bikes and the other 3. Check with your Saris Dealer to see if the rack will be compatible with your model.

Bike Racks For Cars - How to Select the Right Bike Rack For Your Car

2010-02-04T05:23:00.000-08:00

By Gary Frangs

A good friend of mine recently bought a new bike rack for his car only to find that it didn't fit the car very well and it wasn't very sturdy. So if you are looking for information on bike racks for cars then make sure that you do your homework first before wasting the time and money on a model that's not suited to you or your car.

There are three types of bike racks for cars and within these, there are many models that are suited to either a hatch backs, minivans, SUVs, a vehicle with a spare tire and so on.

You already have a car right? Now you need to decide which bicycle rack will be right for that car and for the number of bicycles you need to carry.This article will explain in a bit more detail about the three main types of bike racks and which cars they are best suited too.

1. Roof Top Bike Rack
If you really want to look like a Tour de France competitor then go for the roof top bike rack look! Most pro's use these because they need the trunk space and any extra space to fit more bikes in. This option is suited to people who don't mind climbing up on top of their vehicle to load and take off their bikes. If a car can fit roof racks, then your car will be able to carry a bike.

Personally I don't like this option because of the wind resistance and the amount of gas my car chews when going on a long trip. I also find the bikes are more exposed to rain, insects, dirt and dust and are more protected behind the car. But, if you are concerned that the other types of bike racks will not fit your car or indeed cannot, then the roof top is still an option.

2. Trunk Mount Bike Rack
These guys are really useful for people with cars (and not an SUV or truck). They fit on the trunk with straps and steel frames. Try to buy one that is already assembled. It makes the job of mounting it on the trunk a whole lot easier. The down side is that some people do complain that it's easy for bikes to get stolen - and have had this happen! This is because the trunk mount is so easy to install and remove that a bicycle robber (if there is such a thing) will be able to get their dirty hands on your precious baby in no time. So if theft is an issue, then the trunk mount bike rack might not be the answer.

Also each maker is best suited to certain cars. You will have to check this out with the maker or in the fine print section when shopping online. (Always read the fine print!) If you need to be able to get in and out of your trunk while transporting your bikes, then this option is a not for you! The entire trunk will be inaccessible once the carrier is fitted to the vehicle.

3. Hitch Mount Bike Rack
This type of bike rack can be fitted to any vehicle that has a hitch receiver. Most are suited to a 2 inch receiver and some are for a 1 and ¼ inch receiver. I particularly like this option because no one can steal your bikes! It's also a lot sturdier.

Some people worry that it will add too much weight to the back of the car, but the rack is light and very strong. It's built to carry bikes, but it's not bulky. Some models (the more expensive ones) let you swing the rack away from the car so you have access to the trunk.

Each of the above have models that carry from one to five bicycles.

Is the Hitch Mount Bike Rack Right For My Car?

2010-02-01T05:20:00.000-08:00

By Gary Frangs

There seems to be a trend to get a hitch mount bike rack as against the trunk mount or roof top bike rack these days. But, this doesn't mean that this bicycle carrier is the right one for you or your car. Fitting this bike rack to some vehicles is like trying to mix oil and water. The two just do not go together. This article will be broken down into the types of cars that people have and how they will be suited to this kind of carrier.

Smaller Cars

You have to think about how many bikes you want to carry. Carrying four or five bikes on a hitch receiver on a small car, is going to add a heck of a lot of weight to the back of the car. You might find yourself running out of steam on the up hills. I have seen some really fancy looking sports cars with a platform style hitch mount, and it didn't look too bulky or weird. Certainly beats putting the bike inside the car.

SUV's and Larger Vehicles

These vehicles are a lot heavier and designed to carry heavier loads. If you want to carry five bikes, and are traveling over some rough terrain, then make sure you put some extra padding between the rack and your car. Also if you really need to have regular access to the back this is where you may have to pay extra for a bicycle carrier that swings away from the car, allowing you access. But, be careful with these models. Some swing away and some can be lowered. If you are trying to lower the rack with all the bikes still loaded, it just won't happen! So if you are the type of person who wants to keep the rack on without always carrying bikes, then the lowering option is fine, but if you want to get into and out of the back, while you have five bikes loaded up, then I would go for the swing away.

Vehicles With a Spare Tire

Now if you have a spare tire to deal with, the hitch mount bike rack is still a great option and better than just mounting your bikes to the tire itself. But if you wanting to get into the back of your car, make sure you get this rack only if you have a hatch style rear door. Some models fit a side hinged rear door, but if you are going to try to open it while the rack is attached, then don't even try. It is just not an option.

Benefits of a Hitch Mount Bike Rack
It's secure. You can easily lock your bikes onto the rack and not have to worry about someone stealing your bike or your rack (along with the bikes!) It's stable. Extra straps come with the steel arms which let you tie the bikes down and back onto the car. It's sturdy. No rattling or shaking and great if you are driving on rougher terrain.

The Hitch Mount Bike Rack - Why is it So Popular?

2010-01-29T20:34:00.000-08:00

By Gary Frangs

Can you imagine being able to get your bikes loaded and unloaded in less than 2 minutes? No more taking off the front wheel when trying to squash it into the back of you car. No more hassling to put the wheel back before you ride. A hitch mount bike rack will be the time saving solution. This article will explain why its the top selling bike rack on the market.

So why choose the hitch mount bike rack and not the trunk mount, roof top or spare tire mount carrier?

Well first off for security. It's easy to lock your bicycles onto the carrier and the rack to the car. Although a determined thief would be able to steal the bike if they really wanted to, it certainly prevents just any passerby from taking your bikes are riding away with them!

Secondly the rack is separate from the actual car. No more scratches or smudges on the body of the vehicle.

Yes, all bike racks come with padding and they say that there is no way that your vehicle will get damaged, but I'm not so sure. I have often noticed cars with ugly marks on them left by a trunk mount or roof mount. I for one had to treat the roof of my car for rust damage after using roof racks for just a year.

Thirdly, is the fact of being able to get into the trunk of your vehicle whether the bikes are loaded or not.

There is no way that you will pull that off with a trunk mount bicycle carrier.

Don't even think about it!

Some hitch mounts do prevent you from opening the hatch completely but there are some models that have been developed which swing away or fold up, while still attached to the back of the car. These models are a bit more expensive, but they save you a lot of trouble in the long run, because you make up time by not having to unload your bikes and the rack, when you want to get into the trunk.

Lastly, the hitch mount seems to come out tops when it comes to stability. I find this to be the more highly rated feature of this particular rack.

If you are going to be traveling over rough terrain, you don't want your bikes rattling on the back of your car. Can you imagine the damage to the paint work of your bikes? There is one model in particular that stands out for stability. It supports both the back and front tires, holding them firmly in place.

The Saris Bike Rack - A Trunk Mount Bike Rack That Will Not Get Stolen

2010-01-26T20:30:00.000-08:00

By Gary Frangs

Bikers often mention that their bikes along with the whole bike rack are prone to getting stolen. So if security is an issue for you, then be careful to choose a rack that not only fits your car but is going to keep your rack and bikes safe. Let's see why the Saris Bike Rack is a good choice and what you can do to prevent it and your bikes from getting stolen.

Assuming you don't have an SUV, or a spare tire and no hitch receiver, then the trunk mount bike rack is going to be the best option for you. The problem as I mentioned is that most of these type of bicycle carriers are easy to remove.

Can you imagine getting to your car and seeing both your bike and the rack is gone?

The difference with this model is that the straps are actually lockable as against others that don't have this feature. So, if you are going to be leaving your car outside all night or day, without security, then these lockable straps will go a long way to give you peace of mind.

Make sure that you also lock your bicycle on, so they can't get the bike off.

You can also run a cable into the trunk with a padlock connecting the two ends of the cable. With the trunk closed, the padlock won't pull through.

If you are worried about your actual bike rack getting stolen from your car and have a spoiler, you could take a cable lock and run it through the central tubular portion of the rack and secure it to the spoiler. At least then a thief would only have to trash your spoiler to get the rack.

Use of Bike Racks

2010-01-23T20:27:00.000-08:00

By Stefan Rockhaus

You can prevent your bike from getting stolen by using a bike rack. You can securely attach your bike to a bike rack. This rack in turn is fixed to the ground, or to any other solid structure such as a building wall.

Earlier bike racks used to secure only one wheel by pushing the wheel of the bike into a forked piece of metal, but it was not effective enough. A thief could easily take away the bike by simply removing the wheel to free the bike. These kinds of bike racks are known as "wheel benders".

A modern style of bike rack is known as a "Sheffield rack". These racks comprise of a thick metal bar, which is given the shape of a square arch. The top part is equal to the top bar of the bicycle frame and provides security for the frame.

Bike racks are also used on automobiles for the convenience of traveling with your bike. However, you must be aware of the proper method of loading and unloading your bike from the bike rack.

Loading Your Bike

• Get your bike ready to load. Remove bottles, bicycle pumps or other items before loading.

• If you are using a bus, inform the bus driver that you will be using the bike rack. Speedily load your bike while other passengers are getting into the bus.

• Approach the bike rack from the curbside. Squeeze the handle in the center to lower the rack.

• Place your bike into the rack, fitting the wheel into a wheel slot. If you are loading your bike in the first slot then the handlebar should be towards the curb, while in the second slot, they should remain away from the curb.

• Drag the support arm in a straight line and place it over the front tire until the tire is almost covered completely. Be sure that the arm rests on the tire, not on the frame of your bike. It may damage your bike if you load it incorrectly, so you always need to be careful while loading your bike.

Unloading Your Bike

• On reaching the stop, always inform the bus driver that you will be unloading your bike. Always exit from the front door.

• Drag the support arm away from the wheel, drop it downward and pull out your bike.

• If you are the last person to remove a bike, position the rack back to its correct position.

• Move towards the curb while you are moving away from the bus.

Rack Rules

• You should be prepared before the bus arrives.

• No one but you is responsible for the loading and unloading of your bike.

• Do not hold up the bus if you are unable to load your bike properly.

• All bikes are loaded in the same way, speedily and easily. Motorized bikes are not allowed on the racks.

• Bus operators are not responsible for any damage to the bikes while in transit.

So you can now take your bike with you by using bike racks on an automobile, but be sure that you are taking all the safety measures while loading and unloading your bike. Also be sure you are not causing any inconvenience to other passengers.

