Tips For Choosing A Car Bicycle Rack

Tips For Choosing A Car Bicycle Rack, While some people are fortunate enough to be able to ride right from their front door, most cyclists, particularly mountain bikers, will have to drive to their destination. This means you will need a bike rack for your vehicle. Before you spend a lot of time and money looking for the best bicycle for your adventures, you should make sure your gear gets where it needs to go so you can spend less time worrying about it and more time enjoying yourself. Bicycle racks allow you to transport your bicycle while freeing up space inside your vehicle. In this article, we will be discussing how to identify your needs when selecting a bicycle rack for your upcoming adventure.

Bicycle Rack Varieties

Here is a quick rundown of your gear-hauling options, followed by a more in-depth look at bicycle rack options based on the vehicle you are using.

Hitch-mounted bicycle racks

Hitch-mounted bicycle racks: These racks fit into the receiver of a trailer hitch. The Hitch receiver can usually be installed on a vehicle without one, but there is an additional cost to consider.

There are two kinds of hitch bike racks:

Bikes are secured to trays, which reduces the risk of bicycles colliding during transport. They are typically designed to hold two bicycles, but extenders can accommodate up to four bikes. They are more expensive than the hanging style. They can carry a broader range of bikes in different shapes and sizes, and some can take bigger e-bikes.

Hanging bike racks

Hanging bike racks: These racks have a pole with arms that hold bicycles in place by the panel. They are much less pricey and more portable than platform bicycle racks. Some can transport more than four bikes at once.

Trunk bicycle racks

Trunk bicycle racks: These racks use a strap and hook system to attach to trunks or hatches. On support arms, these racks can transport one to three bikes. They are easy to use, cost-effective, and light. They can only transport bicycles and have restricted access to the trunk. Bicycles may push or make contact with one another while being transported. However, because they do not require a hitch or rack system, they are the most budget friendly option for hauling bikes.

Roof racks

Roof racks: are the most adaptable as you can customize accessories to transport practically any outdoor activity equipment. Roof racks are steady, keep equipment out of the direction, and do not impede access to the vehicle’s doors. They are, however, pricey and necessitate overhead lifting equipment, which may be challenging for some individuals.

Truck bed bicycle racks

Truck bed bicycle racks: Truck bed bicycle racks use inner rails or support plates that can be temporarily set up in the back of the truck to position bikes in place. Your bikes can be carried on a protective pad above the tailgate, upright in the truck bed with bike forks secured to a bar across the bed, or on the truck side rail using various mounts and other accessories. Some tailgate pads can accommodate up to seven bicycles.

Spare-tire bicycle racks

Spare-tire bicycle racks: These racks are ultra-light, low-cost alternatives to vehicles equipped with exterior spare tire racks.

More Bicycle Rack Suggestions

More Bicycle Rack Suggestions

Before installing a roof system on your car, consult the manual of your car. Make sure you understand the maximum allowable weight for the roof. Do not forget to check your vehicle’s tongue weight capacity before installing a hitch mount. If you have a hatchback, you need to make sure any roof rack you install allows the rear hatch to fully open.

Check your bike’s fit in your trunk or hitch rack. Not every size of the bicycle is able to suit perfectly every bicycle rack or the cradles they use. Some bicycles, particularly models for women or kids, may not fit on some cradles perfectly or may require an extra adapter. Many car owners still struggle to determine which rack is best for their vehicle and end up with a bike rack that is inadequate. Understand that the model of your car will greatly influence your choice, so it’s a deciding factor that goes a long way toward selecting a model that suits your vehicle. Vehicle fit guides are provided by manufacturers to help you find a rack that fits your car model. You should also inspect your vehicle’s interior. What is the size of the receiver trailer hitch or crossbar if it has one? These are typically available in 1.25″ or 2″ sizes.

If you value security as much as you enjoy cycling, you may be wondering if bicycle racks have anti-theft features. Some do, while others do not. Those that have locking systems that prevent thieves from stealing give you peace of mind that your item is always safe. The effectiveness of a security feature is determined by how the rack is installed in the first place. Do not take any chances. If you need to read the entire manual to get the installation right, go ahead and do it. If you’re pressed for time, ask. Unfortunately, trunk racks lack built-in locking mechanisms.

To prevent bikes from swaying and bumping, use a strap or bungee cord to secure the tires of bikes on trunk and hitch racks.

If you intend to transport more than one bicycle, purchase load bars that are one size longer than what is recommended in the fit guide. This is incredibly important because you don’t want to stack up a bike on a rack that won’t handle the “pressure”. This is where you should consider how many bikes you need to transport.  Each model of bike rack has a different number of cradles, and each is designed to carry only one bike at a time. So, once you’ve determined how many bikes you want to transport, look for a rack that can handle the job. The maximum weight of the rack is equally important as the number of bikes it can transport. This is an important consideration when deciding how many bikes to transport.