Bicycle Racks - Any avid cyclist will tell you that sooner or later you are going to end up needing a bicycle rack for your car or truck to transport your bike. Die hard purists would say that you don't need a bicycle rack because you can ride your bike anywhere you need to go but reality tells you that a great bicycle rack would come in handy.
The good news is that there are nearly an infinite number of bike racks available on the market and you will have no shortage of choices that will fit both your car and your bicycle. The bad news is that there are many pros and cons of bike racks and if you aren't careful you could end up purchasing a bike rack that doesn't work well for your needs. That is where we come in, we have a few helpful tips for you to consider when purchasing a rack.
Common Issues
- What type of vehicle are you mounting this on? A car, truck or SUV because they have racks designed to fit all three individually or you can find universal models that could fit any of the three. We would recommend that you stay away from the universal style racks as they often have shortcomings.
- Rear Cargo Access - Do you need to gain access to the rear of your vehicle. If a car then trunk or if an SUV the rear cargo area. Some racks allow decent access without any bikes on them while others are designed to allow access even with bikes mounted on the rack. The choice is yours, but the more convenient then typically the more pricey.
- Roof Racks - Do you have a vehicle that could mount a bike on a roof top rack? If so consider where you drive often, is there clearance? Can you lift your bicycle up over your head to the roof of your car? Some bikes are light and some bikes are heavy, before buying a roof style rack make sure you have the muscle to get it done.
- Installation - Some racks are designed to mount on the vehicle semi-permanently while others need to be removed each time you use it. Will this work for you?
- Security - Any bike rack is susceptible to theft so make sure you are aware of your needs there and purchase an appropriate security device to protect your bike rack.
These are just a few of the considerations that you will need to take into account. There are more but this will get you started and get you thinking about the right things. Don't just buy any bike rack that comes along because it may not fit your needs and then you're either stuck with it or you wasted your money.
One of the most popular racks available is the plain old hitch bike rack that is designed to fit in your trailer hitch. It doesn't make the best car bike racks but are perfect for SUVs.
By Jack Travers
