Bicycle roof rack: features and choices

A bicycle roof rack is a simple solution that allows you to travel and make trips, comfortably placing your own "iron horse" not in the cabin or in the body. Technically, this particular mounting method is easiest to implement on a wide variety of vehicle models. A simple bike rack device does not cause hassle during installation, and the technical features of such an attachment make it possible to easily solve the problems of transporting one or several two-wheeled vehicles.

Car racks for travel can be called family or universal. They are as easy to use as possible and are always ready for use in the most extreme conditions. And in order not to be mistaken in the choice, it is worthwhile to study in advance all the features of the purchased roof rack in more detail.

The bike roof rack is a mount that can hold 1-6 two-wheeled vehicles. It differs markedly from the classic "grilles" well known to car owners. The bike carrier has an element that connects to the vehicle to be fixed. It consists of the following elements:

• bearing guide beam, on which the load stands;
• movable clamp-holder for the frame;
• wheel lock in the form of clamps (option);
• transverse pad for existing roof rails or trunk.

In addition, the composition may contain additional guards, lifts and other devices that make the process of transporting a bicycle on the roof even more convenient. The simplest bike rack looks like a pair of rails, on which a gutter beam is fixed, oriented to the standard wheel width... Such bicycle racks can be designed to carry one or more vehicles. Thanks to the adjustable frame holder design it can be adapted to fit bicycles with different wheel diameters.

Fixation on the body of two-wheeled vehicles is carried out by clamping the pipe between the jaws of the clamp in a vertical or horizontal plane. The frame holder itself has 1 or 2 arcs; in the first type, the fasteners are located on the side. And also here can be present as an option, fixing the pedals in a stationary position. The 2-arm holders are equipped with a screw that determines the compression rate and the rigidity of the frame.

Such an attachment can also be fixed to the trunk arches in different ways.

• As rails to be inserted into the gutter of an existing roof rack. This variant is only adapted for vehicles with hollow arches. It allows for the most gentle handling of the most fragile and expensive bicycles.
• In the form of brackets, which press the central guide chute against the arches of the trunk. A universal solution that adapts to any type of luggage structure.

Among the useful options that make it easier to use the rack for transporting bicycles, we can mention special inserts-dampers, which allow to soften shock loads during the transportation of equipment. And also the kit can include replaceable clamps for fastening bicycles with different types of frames. Another important addition - locks for reliable protection of the bike from theft. They can be coded or keyed.

To begin with, it is worth considering what are the advantages of a roof rack. Among the obvious advantages of this design are the following:

• high transport safety - the bike is secured as securely as possible, does not distort the dimensions of the trunk, remains in place during sudden braking and maneuvering;
• possibility of permanent use - the auto fastener can not be dismantled, further applying it as needed;
• a wide range of capacity - depending on the fastening, it is possible to transport by car from 1 to 6 units of equipment;
• high placement - during transportation, dirt, dust, stones, car exhaust do not get on the bike;
• preservation of the functions of the trunk - the roof mount does not block access to it, you can safely use the compartment for its intended purpose;
• easy dismantling and reinstallation - when changing vehicles, the mount is easy to move and reuse as intended.

There are leaders in the ranking of popular brands that make bike roof racks. An overview of the most popular companies will allow you to find a suitable option for every owner of a two-wheeled vehicle. Among those that deserve attention, several companies should be singled out.

• Thule. A European brand, one of the market leaders, in the product line you can find models with different types of fastening. For the manufacture of products, high quality stainless materials are used.

• Atera. German company known as the first developer of bike roof racks with special lifts. The Bike Lift model is equipped with an adjustable spring-lifted bar that needs to be adjusted at first installation. Further, this device will greatly facilitate the life of a bike lover.

• Mont Blanc. A Swedish manufacturer who chose the name of a peak in the French Alps. The company tries to regularly delight fans with original novelties, it is considered a trendsetter in design. Often it is Mont Blanc that manages to find new or rare bike rack configurations.