Motogroup Bike Rack For a Car, Truck Or SUV - Review

2010-01-20T20:24:00.000-08:00

By Erika Ayala

Biking is considered as one of the most played sports and with a Motogroup Bike Rack you will have the best bike rack for the right price. If you are still wondering why you need to have a this if you can just put the bike at the back of your car, well all I've got to say is if you can do it without scratching, then you must be Mr. Impossible. If you don't want to lose the smoothness and authenticity of your bike, having a bike rack is a practical thing.

There are 2 major positioning for the rack: you can attach it to the car's roof or to the rear. Either of these positions is great but you still have the final say on which one is dependable. This way you can avoid scratching your bike and the irritating sound of the bounce too. Rubberized bike straps are specially attached on the rack to hold the bike in place (and also to keep it from being scratched). The Motogroup Bike Rack is created to provide accessibility at hand and upkeep your bike. It fits 2" hitch receiver with adaptor (1.25" hitch receiver without the adaptor) and carries 2 bikes. Meets your quality standards with its flexibility and durability.

Be a wise shopper! Sometimes you just need to use your common sense. Know what you want and what you need, that way you can get integrated solution. Do not limit yourself from what you already know, expand your horizon. It takes miles of biking to know that Motogroup Bike Rack is simply amazing.

Car Bike Racks

2010-01-17T20:22:00.000-08:00

By Thomas Morva

To enjoy biking, one has to think of transporting the bicycle on the vehicle using some sort of bike rack. Bike racks come in many varieties and many prices, depending on the application. It depends on the vehicle to be used, the number of bikes one wants to transport, the requirement of quick-release front wheels, and the consistency of bike types--whether all bikes are of same shape and size. Other features to consider are the loading of bikes onto racks, the strength for racks to lift all bikes, any extra security of a lockable bike rack, the decision to use racks also for skis and other sports equipment, the repeatability of use of racks, and finally, the amount of money to be spent.

All vehicles and persons use different racks, depending on application, cost and aesthetics. The tradeoffs one makes will depend on the situation. For instance, if one plans to use the rack infrequently, one may be willing to trade some ease-of-use for a lower price. The following are the various types of car bike racks:

Roof racks attach to the top of a vehicle. Roof racks can be noisy, from wind resistance. Hoisting the bicycles to the roof requires a lot of strength. One has to be careful not to forget that the bicycles are up there and drive into a garage. With so

Rear racks use brackets and straps to mount on the back of a vehicle. They are difficult to attach and can even scratch paint.

Hitch racks are mounted on the rear of a vehicle but have to use a trailer hitch as their main point of attachment. They're less likely to scratch the vehicle, but are more expensive.

Sport trailers are good for carrying many bicycles, but with an extra toll tax. These trailers therefore, require more storage space.

SUV and Truck Bike Racks

2010-01-14T20:20:00.000-08:00

By Alastair Hamilton

Truck and SUV drivers may not know that they have an option for a car bike rack for their vehicle, too. A receiver car bike rack is what they need, rather than letting their bikes ride in the back of the truck or SUV. This car bike rack will fit their vehicle perfectly and it will keep your bicycle safe.

Without a car bike rack, you may find that your bicycle is susceptible to damage. Your bicycle is not going to be stable in the back of your truck or SUV, which will mean that it moves around. This can cause dents, dings, and scratches to your bicycle and your vehicle, which is bad news. In a SUV, it is irritating to have to fold down the seats every time that you want to load up your bike, which is why you will want to check into a receiver car bike rack for your truck or SUV.

You can put a receiver car bike rack on the receiver hitch on your truck or SUV. This will help keep your bicycle safe and will keep your vehicle from being damaged as well. You will like the ease of installation and use that a receiver car bike rack can give you.

If you are tired of having to put down or remove seats in your SUV to get your bicycle to fit, then you will enjoy the receiver car bike rack. This will give you more room for your family and you will not have to concern yourself with how to get everything and everyone to the location that you want to go biking.

Convenience abounds with a receiver hitch car bike rack. You will find that you will go bicycling more, simply because it is easy to load and install. It doesn’t make it more difficult to drive, either, as a roof car bike rack would, so you have the best of both worlds.

If you want to keep the money that you spend on your bicycle safe, then you will want to be sure that you use a car bike rack. This will help you to keep it from bouncing around and damaging your bicycle or your vehicle. It will fit tightly to your receiver hitch and keep your bike sturdy.

The good news is that with a receiver car bike car you can carry your entire family’s bicycles. You are even able to haul your recumbent bicycle. Everyone’s bicycle can be loaded onto your receiver car bike rack. The ease of use will cause you to go bicycling even more.

If you enjoy bicycling, then you know how fun and exciting it can be. By having a receiver car bike rack, you will be able to take you and your family’s bicycles anywhere that you want. You can find a car bike rack for any vehicle that you can imagine. Just do your research.

Bike Racks For Cars - How to Select the Right Bike Rack For Your Car

2010-01-11T20:05:00.000-08:00

Types of Car Bike Racks

2010-01-08T20:02:00.000-08:00

By Joseph Devine

Any cyclist knows that he or she at some point will be faced with the daunting task of choosing something for his or her car that will get the bike from Point A to Point B safely and without damaging the car. This may be for a family trip or a desire to try a new bike path in the middle of nowhere. Regardless of the reason for the trip, the bike will have to be moved.

There are a number of types of bike racks for cars. Roof-top racks and back racks are the two biggest categories. There are also bike racks designed to allow a cyclist to carry his or her bike in the bed of a truck. All of these options have positives and negatives. In the end, it pretty much comes down to personal preference.

Roof-top racks are bike racks that anchor the bike to the roof of the car for transport. They typically require that the front wheel be taken off of the bike for it to be anchored correctly. There are two main categories here as well. There are bike rack attachments for base roof racks and then there are factory crossbar mounted bike racks.

Bike rack attachments for base roof racks allow the family to carry its bikes on top of the car. These are great for multi-sport families who may be using the trailer hitch to haul a boat or camper. As families continue to downsize their car size, roof-mounted bike racks are becoming more popular. Unfortunately, people with taller vehicles probably won't be too keen on this idea. A tall vehicle can make getting the bikes up and down really difficult and not a lot of fun.

This bike rack option utilizes the factory crossbars that are already on a vehicle. The good news is that this option allows a car owner to take advantage of the factory roof rack that was purchased from the car manufacturer! These bike racks attach directly to the factory crossbars and include everything that is needed right in one box. Unfortunately, they only allow a person to move two bikes on the roof because of the limitations of the factory crossbars. Overall, this type of bike rack is an inexpensive option for those who want to move one or two bikes on a low vehicle. If the vehicle is tall, skipping this option in favor of a rack off the trailer hitch is probably a better idea.

Rear bike racks account for roughly 70% of all bike rack sales. These allow a person to carry up to five bikes while still leaving a place for luggage and other sports equipment on top of the car. This is a great option for people with taller cars where lifting bikes over the head is difficult. Like all options, the rear bike rack that attaches to a trailer hitch has problems too. If a person wants to carry four bikes and tow something, there is a problem. The bikes stick out way too far to allow the car to turn without crushing the bikes.

Truck bed racks are great for enthusiasts with trucks. These work with and without camper shells. They are a creative option for people who want to mount a bike in the bed of a truck. The biggest disadvantage here is that the bikes take up the cargo space.

For more information on cycling accessories, please visit http://www.bike-locks.com.

Bike Racks For Cars - New Ideas on How to Choose the Right One at the Best Price

2010-01-05T19:59:00.000-08:00

Bike Rack Options

2010-01-02T19:50:00.000-08:00

Bicycle Racks For Cars - Common Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Car Bike Racks

2009-12-30T19:48:00.000-08:00

The Hitch Mount Bike Rack - Why is it So Popular?

2009-12-27T19:45:00.000-08:00

Best Bike Racks For Sedans

2009-12-24T19:41:00.000-08:00

The Spare Tire Mount Bike Rack Compared to the Hitch Mount Bike Rack

2009-12-21T19:39:00.000-08:00

By Gary Frangs

Does the spare tire interfere with hitch racks and should you just opt for a spare tire mount bike rack instead of the hitch mount? Is the tire mount any good and why choose it instead of the hitch mount bike rack?

First take note of how the back of your vehicle opens. If you have a hatch back, then you can get a hitch mount model which swings away, but you might have to unload the bikes first to get it open fully.

The Hitch Mount Rack

If you have a side opening door, very often you will have a spare tire thrown in there too. The hitch racks usually don't interfere with it, but you can't open the door completely unless you remove the hinge pin to tilt the rack down (not difficult, but not something you want to do every time you open the hatch either). The main thing is that you can open the door enough to get things in and out.

Note that if you are going to keep the hitch mount rack on full time, you lose the back-up sensor because they set them off. Just remember to put them off when you using the carrier.

The Spare Tire Carrier

Some people are concerned about the weight of the bikes, plus a rack, in addition to the loaded bicycles. But, usually carrying up to 2 bikes will be okay. If you have triangular frames, then the tire mount is the way to go. They load with easy and fix firmly to the wheel.

Some spare tires are not normal sizes. Make sure your spare tire fits the dimensions of the rack.

Some racks in this range are the bungee cord type and others the wheel clamp type. The preference is usually to do with stability and how much time you want to spend securing the bikes.

I do a lot of off-road driving so was worried about the hitch scrapping the ground and taking the rack off too.

Is the Hitch Mount Bike Rack Right For My Car?

2009-12-18T19:36:00.000-08:00

Bike Racks For Cars and Trucks - How to Choose the Right One For You

2009-12-15T19:33:00.000-08:00

Toyota Prius Hitch and Bike Rack

2009-12-12T19:29:00.000-08:00

By Tyler Ford

Toyota Prius installation of rear hitch and rear bike rack.

Have you been thinking about getting a Toyota Prius but have wondered how will I be able to carry my bike around? There is an answer! Why not have the best of both worlds; great gas mileage and the ease of carrying two bikes around.

A rear hitch-mounted bike rack is one of the best option for Toyota Prius owners or shoppers looking into buying a Prius who are cyclists. Although the Toyota dealerships will install the trailer hitch it for you, installation is easy and something you can do on your own. You can install the hitch in about 30 minutes or less.

