Car Bike Racks
Car bike racks are specially designed frame supports which can be mounted on a vehicle to effortlessly carry a bicycle. They are available in numerous sizes with different construction methods and mounting positions, and normally installed on the exterior of the car. Bike racks are built to be strong and sturdy, as well as have secure holding areas so that the bike they are transferring is secure and do not fall off in the middle of a journey.
There are three main mounting positions for car bike racks, each with their individual characteristics, benefits and drawbacks. The most common spot to attach a bike rack is the roof, with the construction secured to the roof of the car using bolts or clamps fixed into the base mount, which is available either with the car or attached separately. The rack holds the bike securely in position using either hooks or straps which grab on to certain parts of the bike such as the frame or the front and rear tires.
Top mounted bike racks have the advantage of being able to keep the bike safe from possible collisions that may happen on the road, for example receiving a rear-ended collision. However, it has a number of draw backs which is mostly due to the area where the frame is mounted. Because the rack is fixed at the top of the car, it is very difficult to attach a bike firmly, especially on a larger vehicle such as an SUV. This difficulty is increased even further for people who are of a shorter stature. Also, drivers will have to be cautious about the height clearance of the car which should be accounted for whenever the car is pulling into the garage or other closed spots.
The next location where a bike rack can be installed is the trunk. In such cases, the bike is usually fixed to the car using either metal brackets or nylon straps which go around the bike and securing it to the trunk, such as from over the trunk and then back under, or from side to side. These straps are then secured to the bike rack.
Trunk mounted bike racks have a number of advantages over roof mounted racks. Firstly, it is very easy to mount the cycles are the rack is now at around waist level; perfect for shorter users. The rear mounted rack is also capable of mounting more than one bicycle, usually three. It is also quite light. However, these racks secure the cycles so close to the car that a cloth or foam is needed to keep both the car and the bikes from being scratched.
The final place where car bike racks can be mounted is through the spare tire or on the trailer hitch. With hitch mounted rack, it is fixed using bolts or clamps on to the towing hitch of the vehicle and the mount either carries the bike by holding the frame or by fastening the tires. The spare tire rack is fixed to the spare tires and the bike is secured using nylon straps. Though such racks are not able to carry more than a pair of bicycles, they outclass other racks with the advantage of being easy to install.
Before purchasing a car bike rack, a number of factors must be considered. Most bike racks can be installed into any car with the exception of certain car models that have model-specific racks. Also, there are many racks that can be reduced in size when not in use, while some remain fixed. Prices also vary according to numerous features such as manufacture, size, carrying capacity and build quality, with the superior racks costing a little more than the others.
