Car bike rack

When spending weekends outside the city, many people would like to take a bike with them, on which they can ride through the forest and see the beauty of nature. What is the most convenient way to transport your bike?

Relatively recently, a bicycle could be transported in only one way: remove both wheels, unscrew the steering wheel and place all the parts in the cabin and trunk of the car. The problem was compounded if the family had several bicycles. The method is quite costly, both in time and in effort.

In this regard, bicycles were rarely transported, as a rule, to the dacha and back. The lucky ones with the roof rack used it.

In addition, transportation in a car carries a high risk of damaging both the car (spoil the paintwork on the roof or scratch the lining inside the passenger compartment) and the bicycle being transported (damage to the levers, bent spokes, and much more). Probably the only benefit was the complete absence of costs.

Some people still use this method, but modern cyclists, as a rule, purchase special mounts for transporting bicycles. Some think about this nuance in advance when purchasing a car, and choose models with built-in mounts (for example, a specialized system from Opel - FlexFix).

Choosing a modern mount, you need to decide exactly where you would like to transport the car. Options include a towbar, roof or trunk. What is the preferred method?

Roof mount: popular but inconvenient

The most common type of specialized bike carrier. It was borrowed from professional sports. This is the safest transportation option. The bikes are mounted vertically on the roof of the car, the basis for fastening are the transverse elements of the trunk.

These fasteners are made of steel, painted in various colors. This is the most budgetary option, but at the same time the simplest one.

More expensive mounts are equipped with anti-theft locks, and the material for their manufacture is a special type of aluminum.

When purchasing such a mount, you need to remember that when transporting bicycles at the top of the car, you can afford to transport up to four bikes at the same time (the capacity depends on the size of the car), but for each of them you will need to purchase a separate mount.

Roof mount price

The price range starts from a modest figure of 1000 rubles. For this amount, you will purchase the simplest mount for one bike. Higher quality options cost at least 3000 rubles (for example, MontBlanc RoofSpin). In this case, manufacturers give a guarantee of the reliability and stability of the bicycle during maneuvers while driving.

The most advanced options cost even more. Among professional athletes, bindings made by Thule Proride 591 and MontBlanc RoofRush are popular. They cost in the range of 5-15 thousand rubles.

Advantages:

• High capacity - up to 4 bicycles
• No preliminary disassembly required
• Various types of clamps on mounts
• Versatile, suitable for any car

Disadvantages:

• The vehicle must be equipped with a luggage system with cross members. Otherwise, you will have to buy them.
• Significant deterioration in aerodynamics
• Noise when driving
• There is a high likelihood of the bike catching on gates, tree branches, etc.
• Installing a bike on a rack requires a lot of effort, because it will need to be thrown onto the roof.

Rear mounting on the tailgate

A fairly new system that is gaining popularity in Russia. It can be used for almost all types of car body, with the exception of sedans. This is because the mount sits on the tailgate, which sedans don't have. The structure, equipped with latches, is attached to the protrusions on the door frame.

In most cases, this holder can hold two bicycles. Three-seater models are rare. The price range for this type of mounts starts at 4000 rubles. After transportation is completed, the mount is easy enough to fold and does not take up much space in the trunk of the car.

Advantages:

• No height restrictions
• It does not require much effort when installing the bike, because located at a fairly low level
• Virtually no effect on the aerodynamic performance of the car
• Minimal risk of snagging the bike

Disadvantages:

• The use on the body of the "sedan" is excluded
• If a spare wheel is provided on the rear door of the car, it will need to be removed
• High load on the door and rear of the car
• The car and the bicycles being transported can be easily damaged in an accident.
• Penalties for an unreadable number and overlapping parking lights are not excluded.

Rear hitch mount

The towbar mount is not as popular as the other options, although in essence it resembles the previous option. The difference here lies in the type of fixation - on the towbar ball.

The simplest versions of such a mount are designed for three bicycles, the price for them starts at 3000 rubles. More functional models (for example, made in Sweden) are somewhat more expensive. They make it possible to adjust the angle of inclination of the mount, which allows you to use the trunk as intended.

The most "sophisticated" versions meet all the requirements for traffic rules. They are equipped with a platform with position lights, an illuminated number plate holder and duplicate turn signals.

Installing this type of mount requires wiring. There is a special connector for this. The installation of such a mount prevents violation of any traffic regulations.

Hitch bike mount price

These models are usually designed to carry three bicycles with a total weight of up to 45 kg. They cost from 18 thousand rubles (for example, Menabo Winny Plus 3), the average price is 23 thousand (for example, MontBlanc Apollo 3). The most expensive models, characterized by high strength and lower weight, can withstand loads of up to 60 kg. But they also cost about 50 thousand.

The advantages and disadvantages are the same as the mounts that are fixed to the rear door. Easy installation and lack of height restrictions is compensated for by the high probability of damage in an accident and covered license plates. It should be noted that safety depends on the behavior of the drivers and the congestion of the roads on which the bicycles are transported.

In general, this type of mount is the most preferable, it is easy to use. But it is not uncommon for a road accident to cause irreparable damage to rather expensive professional bicycles. At such moments, it becomes obvious that the best are roof mounts, or transportation in the old fashioned way, in the cabin.

Regardless of the option chosen, it is advisable to give preference to mounts from well-known manufacturers. Indeed, in this case, small savings can subsequently turn into significant costs for the restoration of the bike.