Things You Will Need That Are Necessary:
* Trailer hitch Curt Model 11468
* Socket wrench with a 14m and 17m socket
* Hand socket wrench with a 10m socket
* Flat head screw driver for releasing the plastic rivets holding the underbody fascia in place
* Heavy scissors or tin snips to trim the plastic under-body fascia
* Extra set of hands to help you lift the trailer hitch into place

Things That Are NOT Necessary But Helpful:
* Mechanic's Creeper
* Drive-on Ramps

Step One

First, back the Toyota Prius on drive-on ramps if possible to make getting under the car easier (this step is not necessary for the install of the hitch). Then remove the two tow hooks under the rear of your Prius using a socket wrench, unbolt and remove the tow hooks from the under-body frame rails at the rear of the Prius on both the driver's and passenger's sides.

Step Two

Remove plastic under body fascia saving the plastic rivet hardware for the reinstall later.

Step Three

Lift the hitch into position under the Prius and secure with bolts and washers provided with the hitch. Tighten the bolts. This may require some help from someone. Holding the hitch in place and securing the bolts may be difficult to do alone but possible. A second set of hands is helpful for this step.

Step Four

Place the fascia up under the car so you can see where you will need to cut a slot in the facia so you can reinstall the fascia. Using heavy scissors or tin snips cut a slot in the fascia on the driver's side. Extend the slot all the easy to the back edge of the facia and remove the small segment of fascia. Now the fascia will fit around the driver's side of the newly installed hitch. There is no facia on the passenger side to worry about

Step Five

Reinstall the under body fascia with the existing hardware you set aside in Step 2. You are now ready to install your hitch-style bike rack.

Recommended Bike Rack

* Hollywood Racks - Pro-Rider Hitch Rack 1 ¼ - This is a cool rack and the one I recommend. Although you will have to take your front tire off when placing your bike on the rack the profile of your bike stays behind the car making your car more arrow dynamic and prevents bugs from hitting your bike.
* Yakima Rack - Hookup 1 ¼ - This hitch mount is tough and versatile. Kind of like Coach. It carries any bike, from monster freeride bikes with funky frame designs to little pink bikes with training wheels. Plus, it's extremely easy to use. All you do is flip a lever and it grabs onto the wheel. Bikes on and bikes off in 10 seconds or less.

Hitch Mount Bike Racks

2009-12-09T19:26:00.000-08:00

By Robert R Elam

Some basic facts about hitch mount bike racks

If you're a cyclist, or family of cyclists, on the go, a safe and efficient way to transport your bikes to and from your destination is absolutely essential. The idea is to safely carry your bikes without at the same time doing any damage to the body of your vehicle.

Of all the methods available for bike transport, by far the easiest to use and least expensive are the hitch mounted bike racks. These carriers fit on or in the trailer hitch of your vehicle and are a snap to install or remove. Most are heavy duty steel construction, making them durable to withstand many long road trips.

Bike Rack Basics

Hitch mounted bike carriers fit on the trailer hitch of your vehicle, either the hitch receiver, or the ball affixed to the bumper. Hitch mount back racks that fit into the receiver, come in either 1.25-inch or 2-inch shank sizes, so it is essential that you know the size of your receptacle. Consult the vehicle owner's manual for this information. Many racks, however, can be adapted to fit either trailer hitch.

The size and style of carrier you buy will depend upon the type and number of cycles you have to transport. Know the tongue weight (TW) of the bike rack you plan to buy, which is not a difficult task as there are only two. The 1.25 TW (1.25-in shank) can safely carry one or two bikes, while the 2 TW (2-inch) can handle up to five.

If you opt for a towing hitch mount bike rack, the kind that allow you to transport bikes and tow at the same time, be aware of the maximum tow weight (normally from 2,000 to 3,500 pounds). Some of the towing hitch mount bike racks come with a tow bar attached, but you can still only tow small loads, such as small trailers or boats.

With the exception of the fixed frame rack, most of the hitch mount bike racks fold or tilt for ease of access to the rear of the vehicle or for parking. Racks that fold down do not allow easy access to the vehicle's rear cargo area, but are convenient for parking.

If you have more than one type of bike to tow, the best choice for transport is the tray hitch mount rack, which accommodates all types of bikes, and can carry up to four safely.

Look for locking features in the bike rack you buy. Most will have a method of locking the bikes in place, and also a pin for locking the rack securely to the trailer hitch. You will also want to consider a rack with anti-vibration technology to prevent your bikes from banging together on bumpy roads, or worse, bumping against your vehicle and damaging the finish.

Hitch mounted bike racks are the least expensive way to carry your expensive bikes. Available at many Internet sites, they can be purchased for prices starting as low as $90 and up to $300.

Styles of Hitch Mounted Bike Racks

Hanging: This is the most common type of hitch mounted bike rack, and comes in a number of sizes to accommodate up to five bikes. They do not, however, accommodate non-standard bikes.

Full Tray: In the full tray hitch mounted bike rack, bike wheels rest on a tray; and this type will accommodate any type of bike, and can carry multiple types at the same time. Most have a two bike capacity, but a converter kit can be purchased to carry two additional bikes.

Towing: This type of hitch mounted bike carrier will hold three to four bikes and can tow a load of 2,000 to 3,500 pounds at the same time.

Ball Mount: This bike holder is for vehicles that have a bumper-mounted ball hitch rather than a hitch receiver. Bear in mind, though, that the weight bearing capacity of a car's bumper is less than it would be with the receiver. Most ball mounted do not fold.

Fixed Frame: These are sturdy racks that can transport up to four bikes. They do not, however, fold or swing.

Thule Spare Me Spare Tire Bike Rack

2009-12-06T19:24:00.000-08:00

By Dennis Gertgen

When you start bicycling usually you begin by your home. But when you get more serious about biking you might want to ride in different areas. That means you will probably need to get a bike rack for your vehicle to open up your bicycling opportunities.

There are many types of bike racks and they all work well but it depends on what type of vehicle you have. There are racks that attach to the trunk or rear hatch of a car. There are racks that attach to the roof of your vehicle (these racks offer more versatility for other items such as skis or cargo but can be rather expensive). Also there are bike racks that attach to receiver hitches. These racks are very convenient because you can remove them easily after use but you must have a receiver hitch to use this type. Again that adds expense. And if you have a pickup they also make bike racks for the bed of the truck.

The type that I have been using for the last couple of seasons is the type that attach to the spare tire of my vehicle. These types of Bike Racks only work if you have a spare tire on the back of your vehicle. Usually these vehicles are SUV's. And my vehicle is a Jeep Wrangler so this was the type of bike rack that I decided to purchase. Specifically I purchased the Thule Spare Me bike rack. It attaches with a plate that goes behind the spare tire and has a threaded square tube that holds the rack in place. Then a lockable bolt tightens the rack against the tire and keeps it from falling off the end. The rack also folds down when not in use to keep it out of the way.

I have been satisfied the this bike rack since I purchased it a few years back. I have no complaints, it has served it's purpose and it does exactly what it is supposed to. But I wish I had bought a receiver hitch bike rack. I already had a receiver hitch on my Jeep and the spare me bike rack adds extra weight to the spare tire that was not designed to support extra weight. I must note I haven't seen any problems with the spare tire on my truck but I'm still a little concerned. Also if I sell my vehicle and buy something without a spare tire on the back of it the bike rack will no longer be of use to me. If I had bought a receiver hitch bike rack I could move it around from vehicle to vehicle (assuming they have a receiver hitch). The other reason I wish I have bought a receiver hitch bike rack is the number of bikes you can get on the rack. The spare tire bike racks are limited to two bikes.

You can get versions of receiver hitch bike racks that can hold 3, 4 or even 5 bikes. It's not that big of a deal when you are bicycling by yourself but when you start hanging out with other bicyclists it is nice to be able to get more bikes on your bike rack for getting away from your usual bike rides. I would also suggest getting a receiver bike rack that fits both Class 2 and Class 3 hitches. You cannot get Class 3 hitches for all vehicles and if also makes it easier to move the hitch to other vehicles, such as your friends car because it's their turn to drive.

Some other issues to keep in mind when using bike racks. First when you have 2 or more bikes on you bike rack they will probably rub together and scratch you bikes. There are accessories that will help you keep your bicycles away from each other but I have not used them "yet". And second, some smaller mountain bikes will not fit on your bike rack. But don't make the same mistake I did and go get a bigger bike to fit on the bike rack. They make what is called a "bike beam" that goes from the handle bar stem to the seat post. The only downside to the bike beam is your bicycle will move more but it does what it is designed to do. Make your bike fit on your bike rack.

All I Want For Christmas Is A Thule Bike Rack

2009-12-03T19:11:00.000-08:00

By Mike Rosania

I’m at a point in my life where I’m ready to cut down on partying. I don’t want to officially hang up my “cutting loose” habits, but I can only take so many yawn-filled mornings of bloodshot eyes and crooked smiles. I am ready to put those nights of loud clubs and expensive bar tabs behind me. Why the sudden lifestyle change you might ask? The answer—mountain biking. I think taking up this sport will jump start my active, healthy lifestyle.

Growing up, I have always been into bikes. It all started when I was six. My parents tried teaching me to ride a bike in a big field near our house—not the best idea. Have you ever tried riding through a field, let alone on a child’s bike with small wheels? It’s nearly impossible. Every bump, rock, and stick bounced me off the bike and landed my butt on the ground. My parents’ rationale was that falling in a field would be better than hitting the unforgiving pavement, which makes sense. But it is also nearly impossible to ride on this terrain, especially when first learning.

So one afternoon, I took off my training wheels and brought my bike into the driveway. I sat down on the seat, put my one foot on a pedal, pushed off and started riding. And as they say, the rest is history. I got older and picked up BMX; bunny hopping curbs and cruising around on pegs. When I hit college, I was over my dirt jumping phase, and got a road bike—pedaling for miles at a time. So it’s no surprise that mountain biking caught my eye-- which is a sort of hybrid amalgamation of extreme maneuvers from BMX and long rides of road biking.