• Peruzzo. Italian manufacturer, popular in many European countries. It manufactures steel universal bike locks for attachment to any type of standard roof racks on the car roof. The double frame clamp is designed to hold tubular elements with a diameter of 20-50 mm.

The brand offers to fix the wheels with textile belts. The load-bearing capacity of the bike rack is no more than 15 kg.

• Menabo. A manufacturer focused on the mass market segment. The company sells mounts for bicycles weighing up to 15 kg, offers the most lightweight aluminum bike rack weighing 1.5 kg. The fixing is carried out on the cross members of the car trunk, first the front wheel is removed. The Alphard model is designed to carry two bicycles weighing up to 50 kg, the structure itself in this case weighs 16.5 kg.

• Amos Rover. A Polish manufacturer of bicycle racks, which produces products for securing one vehicle, complete with frame holders, wheel straps. The accessory model is designed for equipment with a frame diameter of no more than 50 mm, it is clamped with an adjustable clamp. The products are not designed to carry heavy bicycles - the weight limit is 15 kg. The firm is aimed at lovers of walking, but serious athletes and extreme sportsmen are unlikely to be interested in its products.

• LUX. A Russian manufacturer that produces lightweight, aluminum-plastic mountings for the roof rack of a car. The original design of the mounts allows for easy installation of the product on vehicles of different types and widths. Mounting is possible on any airfoil or rack, solutions can be found for e-bikes and open frame models. The wheels are secured with thrust shoes and belts.

These manufacturers are noteworthy and have proven themselves excellently according to reviews from cyclists and motorists. The equipment of little-known Chinese brands may look quite attractive, but in terms of workmanship it is much inferior to the branded one, is not so durable, is prone to corrosion.

To choose a bike rack for a car roof, it is better to decide from the very beginning on the important parameters that should be considered when choosing the right model. It is worth noting the main selection criteria.

• Model class. The simplest and most minimalistic options are quite cumbersome and often require additional adjustment. In the middle class, there are bicycle racks with a high level of convenience, but imperfect in terms of versatility. Premium bike racks allow you to transport models of bicycles with different characteristics, easily adapting the rack to the desired parameters, ensuring their automatic descent and ascent.
• The number of bicycles transported. It is directly related to the width of the car trunk. On average, a sedan can hold up to 3 bicycles on the roof.Up to 4 is installed on an SUV, but everything is very individual, it is imperative to take into account the availability of sufficient free space.
• Price... Yes, the temptation is great to save money and buy the cheapest bike rack. But in this case, both the build quality and the components themselves may be disposable. If you plan to take a bike on a regular basis, you should not save. High-quality fasteners will not damage the paint on the roof of the car, they will carefully fix the vehicle.
• Manufacturing material. The trunk must have anti-corrosion properties, be made of stainless steel, aluminum, high-quality metal alloys. A budget trunk made of cheap black metal will rust after the first rain.

Most often, the bicycle is fixed in the classic version with the installation of the wheels on the rail-guide and fixing the frame with a clamp. This is a convenient solution that makes it possible to easily deal with the transportation of one vehicle. But it is rather difficult to fix several pieces of equipment in this way at once.

In addition to the most popular mounts, there are other options that are less convenient to use.

• Pedal hooks. They only fix the pedal part and require the additional use of clamps and a wheel guide.
• Frame-fork. They allow for the convenience of securing several bicycles in a row. For installation, the front wheel is dismantled from the frame, the rear wheel is installed in the groove, fixed with a flexible clamp. The front wheel fork is fixed on the rail.
• Behind the wheel and saddle. In this case, the bike is installed upside down on the rack, and is fixed quite reliably, since the center of gravity is as low as possible. But installing a heavy bike on a roof this way is quite difficult.

For example, when it comes to transporting two-wheeled vehicles on a family trip, it is better to choose fixing with frame-fork mountings. On a long trip it is better to choose clips with the best aerodynamic properties - for the handlebars and saddle.

An overview of the different roof bike racks awaits you below.