Cycling Miscellany

[Joe Public]

I like the hitch mount kind quite a bit. But I used the kind you tie onto the car trunk for a lot of years. The only problem I had was occasional scraping of the car paint, either from the carrier of the bikes themselves. It held the bike too close to the car, often getting some rubbing on the front fork or on the rear triangle.

Roof mount racks also have built in wire locks. They're pretty slick. Only downside of a roof rack is the unfortunate and hopefully rare times when you forget the bike is up there until the moment you drive it into the garage. Happened to a friend recently with a very pricey road bike. We're talking $5-6k. Ouch.

That's why I don't have a roof rack. That isn't a risk I'm willing to take.

[bluegoose]

I like the hitch mount kind quite a bit. But I used the kind you tie onto the car trunk for a lot of years. The only problem I had was occasional scraping of the car paint, either from the carrier of the bikes themselves. It held the bike too close to the car, often getting some rubbing on the front fork or on the rear triangle.

Roof mount racks also have built in wire locks. They're pretty slick. Only downside of a roof rack is the unfortunate and hopefully rare times when you forget the bike is up there until the moment you drive it into the garage. Happened to a friend recently with a very pricey road bike. We're talking $5-6k. Ouch.

[Pelado]

I have a hitch-mounted 5 bike Allen rack. I also use a locking hitch pin. Mine doesn't have a built in lock, so I just use a cable or chain lock if I need one. Many of the newer racks, especially from Thule or Yakima, come with a built in retractable locking cable. They're pretty slick.

So what I'm hearing is that I need to get a new vehicle with a hitch.

[bluegoose]

I have a hitch-mounted 5 bike Allen rack. I also use a locking hitch pin. Mine doesn't have a built in lock, so I just use a cable or chain lock if I need one. Many of the newer racks, especially from Thule or Yakima, come with a built in retractable locking cable. They're pretty slick.

[Moliere]

I doubt that there's much difference in quality between these things, but curious why you wouldn't go with a Thule or Yakima that actually specializes in this type of thing?

I don't know. The ones I have are awesome. Quality product and exactly what I needed. I looked at others when I was shopping and I remember the pricing was similar. Guess I just wanted it to say BMW on the side

[Dwight Schr-ute]

Cycling Miscellany

I use the BMW branded roof mounted bike rack. It locks the front forks into the roof rack and the rack is locked to the base mounting system. I guess someone could steal your bike by unscrewing the whole base system, so it's not theft proof....but if you just want to leave it on the car while you go into a restaurant to eat then it would be fine. Here's a pic of the base bars and the bike rack:

I doubt that there's much difference in quality between these things, but curious why you wouldn't go with a Thule or Yakima that actually specializes in this type of thing?

[Pelado]

A friend of mine has one of those carriers that fits in the hitch receiver. He just puts a chain lock around the bikes and through the carrier...although we've never left the bikes on for anything other than grabbing lunch or filling up the car. Usually if I have a bike on my car, I'm going to a ride or to the shop so I don't really have a big need for a lock other than something to deter someone from being able to pull my bike off my car in a matter of seconds.

Exactly the deterrent I am going for.

[Moliere]

The only time the bikes are on the rack is when I'm going from point A to Point B. I don't leave the bike or rack out.

A friend of mine has one of those carriers that fits in the hitch receiver. He just puts a chain lock around the bikes and through the carrier...although we've never left the bikes on for anything other than grabbing lunch or filling up the car. Usually if I have a bike on my car, I'm going to a ride or to the shop so I don't really have a big need for a lock other than something to deter someone from being able to pull my bike off my car in a matter of seconds.

[Joe Public]

Can you or do you lock up the bikes while they are on the rack?

The only time the bikes are on the rack is when I'm going from point A to Point B. I don't leave the bike or rack out.

[Moliere]

What bike mounts do you people use for your cars? Any good way to lock them in so as to avoid theft if/when unattended?

I use the BMW branded roof mounted bike rack. It locks the front forks into the roof rack and the rack is locked to the base mounting system. I guess someone could steal your bike by unscrewing the whole base system, so it's not theft proof....but if you just want to leave it on the car while you go into a restaurant to eat then it would be fine. Here's a pic of the base bars and the bike rack:

[Dwight Schr-ute]

Cycling Miscellany

What bike mounts do you people use for your cars? Any good way to lock them in so as to avoid theft if/when unattended?

Thule roof rack with fork locks. Wouldn't go with anything else.

[Pelado]

I have a Thule rack that straps onto the trunk of my car. It fits inside the trunk when not in use.

Can you or do you lock up the bikes while they are on the rack?

[Joe Public]

What bike mounts do you people use for your cars? Any good way to lock them in so as to avoid theft if/when unattended?

I have a Thule rack that straps onto the trunk of my car. It fits inside the trunk when not in use.

[Pelado]

What bike mounts do you people use for your cars? Any good way to lock them in so as to avoid theft if/when unattended?

[Pelado]

Anyone here ever ride the Hiawatha Trail or the Ashton to Tetonia pathway?