Back to my life story, I graduated college, picked up and moved to California. This state is absolutely beautiful. Last weekend, my girlfriend and I drove out of the city and spent a few hours exploring and admiring the west coast’s landscape. We hiked through a state park, which was awesome—but I’m not much of a hiker. I need something to get my heart pumping. We did discover a ton of mountain bike trails that the state park offered. And that’s when it hit me. Mountain biking looks like a blast! These guys flew past us on these gnarly mountain bikes, equipped with full suspension and rugged tires. The east coast didn’t offer trails like the west coast, which is probably why I never got into the sport. Now that I have all this terrain, I want to take full advantage.

So I started looking into bikes and am dieing to get one, but I ran into two problems. The bikes are very expensive and I drive a small Subaru whose seats don’t fold down. Plus, I wouldn’t want dirty, muddy tires all over my interior. I talked with a coworker who mountain bikes and he offered to lend me his old bike until I get my own. Great! But I need to get to the trails. My car doesn’t have a roof rack, so I looked for bike racks that mount to your trunk on the internet. If I can find a rack that mounts easily, I’m sure I will have no problem getting to the trails a few days a week and getting some exercise.

Hitch Mount Bike Racks Now on Ridiculous Vehicles

2009-11-30T19:08:00.000-08:00

By Andrew Bernhardt

Given the surge in popularity for hitch-mounted bike racks like Thule’s popular line, we’re starting to see them all over the road. Most of the time, they’re on a vehicle you’d expect to be armed with a hitch and a rack, like an Xterra, an H3, or even one of those awful Azteks. Lately, though, we’ve seen some ridiculous vehicles with an unnaturally added hitch simply for having the hitch-mounted bike rack. We’ve collected the top 5 worst instances we can remember and ranked them in factors of hideousness and hilarity. We’ll start at the bottom with a classic hatch.

5. The Geo Metro

This one was spotted in the parking lot of a local lake near the beginning of the bike trial. A nice mix of off-white and rust with ashy grey bumpers flashing buffer burns, this Metro had a 1 ¼” receiver jutting from a hacked hole in the plastic. Pinned into the receiver was a Swagman 4-bike carrier, with all saddles empty. Still, the weight of the rack alone was causing major rear-end sag. How this sweet ride got around town with any bikes attached is beyond our comprehension.

4. Chevy S-10

Deceased as a nameplate for more than 3 years now, the once-proud S-10 became a sad, plastic, rounded shell of its former self toward the end. This model happened to be one of the few crew cab models to roll off the line, with the cavernous 4½’ bed. In order to carry a couple of bikes, this guy needed to grab a hitch and a hitch-mount Thule rack. Call this sad, call it awkward, or call it whatever you want. We call it Inept Bed Syndrome.

3. Ford Focus Hatchback

Again, a hatchback appears on the list. The logistics of adding a hitch-mount bike rack to a 3-door or 5-door seem unfathomable. Doors hitting bars, bars hitting doors, many paint chips. Anyway, this may have been the most unprofessional DIY hitch installation we’ve ever seen, with an Allen rack haphazardly jammed into the tiny receiver. This not-so-hot-hatch also had a rigged roof rack, and about 1/8” of space left between the wheels and the panels. We could build another list off of this vehicle: when someone really should have gotten a new ride, but instead mutilated the one they have to fit needs it was never intended to fit.

2. Cadillac CTS

Seeing a Caddy dishonored in such a way actually made us cry. The back story on this weathered black CTS (or at least the plausible one we’re willing to make up) is that it was inherited by the 50-something couple we saw park it at the Ralph’s. The man’s dear departed parents had to punch the hitch onto the back to handle a carrier for the wife’s rascal. But when daddy left the Caddy to his son, he couldn’t handle insurance on his truck and the new sled, so he ditched his truck and added a bike rack to the back. This should be highly illegal.

1. Toyota Prius

Someone with a mint-colored Prius attempted to extend their smugness in low smog-ness by adding an infinite MPG vehicle to the back of their high MPG cruiser. Well, Mr. nose incline, adding all of that weight to the rear of your bean-on-wheels (and even tasking this Toy to tow) defeats the purpose of your hybrid’s miserly petrol consumption ways. Here’s a solid plan we would offer to these environmental elitists: instead of carrying your bike places, ride your bike there. Then, you’re using absolutely no gas, and have the right to call out other people’s hefty carbon footprints. Granted, this site is more of a attitudinal ill-fit than the hideous hack-jobs above, but this concept just mystified us. Turning your hybrid into a hauler effectively turns it into a regular Corolla or Civic, which wastes all the extra loot you dumped down just to save a few bucks.

As the years go by and cars get smaller, I’m sure we’ll see some crazier Franken-style combinations of bike racks and inappropriate vehicles. Which is good, because then we’ll get to waste time assembling a new list and taking unqualified cracks at people who don’t deserve the insult.

4 Bike Rack - A Problem With This Bike Rack You Might Not Have Thought of

2009-11-27T19:04:00.000-08:00

Towbar Bike Carrier - 6 Reasons Why These Bike Rack For Cars Are So Popular

2009-11-24T19:01:00.000-08:00

By Gary Frangs

The towbar bike carrier is known as the hitch mount bike rack in the bike rack world.There are a number of good reasons why people go for this type of rack. This article will look into why it's a good choice,some recommended brands and where you should look to get them.

First of all this bicycle carrier is fitted onto a hitch receiver. If you don't have a tow-hitch fitted, pop down to your local garage or hitch receiver outlet and get a quote on how much it will cost to get one fitted. Although this might seem like a more expensive option, read on to find out why people go for this type of bike carrier.

The reason people go for this type of rack is because of:

1. Less wind resistance
Bike Roof Racks add considerable height and drag to the vehicle, not to mention the amount of gas it will chew!

2. Bikes are protected
The bicycles are protected by the body of the car.

3. Ease of access to the back door
The towbar bike carrier is fitted separately to the body of the car. This means that you can get in and out of the back of the car. But it might be limited so you should look into getting a swing away type of hitch bike rack.

4. Speed of loading and taking off bikes
Because the bicycles are loaded at the back of the car, it's just a matter of unclipping them from the rack. This beats having to climb on top of the vehicle to get them off bike roof carriers.

5. Taking weight of the back door
Some bike racks are designed to fit the spare tire but if you are going to be carrying more than 1 bike and over rough terrain then the stress caused by the weight of the bikes can damage the rear door. A hitch mount solves this problem

6. Security
The rack can easily be locked to the car and the bikes to it. It's a bit of a safety deterrent.

The main makers of this type of bicycle car rack are Thule, Saris and Yakima. They seem to come out tops in terms of reviews so if you go for any of these three, you should be in safe hands. Other makers are Hollywood, Allen, Sportsrack and Topline. Although not as popular, you might be able to find some good deals.

Bike Racks - What Are My Choices?

2009-11-21T18:59:00.000-08:00

Trailer Hitch Bike Racks

2009-11-18T18:56:00.000-08:00

By Elizabeth Morgan

People can’t ride their bikes everywhere and it is often necessary to transport bikes from one place to another. Until recently, people would have to put the bike inside their vehicle when transporting it, but now there are bike racks that can secure the bike above the ground outside of the vehicle. Trailer hitch bike racks fit into the trailer hitch receiver opening and provide metal racks specifically designed to hold and transport bikes.

Trailer hitches fit into the same trailer hitch receiver opening that is used to secure the hitch ball mount. On most models, the trailer hitch bike rack sticks up vertically behind the rear of the vehicle. The vertical metal pole that holds the bikes up is usually a few feet long. There are two horizontal bars at the top of the vertical pole where the bikes are secured. One wheel of the bike is put between the bars and then strapped in. The bike hangs down between the bars and can be transported in this position. These bike racks provide enough ground clearance that the bike is not in danger of being dragged along the ground.

Other types of trailer hitch bike racks fit horizontally on the back of the vehicle. The wheels of the bike fit into two openings on the rack. The bike is fastened and held upright in these racks.

There are models of both of these types of trailer hitch bike racks that can hold several bikes. Some can transport up to five bikes at once. These racks are larger and more cumbersome than smaller racks, but they can be useful, especially when transporting several bikers to a biking destination.

Bike racks are great for people going on long mountain biking trips. The racks can accommodate several bikes at once, leaving room in the vehicle for the riders.

Hitch Mount Bike Rack - Why It's a Good Choice and How it Can Save You Money

2009-11-15T18:54:00.000-08:00

By Mark S Myers

The hitch mount bike rack has become the preferred choice of bike carrier that everyone is going for these days. There is good reason for this and a number of benefits, many that will actually save you money. Here you will learn why so many cyclists are choosing hitch mount bike racks, how they can save you money and what the top brands are.

In the past it seemed every cyclist transported their bike on a roof top carrier. But that seems to be changing today. It used to actually make a statement how your bike was transported. Not so any more.

Today with the price of gas and size of vehicles getting bigger cyclist are opting for bike carriers that better fit their needs. The choice of many cyclists today is the hitch mount bike rack.

Benefits of the Hitch Mount Bike Rack

The last thing anyone wants to do after a long ride or race is to lift their bike high above their car and put it in a roof rack. Many of today's SUV's, vans and trucks are taller than ever before. To hoist a bike onto a roof rack for those vehicles requires you play for the NBA or carry a ladder along with you. A hitch rack can be a great alternative as it usually requires hoisting of no more than shoulder height, at best.

A bike that is transported from the rear is protected from expensive damage that can occur with rocks, bugs and other debris that can hit the bike while driving.

Speaking of protection, a bike that is transported from the rear will also not be damaged when the driver forgets the bike is on the roof and drives into a low ceiling garage.

The best benefit of a hitch mount bike rack is the money it will save you on gas. A bike on a roof rack creates drag and cuts down on your gas mileage. A rear transported bike will not create the same kind of drag.

If you have more than one bike there are versions of hitch bike racks that can accommodate up to 5 bicycles.

Finally, the ease of taking the bike on and off is very quick and you do not have to remove the tires-so you are ready to get cycling faster once at your destination.

The Top Brands for Hitch Racks

In the hitch bike rack world it seems to be dominated by three manufacturers: Thule, Saris and Yakima. There are others but these three seem to be the quality innovators. Other companies that offer good choices for the price conscious shopper include: Swagman, Softride, Hollywood, and Draftmaster.

Speaking of innovation, Yakima has a hitch rack that over comes a big problem that is the downside of a rear mounting system. Because these racks are at the back of the vehicle it can make it difficult to get into the rear of the vehicle with the rack in place. The Yakima "Swing Daddy" has a feature that allows the rack to completely swing out of the way to give you complete access to the rear of your vehicle.

Get a Hitch Bike Rack and Keep Your Bike Safe

2009-11-12T18:52:00.000-08:00

By Andrew Caxton

If you've got a pickup truck or an SUV, you may think that you don't need to make an investment in a bike rack of any kind, because there's plenty of room in the back of the truck or your sports utility vehicle for a bike or two. Right?

However, after you've driven around with your bike rattling around in the back of your SUV or truck, you may change your mind.

It's not only the noise that may get on your nerves. Grease and dirt can quite easily transfer from your bike to the upholstery of the SUV, and of course you'll have to flip those seats up and down to ensure you have enough room.

Even if you don't care about the state of your truck bed, it's easy to scratch your bike as well and you don't want that. Scratches turn into rust. And if you're carrying more than one bike, the chances of scratches or staining is multiplied.

What can you do about it? You can't get a roof rack for your truck, obviously, and the roof of your SUV will be too high to comfortably lift a bike up to the roof.

No problem - if you've got a trailer hitch on the back of your truck or SUV, then all you need to do is get a receiver bike rack, more commonly known as a hitch bike rack. (The receiver is the name of the ball on which a trailer hitch is placed.)

Everybody Wins with a Receiver Hitch Bike Rack

Lots of companies offer hitch racks, from Advantage to Saris to Yakima.

There's a couple of things you need to bear in mind when buying a hitch or receiver rack - what's the diameter of the ball on which the hitch has to fit? Once you know that dimension, you also have to decide how many bikes you're going to carry. You can buy a hitch rack that will carry up to five bikes at a time.

If you're nervous about having your bicycles secured on the back of you vehicle, you can also explore the option of a bed mount.

This is a device that runs horizontally from one side of your truck bed to the other. You then put your bikes onto this rack and secure them down so that they stand up securely and don't rattle around. You can also buy a similar device for your SUV, although you still have the hassle of moving around the seats - depending on the size of your vehicle.

If you've got a pickup or an SUV, then you've invested a lot in your vehicle. You've probably also invested a lot in your bike as well. So why not invest a little bit more in a receiver bike rack to keep everything safe, clean, and neat.

Towbar Bike Carrier - 6 Reasons Why These Bike Rack For Cars Are So Popular

2009-11-09T18:50:00.000-08:00

Best Bike Racks For Sedans

2009-11-06T18:47:00.000-08:00

Bike Racks For Cars - How to Select the Right Bike Rack For Your Car

2009-11-03T18:44:00.000-08:00

Bike Racks - What Are My Choices?

2009-10-31T18:42:00.000-07:00

Hitch Mount Bike Racks Now on Ridiculous Vehicles

2009-10-28T18:39:00.000-07:00

The Saris Bike Rack - A Trunk Mount Bike Rack That Will Not Get Stolen

2009-10-25T18:36:00.000-07:00

The Spare Tire Mount Bike Rack Compared to the Hitch Mount Bike Rack

2009-10-22T18:34:00.000-07:00

The Hitch Mount Bike Rack - Why is it So Popular?

2009-10-19T18:32:00.000-07:00

Is the Hitch Mount Bike Rack Right For My Car?

2009-10-16T18:27:00.000-07:00

Hitch Mount Bike Rack - Why It's a Good Choice and How it Can Save You Money

2009-10-13T18:24:00.000-07:00

Hitch Mount Bike Racks

2009-10-10T18:21:00.000-07:00

Trailer Hitch Bike Racks

2009-10-07T08:31:00.000-07:00

People can’t ride their bikes everywhere and it is often necessary to transport bikes from one place to another. Until recently, people would have to put the bike inside their vehicle when transporting it, but now there are bike racks that can secure the bike above the ground outside of the vehicle. Trailer hitch bike racks fit into the trailer hitch receiver opening and provide metal racks specifically designed to hold and transport bikes.

Trailer hitches fit into the same trailer hitch receiver opening that is used to secure the hitch ball mount. On most models, the trailer hitch bike rack sticks up vertically behind the rear of the vehicle. There are two horizontal bars at the top of the vertical pole where the bikes are secured. Other types of trailer hitch bike racks fit horizontally on the back of the vehicle. The wheels of the bike fit into two openings on the rack. The bike is fastened and held upright in these racks.

There are models of both of these types of trailer hitch bike racks that can hold several bikes. Some can transport up to five bikes at once. These racks are larger and more cumbersome than smaller racks, but they can be useful, especially when transporting several bikers to a biking destination. Bike racks are great for people going on long mountain biking trips.

Basics To Buying Bicycle Car Racks
You should have a bicycle car rack because terrific bicycling areas are always not within easy cycling distance. Carrying your bicycle on your vehicle is an excellent means to spread out your bicycling escapades. This makes it very easy to discover traffic-free streets, impressive trails or take your bicycle with you on vacations.

If you do drive regularly to bike, then you will be pleased to know about how recent bicycle car rack innovations have made transporting your bikes much easier for you. Not all cars are can fit all kinds of bicycle car racks, which is why it is very important to buy the right bicycle car rack to fit your car as well as your needs.

Things to consider when buying a bicycle car rack:
• Your vehicle model. Generally, you can not find a bicycle car rack that will match or install two cars; therefore, if you possess two or more cars, choose the one car that you will most likely use.
• Your car load. Will you possibly be carrying 3 or 4 bicycles in the near future? If you need to carry more bikes than you presently do, make certain to choose a bicycle car rack model with carry-load that is more flexible.
• Positioning of the bicycle car rack. Depending upon the model and make of your car, there are many bicycle car racks that can suit your needs several of these add more access or functionality to your vehicle.
• Durability. Familiarize yourself with your bicycle car rack choices:
1. Roof mounted bicycle racks. If positioned securely, roof mounted bike racks will carry a minimum 4 bicycles and can even accommodate more reliant on your car type. This type of rack also can provide a utility for fastening a “roof-box” that can hold your sports equipment, luggage, and bicycles under cover, preventing bicycle damage with the clamped, upright position.

2. Front bumper racks. These bike car racks are normally not recommended and only are suitable for cars with a “high-front end”. If positioned excessively high, these types of racks can get in the way with the driver’s vision.

3. Rear bicycle car racks. These are the most commonly used of all forms of bicycle car racks. As bicycles are usually carried very closely together, using “foam pipe-insulator” that this type of rack features as protective cover is recommended.

4. Tow ball bicycle mount. This type can carry up to 5 bicycles and is generally set up with a “square mounting post” placed into a “square pipe” attached to your car’s underside rear that tilt down if empty to permit for rear doors and tailgates.

5. “Rear ball-hitch” bike racks. This type of set-up usually can only accommodate a 2 bikes maximum due to limitations in weight and generally clamps against or bolt through the “hitch-ball” mounting outlet on the vehicles hitch tongue or bumper.

6. “Sports car interior”. You can buy brackets to make sure your bicycles does not move or swing around while inside your car.

Now that are well informed with the basics of buying a bicycle car rack, all you need to do next is to find a dependable dealership and ask recommendations or find the best bicycle car rack deals online.

Get Ready to Camp With Truck Tents And Thule Racks

2009-10-04T08:28:00.000-07:00

I read in one of her ladies’ magazines she keeps in the bathroom that getting away for a romantic weekend was a sure-fire way to “spice things up”.

With that handy piece of information in mind, I planned us a camping trip. We used to just drive down the highway a couple hundred miles, stop at rest area and sleep in my ‘78 Trans Am. Not this time. I got on the internet and found a tent that hooked to the rear of my 2001 Hyundai Accent. They called it a “hatchback tent”, which makes sense when you think about it. They said it would turn my rig into “a comfortable cabin” – just what the ol’ lady and I needed.

I went to the city and bought a bunch of scented candles, perfumey smelling soap and a lacey outfit for her to wear. Things were shaping up pretty good, but then I started thinking that I didn’t want to pack the inside of the car with a load of junk, and besides those candles would give me headache if I had to smell them for the 50-or-so-mile drive it was going to be to KOA.

I got it in my mind I needed one of them carriers that looks like an old Big Mac box, so I could stuff all that frou-frou stuff in there. I went hunting around on the internet again and found a container that worked with my Thule rack.

I got that rack for a Christmas present from my brother-in-law. He’s some sort of hot-shot bicycle rider and said that he thought I might like to have it around. Anyways, about a week after I ordered the stuff, it showed up at my door. Thank god, my woman was working down at the five and dime, and didn’t see all the trimmings. I strapped the box on and tested out the tent. Everything looked like it was going to work out just fine.

The next day, I got up early and painted some hearts and those little baby angels on the car with nursery school paint. I showed the new paint job to my neighbor and said the angels looked like retarded pigs, but he’s one of them book-reading types, so you can’t really trust him much.

I drove down and surprised the Mrs. at her work to whisk her away in the-now-read-to-get down ride. If you could’ve seen the look on her face. And, all her friends from work were hoot and hollering too.

Hitch Mount Bike Racks Now on Ridiculous Vehicles
Given the surge in popularity for hitch-mounted bike racks like Thule’s popular line, we’re starting to see them all over the road. Lately, though, we’ve seen some ridiculous vehicles with an unnaturally added hitch simply for having the hitch-mounted bike rack. We’ve collected the top 5 worst instances we can remember and ranked them in factors of hideousness and hilarity. 1. Toyota Prius
Someone with a mint-colored Prius attempted to extend their smugness in low smog-ness by adding an infinite MPG vehicle to the back of their high MPG cruiser. Well, Mr. nose incline, adding all of that weight to the rear of your bean-on-wheels (and even tasking this Toy to tow) defeats the purpose of your hybrid’s miserly petrol consumption ways. Here’s a solid plan we would offer to these environmental elitists: instead of carrying your bike places, ride your bike there. Then, you’re using absolutely no gas, and have the right to call out other people’s hefty carbon footprints. Granted, this site is more of a attitudinal ill-fit than the hideous hack-jobs above, but this concept just mystified us. Turning your hybrid into a hauler effectively turns it into a regular Corolla or Civic, which wastes all the extra loot you dumped down just to save a few bucks.

2. Cadillac CTS
The man’s dear departed parents had to punch the hitch onto the back to handle a carrier for the wife’s rascal. But when daddy left the Caddy to his son, he couldn’t handle insurance on his truck and the new sled, so he ditched his truck and added a bike rack to the back.

3. Ford Focus Hatchback
Again, a hatchback appears on the list. The logistics of adding a hitch-mount bike rack to a 3-door or 5-door seem unfathomable. Doors hitting bars, bars hitting doors, many paint chips. Anyway, this may have been the most unprofessional DIY hitch installation we’ve ever seen, with an Allen rack haphazardly jammed into the tiny receiver. This not-so-hot-hatch also had a rigged roof rack, and about 1/8” of space left between the wheels and the panels.

4. Chevy S-10
This model happened to be one of the few crew cab models to roll off the line, with the cavernous 4½’ bed. In order to carry a couple of bikes, this guy needed to grab a hitch and a hitch-mount Thule rack. Call this sad, call it awkward, or call it whatever you want. We call it Inept Bed Syndrome.

5. The Geo Metro
A nice mix of off-white and rust with ashy grey bumpers flashing buffer burns, this Metro had a 1 ¼” receiver jutting from a hacked hole in the plastic. Pinned into the receiver was a Swagman 4-bike carrier, with all saddles empty. Still, the weight of the rack alone was causing major rear-end sag. How this sweet ride got around town with any bikes attached is beyond our comprehension.

As the years go by and cars get smaller, I’m sure we’ll see some crazier Franken-style combinations of bike racks and inappropriate vehicles. Which is good, because then we’ll get to waste time assembling a new list and taking unqualified cracks at people who don’t deserve the insult.

Bike Racks For Cars and Trucks - How to Choose the Right One For You

2009-10-01T08:25:00.000-07:00

Try to stuff your bike in the back of your car and risk damaging the upholstery or getting dirt and grease everywhere? No, the answer is simple, get a bike rack for your car or truck so you can transport your bike there and back.

That's the easy decision made, the hard part comes in deciding what type of rack to buy. There's a bewildering range on offer these days. This article is going to help you make an informed decision so you choose the right bike rack for your needs.
• So, what are your needs with regard to bike racks?
• How many bikes will you want to carry?
• Will the rack need to fit different vehicles (say, for example you will need to switch one rack between two family cars)?
• Is security of the bikes and rack paramount?
• Are you able to reach a high rack to load a bike onto it?
• Is your bike pretty standard in design or something unusual such as a tandem or recumbent?
• Do you already have a towing hitch fitted to your vehicle?
• Is your vehicle an off-road type with a spare wheel mounted on the rear?
• What categories of rack are there?

There are four basic types: Hitch-mount racks. Roof mounted racks. Strap on trunk racks and racks that mount in the bed of a pickup truck. The hitch mount is my favorite as it is easy to load and can take a lot of weight. If you've a pickup and don't need all the space in the bed for other stuff then the bed-mounted racks are great.

Strap-on trunk mounted racks usually cost between $50 and $150. The rack needs to be tightly strapped onto the vehicle and the vehicle's paintwork must be properly protected from damage if parts of the carrier rest on the body. These strap-on racks usually carry one or two bikes, sometimes three. More than that and you risk damaging the car or bikes.

Pros
They are good if you often change your vehicle as they are universal fitting.
They are usually a manageable height for loading bikes on to.
With prices starting at just $50 they are the most affordable of all bike racks.

Cons
The usual method of fitting means the weight of your bikes and the rack is all taken on the car's panels, risking damage (I speak from first-hand experience!). The polyester webbing securing straps can snap or wear out in the fullness of time. Theft is a high risk as the straps can be easily cut with a knife. In many cases it's not possible to open the trunk once the bikes are loaded. Roof-mounted bike racks can be attached to your vehicle's existing rack mounts if provided, or you can install a pair of crossbars that the rack attaches to. Prices start from around $50 per bike but if you need to buy crossbars, the total will end up closer to $200 for a two bike setup.

Pros
The bikes, once loaded, are up out of your way and don't restrict access to the trunk. Most manufacturers offer lockable attachments so the rack stays on your car! You can carry more bikes than a strap-on setup, typically up to five bikes at once.

Cons
This type of bike rack can be tricky to install, Headroom is limited with bikes loaded. Many car parks etc will be 'out of bounds' Noisier when driving due to wind resistance. Can be a strain to lift bikes onto these racks, especially for shorter people. Hitch-mount racks have been getting more popular recently. They can hold lots of weight and are easy to load and unload.

Pros
The easiest of all to install -just slide it onto the trailer hitch fitting. Bike front wheels can usually stay in place, unlike some roof mount systems â€¢ Easiest to lift and fix the bikes in place.

Cons
If your vehicle doesn't already have a trailer hitch you'll need to pay extra to get one fitted. Only the swing-away models are guaranteed to allow access to the car's tailgate. Like the strap-on racks, extra care needs to be taken when reversing. Rear vision might also be impaired depending on the height of the vehicle. Robert Heathyard is a keen mountain biker and a lecturer in motor vehicle technology.

Motogroup Bike Rack For a Car, Truck Or SUV – Review
Biking is considered as one of the most played sports and with a Motogroup Bike Rack you will have the best bike rack for the right price. If you are still wondering why you need to have a this if you can just put the bike at the back of your car, well all I've got to say is if you can do it without scratching, then you must be Mr. Impossible. If you don't want to lose the smoothness and authenticity of your bike, having a bike rack is a practical thing.

There are 2 major positioning for the rack: you can attach it to the car's roof or to the rear. This way you can avoid scratching your bike and the irritating sound of the bounce too. Rubberized bike straps are specially attached on the rack to hold the bike in place (and also to keep it from being scratched). The Motogroup Bike Rack is created to provide accessibility at hand and upkeep your bike. It fits 2" hitch receiver with adaptor (1.25" hitch receiver without the adaptor) and carries 2 bikes. Meets your quality standards with its flexibility and durability.

Be a wise shopper! It takes miles of biking to know that Motogroup Bike Rack is simply amazing.

Tips For Finding the Right Bike Rack For Your Car

2009-09-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

I never liked cyclists very much. I own a Jeep Cherokee and whenever I'd drive around town in it, I'd inevitably see a cyclist on the side of the road pedaling away like it was the Tour de France. Normally I'd salute such dedication to sport and health, but the bikers were always hogging the road even if there was a bike lane! It was especially annoying when they took left turns with the traffic, as if pretending to be a car. A buddy of mine called up and invited me to go riding on a famed trail just outside of town. I reluctantly agreed and he insisted I ride along.

My first order of business was to get a bike and a way of securing it to my Jeep, i.e. a bike rack. I never dreamed that there was such a wide range of bike racks and bike rack accessories out there! There are hitch mount racks, which attach securely to the rear of the vehicle. Then there are trunk mount racks which latch on to a vehicle's trunk and are quickly and easily removed. Then there are of course the old standard roof racks which I was leaning toward for my own SUV. Sometimes the best approach to picking a rack is to buy one based on the capacity of bikes it can hold. I also bought some car mats to spruce up the interior.

We drove out and rode some amazing trails, saw wondrous sights and got up close with beauty of the great outdoors. The next day I was so sore I called in sick and lay on the floor of my apartment twitching and flailing. Whenever you are buying car parts or accessories, make sure you shop around and know what you're getting into. Research the pros and cons of the existing brands and models and read customer reviews, or you might end up stuck with something you'd rather not have. I am now a changed man. The next time I'm driving around town, rather swear at the cyclists, I'll make sure to swerve widely around my fellow brothers of the wheel.

Five Tips For Buying the Right Bike Rack
The idea of a "right" or "best" bike rack is almost as hard to define as the "right" or "best" bicycle for you. You could easily spend hundreds of dollars for a good new carrier, or get by with only tens of dollars in expense to buy a good used bike rack. Because there are a wide range of prices out there, and because there are many features available in all price ranges, never start with price considerations first.
Tip 1: What vehicle are you planning to use the rack on?
You need to know exactly what type of vehicle and if at all possible exactly which vehicle you will mount the rack on. Once you know the details, you can choose the right bike rack for your specific vehicle.

Tip 2: How many bikes will you usually be carrying with your bike rack?
You might find a great deal on a 2-bike rack, which would be perfect for you and a friend. But suppose you have a group of friends, or a family, and you want to carry 4 bikes on the rack? Likewise, a great deal on a 4- or 6-bike (they're HUGE!) rack isn't very "great" if you will never need to carry that many bikes. A bike rack that's too big can be cumbersome and nearly useless.

Tip 3: Where do you want the bikes to be racked?
That is, physically where do you wish to carry your bikes? Do you want a roof rack? How about something mounted on the rear of your vehicle? Maybe you'd even like to install a hitch and pull a trailer bike carrier.

Tip 4: What size and shape are your bikes?
Some of the fancier bike racks may be great for your $7,000 high-tech Trek racing bike, but how will they handle your kids' 20-inch BMX off road bikes? Never consider a bike rack or bike carrier without thinking about how it will fit your specific bike or bikes.

Tip 5: Who will normally be loading the bikes onto your rack or carrier?
Don't assume your 90-pound, "5-foot-barely" daughter will be able to load bikes onto the same rack arrangement as your "6-foot-and-taller," 200-pound son the linebacker! This will ultimately be an important factor in deciding what type of bike rack you want to buy and where you will mount it.

Pricing should be one of the last considerations if you're serious about getting a quality bike rack. Once you've taken all 5 tips into account, go to your local bike shop, or take a trip online and see what meets your needs at a price you can afford.

If you are able to lead or ride your bicycle literally everywhere you want to go, a bike rack may not even be in your thinking.

Cheap Bike Racks

2009-09-25T08:19:00.000-07:00

Using bike racks is a safe way to prevent your bike from being stolen. Bike racks are devices to which a bicycle can be attached in order to prevent theft. Bike racks can be attached to any automobile such as a car, truck, trolley, or bus for transporting bicycles. Usually, bike racks are found on the fronts of buses and trolleys.

Available in a variety of mounting designs, bike racks provide a wide range of features to meet the needs of any individual. Easy-to-assemble bike racks offer high security. Types of bike racks include roof bike racks, tow ball mounting racks, trunk racks, spare tire mount racks, and more. The cost of bike racks depends on the material used.

Today, a number of companies are manufacturing inexpensive bike racks. To compete with their rivals, several companies are revising the prices of bike racks. They offer high-quality bike racks at less expensive prices.

Just like expensive bike racks, inexpensive bike racks also offer advantages such as security and simplicity. By purchasing inexpensive bike racks, one can save a little money

Inexpensive bike racks can be purchased online. There are websites offering cheap bike racks, high-quality bike racks, and free bike racks. Shoppers can select any type of bike rack by searching online. Bike-racks-plus.com and orsracksdirect.com are some of the websites offering cheap bike racks on the Internet. Before purchasing cheap bike racks, make sure that they offer easy installation and high bike security.

Expand Your Horizons With a Car Bike Rack
If you're going to take up biking - mountain biking, touring, racing, whatever - there's quite a bit of gear that you can get at second hand which will serve your purpose. In biking it is all about the bike. If you buy one that is a poor fit, it will spoil your ride and you'll be tempted to give up the sport without giving it a fair chance.

Once you've found you enjoy bike riding, however, you'll want to expand your horizons. You may wonder why you should buy a bike rack when you can just as easily stick your bike into the back of your car whenever you want to go somewhere. Well, you'll soon find that it's a hassle to try to fit your bike into the cramped trunk of your car. If you've got an SUV you can put the bike in the back with greater ease - where dirt and oil from the wheels can damage your upholstery, and where the bike can rattle about making irritating noises. No, the bike rack is the way to go. There are two main designs: the type that goes on the roof of the car or SUV, and the type that is attached to the rear of the car.

Find A Discount Bike Rack
Once you've decided on which kind of bike rack you want - and you have to give consideration to the safety of the roof rack over the rear mount, and whether or not you will have the strength to lift the bike up onto the roof by yourself - you'll want to get the best bike rack you can in your price range.

Now, here's where common sense comes in. Lots of people buy tons of equipment for a new sport, try it and decide they don't like, and so have a ton of equipment, with little use, to sell or give away. Keep an eye out for advertisements in your local paper. There's also plenty of sites on the Internet that offer discount and new bike racks for sale.

Do research to know what you want, and compare prices so you know you'll be getting a good deal on the bike rack of your choice. The internet is an excellent source of information in this regard. There'll be product reviews, message boards where people chat about the various types of equipment - including bike racks, and shopping malls where you can compare prices.

If you're an impulse buyer....you've got to learn to curb that tendency! You'll be a lot happier if you wait a few days, do your research, compare your items, to ensure that you get the best car bike rack your money can buy at the price you want to spend.

There's More Room For Your Luggage With a Car Bike Rack

2009-09-22T08:16:00.000-07:00

Why go biking?
Quite simply, biking is a lot of fun. It's good exercise, it's clean transportation, and it's quiet. If you have young children they can ride behind you in kiddie seats, older children can have their own bikes, and even grandparents will be able to keep active with three-wheeled cycles as well. With all the outcry about the weight problems of the average American, it makes sense to get your kids involved in exercise early - and the fun exercise of biking might be just the ticket.

There's a lot to be said for biking to and from your local store when you need a few groceries, or for your kids to bike to school or to a friend's house. But most cities have bike trails scattered throughout, or parks or places in the suburbs where you can get out and spend the entire day biking in the quiet retreat of the outdoors.
And that's where the bike rack comes in.

Sure, your bike might fit into you're the trunk of your car, or into the back of your SUV. Do you want your SUV's upholstery stained with dirt or grease? How much easier it is to acquire a car roof rack. It's easy to install on top of your car, and then it's just a question of lifting the bike into place so that the self-clamping clamps can do their thing. And when you're not using the rack to carry your bikes, most of them are adjustable so you can carry skies,

Well, technology has marched onward, and so has the quality of today's roof racks. Bikes are kept stable and secure until you reach your destination. Roof racks are safer than rear-mounted racks, since you never know if that motorist behind you might want to inch up a bit...and give your precious bikes a bump or two! The only issu for you to remember with a roof rack is that you actually have bikes attached to the top of your car, so you don't try to drive into a low garage and total the bikes!

Your Truck, Your Bike and You
A pickup truck is a vehicle that is commonly used for off-road adventures and usually once destination is reached the rest of the outdoor fun is continued by means of biking. Pickup trucks have a lot of space at the back that can accommodate lots of cargoes including a bike.

Maintaining order in the cargoes at the back of the pickup is very important especially when you have a bike that often when not tied down securely can damaged the other cargoes plus may smashed into the back window of your pickup. And of course too much tossing and smashing and banging will damaged your bike. One bike is bad enough just think if you have a couple of unsecured bikes at the back of your pickup. The mess and damaged will be multiplied.

To prevent such unsightly incident from happening as a pickup truck owner you would have to invest on a bike rack to keep your bike on hold. Bike racks or bicycle racks are devices in which bicycles may be securely attached to an automobile such pickups or bus for transporting bicycles. A truck bed bike rack is a bicycle rack that is especially designed for pickup trucks.

In case you have a trailer hitch at the back of your truck or SUV then all you would need is to get a receiver bike rack also known as a hitch bike rack. Things to consider when buying a bike rack?

Your first consideration when purchasing a bike rack should be the number of bikes you will be carrying. Bike racks comes in different sizes and shapes. The most common sizes are designed to carry as few as one bike and as many as four bikes. Try to consider the number of bikes you will need your bike rack to hold and also keep in mind the possibility of adding more bikes in the future. Likewise keep in mind that if one bike rack is not enough to hold all of your bikes, you may be able to equip your vehicle with two.

Your next consideration should be is where you want to attached your bike rack to your vehicle. As much as there are many ways of killing a cat so are there ways of attaching bike racks on your vehicle. Bikes racks may be mounted on the roof, mounted on a trailer hitch, or attached to the trunk or read door. Remember that where you decide to put your bike rack is very important to the result that you want to achieve.

Bike racks placed on the roof is great since it’s out of the way. You won’t have to worry with your bikes getting in line with your driving view or blocking the access to the trunk. The downside of a roof rack, however is that it makes retrieving and stowing a little harder.

Trunk or rear mounted bike racks are much easier to use, and are not very costly. Trunk or rear mounted bike racks have less durable construction since they rely on fabric straps and less sturdy metal and plastic pieces and therefore more probe to damage and theft.

The bike rack that is attached to the trailer hitch is made of sturdy metal construction and can hold up to four bicycles.

How to Choose a Bicycle Car Rack

2009-09-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

There are several types of bicycle racks for cars. Trunk mount, Roof mount, Spare Tire mount or Receiver Hitch mount. Trunk mount bicycle racks for cars are the most common.

Advantages To Trunk Mount Bicycle Car Rack
Trunk Mount are usually cheaper than other types of racks.

Disadvantages to trunk mount bike racks
Some Trunk Racks do not get the bike far enough from the car so the bike can rub on the car.
You cannot attach the upper rack straps to a glass window. If your car's back window opens and there is not an attachment point above that that is metal you cannot attach a trunk rack. Some of the older Camaros, Firebirds, Toyota 4 Runner have this problem so you either need to use a receiver hitch rack or a roof rack.

If your exhaust pipe points directly at the tires on your bike it can overheat the tire and ruin it.
Many racks do not separate the bikes well and the bikes will rub the paint off of each other.

Advantages to Roof Racks
The roof racks protect the finish on your car really well.

Disadvantages to Roof Racks
People have been known to forget the bikes are on the roof and run into the garage. Usually Roof Racks are quite expensive. Often it will cost over $400 for a two bike roof rack.
Putting the bike on the roof can be a chore sometimes. The extra wind drag from the bikes above the car will significantly affect your gas mileage. Installing a roof rack can be a chore. Putting your bike on a roof rack can be difficult.

Advantages to Spare Tire Racks
Sometimes they are the only rack that will fit the vehicle.

Disadvantages to Spare tire racks
They do not fit many cars.

Advantages to Receiver Hitch Racks
Easy to install.
Less wind drag than Roof Racks.
The bikes are kept away from the car so they do not rub on the paint of the car. The rack only touches the car by slipping into the Receiver and either bolted or pinned to the receiver. Receiver racks are easy to move from vehicle to vehicle as long as the vehicle has the right size receiver. Check out my Receiver Hitch Tips page.

Disadvantages to Receiver Hitch Racks
You cannot haul a trailer when your rack is on your car.

Like the Trunk rack and the Spare Tire Rack when your bikes are on the rack it is often hard to get into the back of the car.

Expand Your Horizons With a Car Bike Rack
If you're going to take up biking - mountain biking, touring, racing, whatever - there's quite a bit of gear that you can get at second hand which will serve your purpose. In biking it is all about the bike. If you buy one that is a poor fit, it will spoil your ride and you'll be tempted to give up the sport without giving it a fair chance.

Once you've found you enjoy bike riding, however, you'll want to expand your horizons. You may wonder why you should buy a bike rack when you can just as easily stick your bike into the back of your car whenever you want to go somewhere. Well, you'll soon find that it's a hassle to try to fit your bike into the cramped trunk of your car. If you've got an SUV you can put the bike in the back with greater ease - where dirt and oil from the wheels can damage your upholstery, and where the bike can rattle about making irritating noises. No, the bike rack is the way to go. There are two main designs: the type that goes on the roof of the car or SUV, and the type that is attached to the rear of the car.

Find A Discount Bike Rack
Once you've decided on which kind of bike rack you want - and you have to give consideration to the safety of the roof rack over the rear mount, and whether or not you will have the strength to lift the bike up onto the roof by yourself - you'll want to get the best bike rack you can in your price range.

Now, here's where common sense comes in. Lots of people buy tons of equipment for a new sport, try it and decide they don't like, and so have a ton of equipment, with little use, to sell or give away. Keep an eye out for advertisements in your local paper. There's also plenty of sites on the Internet that offer discount and new bike racks for sale.

Do research to know what you want, and compare prices so you know you'll be getting a good deal on the bike rack of your choice. The internet is an excellent source of information in this regard. There'll be product reviews, message boards where people chat about the various types of equipment - including bike racks, and shopping malls where you can compare prices.

If you're an impulse buyer....you've got to learn to curb that tendency! You'll be a lot happier if you wait a few days, do your research, compare your items, to ensure that you get the best car bike rack your money can buy at the price you want to spend.

How to Choose the Right Bike Rack for Your Car

2009-09-16T08:10:00.000-07:00

Firstly, there are two sources of professional advice you have available to you concerning roof racks. Your car’s manufacturing company will often have put together a list of recommended roof-rack models and suppliers, with fitting information and particular concerns that may be relevant. Your second source of advice is your local roof-rack shop. A well-established business will offer impartial advice designed to get you and your bikes on the road safely and securely.

Load - Are you likely to need to carry more bikes in the future?
Car Model - It’s highly unlikely that you’ll find one bike rack to fit two cars, so if you have more than one car choose which one you are likely to want to use. If you are not taking it to the bike rack shop, note down all the make and model details and take them with you.
Durability - Spend money based on how long you want it to last, quality racks will last years, but if you only want it for a few one-off trips then buy in the lower price-range.
Positioning - You’ve got a few choices (depending on your car make and model) of where to fit the rack. Here’s a run-down of the different ways a bike rack can be positioned, and details on the pros and cons of each.

Front bumper racks: Not normally recommended, and only suitable for vehicles with a high front-end. Roof mounted racks: A secure position which will carry at least 4 bikes, and can take many more depending on your vehicle. The rack can also provide a surface for attaching a roof-box, which can carry luggage, sports equipment and your bikes under cover. This method of carrying can also prevent damage to the bikes with the upright, clamped position. You’ll pay slightly more for the benefits of this bike-rack, and may have to use a small ladder to actually get your bikes off and on to the set-up.

Vehicle-rear racks: The most common form of rack used, you can normally carry about 3 bikes, and the rack is attached using straps and metal hooks. Bikes must be securely strapped to prevent bounce, and access to the boot is often completely cut off.

Tow ball mount: Installed with a square mounting post inserted into a square pipe bolted to the underside rear of your car – these tilt down when empty to allow for tailgates and rear doors. If you want one that can tilt down while loaded, you’ll need to pay extra for a load-bearing model. You can get 2 to 5 bikes on the bike rack.

Rear ball-hitch racks: This set-up can usually only carry a maximum of 2 bikes due to weight limitations, and usually clamps onto a hitch-ball or bolt through the hitch-ball mounting hole on the bumper or hitch tongue.

On a camper: Some roof-mount racks will adapt to a camper roof, and you can also get ladder-mount racks for the rear. A roof mount or ladder-mount would be the best choice. Some people simply strap their bikes to the roof, but you can easily damage the fibreglass so this is not recommended.

Sports car interior: You can get brackets to ensure your bike doesn’t shift around when carrying it inside your vehicle, and presuming you have enough room this is a cheaper and safer option (less chances of thieves getting their hands on the bikes).

It’s also a great idea to make use of all the magazine and Internet sources out there constantly testing roof rack and roof-bars to find the best option. For example, this article targets the 6 best roof-bars, and this site provides customer reviews of bike-racks.

Overall, the two best choices are the rear bike-rack and the roof-mount. If you know you’re only ever going to be transporting bikes, and want to be able to free them quickly and without fuss, a rear hitch rack may well provide the speed and flexibility you need. If you may be wanting to transport luggage, snowboards, skies or other paraphernalia in the future, a set of roof-bars and a roof-box are the best idea. Thule is leading the way with roof-bars and roof-boxes at the moment (although you do pay a little extra for that quality), so take a good look into their models.

Bike Rack Options
Some of the bike rack options are roof mounted bike racks, rear ball/hitch mounts, trunk racks, wall mounted bike racks, folding bike racks, spare tire mount racks, front bumper bike racks, and tandem carrier bike racks. Bike racks are used for the protection of both the bike and the vehicle.

A roof mounted bike rack is frequently used, and it is ideal for carrying bikes in cars, trucks, and other similar vehicles. A roof bike rack can hold up to four bikes at a time. Some roof mounted bike racks come clamped with a camper roof and are used as a conventional roof rack for sports vehicles.

Rear hitch-mount racks are another commonly used type. Rear hitch-mount racks, better known as receiver hitch racks, can carry up to five bikes. To carry one or two bikes, rear ball-hitch mount racks are ideal. Trunk racks can hold up to three bikes, and are safer than other racks. In addition to these, there are spare tire mount racks to mount a spare tire in the bikes. Wall mounted bike racks and folding bike racks are some of the bike rack options that help save space in a garage.

Bike racks are usually used on vehicles such as cars and trucks. All the bike rack options are available in a wide rang of sizes, styles, and budgets.

Bike Racks

2009-09-13T08:07:00.000-07:00

A bicycle rack is a device to which one attaches a bicycle, to prevent theft. The rack is in turn fixed to the ground or a building wall. Often, in major urban areas, bike racks are a source of theft. A bicycle rack is also a device for transporting bicycles, attached to an automobile or bus. Finally, a bicycle rack can be a device latched onto the bicycle, to which cargo or panniers can be attached. Utility bicycles and touring bicycles use this device often.

To reduce theft, where cycling is popular and encouraged, cycle-parking facilities with bicycle racks, lockable mini-garages, and patrolled cycle parks are used. Cycling is promoted by local governments by permitting public transport to carry bicycles or by provision of external attachment devices on public transport vehicles. Conversely, cyclists from cities with low modal share of cycling complain of the absence of secure cycle-parking.

Early models used to provide for securing one wheel, like a grooved piece of concrete in the ground, or a forked piece of metal into which a wheel of the bicycle is secured. Cyclists call these types of racks "wheel benders." The support to the bicycle and the securing of the frame is due to the top part, which is about level with the top bar of the bicycle frame.

Garage Bike Racks
Organizing a garage so that one has optimum room for storage is a tiresome task that most garage owners put off for as long as possible. Excellent bike storage solutions for the home and the small office can be configured using the floor, wall and ceiling racks on the deck or in the garage. Before selecting a bike rack for the garage, one has to consider accessibility issues. Though most road bikes are lightweight, their bulk is a big concern. The Garage Mount fixes onto a garage wall or floor to provide simple storage for two-bar bike racks, should one wish to remove them from the car. Two different types of Garage Mounts are available - a ball-mounting design and a type-approval design.

The Garage Saver is a great solution to bike storage problems. The versatile design minimizes the amount of space the bikes take up in the garage, by allowing two bikes to be parked side by side (or opposing each other). The foam-coated depressions in the carbon-steel wire hoops gently cradle the bike's axle, and securely hold the bicycle in place without scratches. The rubber-tipped feet prevents the bike rack from moving or slipping, and the overall small footprint still leaves room to get the vehicle in the garage.

Car Bike Racks
To enjoy biking, one has to think of transporting the bicycle on the vehicle using some sort of bike rack. Bike racks come in many varieties and many prices, depending on the application. It depends on the vehicle to be used, the number of bikes one wants to transport, the requirement of quick-release front wheels, and the consistency of bike types--whether all bikes are of same shape and size. Other features to consider are the loading of bikes onto racks, the strength for racks to lift all bikes, any extra security of a lockable bike rack, the decision to use racks also for skis and other sports equipment, the repeatability of use of racks, and finally, the amount of money to be spent.

All vehicles and persons use different racks, depending on application, cost and aesthetics. The following are the various types of car bike racks:
Roof racks attach to the top of a vehicle. Roof racks can be noisy, from wind resistance. Hoisting the bicycles to the roof requires a lot of strength. Rear racks use brackets and straps to mount on the back of a vehicle. Hitch racks are mounted on the rear of a vehicle but have to use a trailer hitch as their main point of attachment. Sport trailers are good for carrying many bicycles, but with an extra toll tax. These trailers therefore, require more storage space.

Buying the Right Bike Rack

2009-09-11T01:50:00.000-07:00

Bike racks are available in an assortment of designs and consist of a wide choice of features that are intended to meet the needs of any company or individual, no matter what it may be. Where there are inhabitants, there are bicyclists, and racks are obtainable in just about every design conceivable, and are intended for a wide range of purposes. Racks have even been fashioned for extremely specialized purposes such as bike storage; you should have no problems finding the bike rack that is suitable to your needs.

As you carry out your hunt for the ideal bike rack, you'll find a bike rack to meet your exacting requirements, look into several designs to find the one that is right for you. Whether you're concentrating on requirements for safekeeping, visual appeal, or both, you can get wide-ranging information concerning these two vital rudiments of bike rack construction. A good bike rack is going to have vast security features for one reason-when a cyclist deposits his or her bike at a rack, they suppose they will find it there when they return. For some people, having their bike stolen would equal that of having a car stolen, especially if it is their only form of transportation. Here's a form of transport and pleasure that has required a considerable financial venture, no one can afford to get a bike stolen.

Use of Bike Racks
You can prevent your bike from getting stolen by using a bike rack. You can securely attach your bike to a bike rack. Earlier bike racks used to secure only one wheel by pushing the wheel of the bike into a forked piece of metal, but it was not effective enough. A thief could easily take away the bike by simply removing the wheel to free the bike. These kinds of bike racks are known as "wheel benders".

A modern style of bike rack is known as a "Sheffield rack". The top part is equal to the top bar of the bicycle frame and provides security for the frame. Bike racks are also used on automobiles for the convenience of traveling with your bike. However, you must be aware of the proper method of loading and unloading your bike from the bike rack.

Loading Your Bike
• Get your bike ready to load. Remove bottles, bicycle pumps or other items before loading.
• If you are using a bus, inform the bus driver that you will be using the bike rack. Speedily load your bike while other passengers are getting into the bus.
• Approach the bike rack from the curbside. Squeeze the handle in the center to lower the rack.
• Place your bike into the rack, fitting the wheel into a wheel slot. Be sure that the arm rests on the tire, not on the frame of your bike. It may damage your bike if you load it incorrectly, so you always need to be careful while loading your bike.

Unloading Your Bike
• On reaching the stop, always inform the bus driver that you will be unloading your bike. Always exit from the front door.
• Drag the support arm away from the wheel, drop it downward and pull out your bike.
• If you are the last person to remove a bike, position the rack back to its correct position.

Rack Rules
• Do not hold up the bus if you are unable to load your bike properly.
• All bikes are loaded in the same way, speedily and easily. Motorized bikes are not allowed on the racks.
• Bus operators are not responsible for any damage to the bikes while in transit.

So you can now take your bike with you by using bike racks on an automobile, but be sure that you are taking all the safety measures while loading and unloading your bike.