Bike rack construction...
Discussion
A few months ago I picked up a cheap Mk1 MX5 for a friend. It was soon fixed for MOT (bit of welding, brake pads/discs, 2x tyres), fresh hood from the scrapers as the old one was splitting With classic ins' cover and only used for her one drive to work a week (she cycles the rest of the time) it was cheap transport.
Then when a cycling club trip to the Alps came on the horizon it seemed obvious to turn the drive down into a "road trip" and use the MX5. So then a (loud) stainless exhaust, de-cat and K+N kit was fitted... well it had to be done!
Having done a few Euro trips in my kit car (Fisher FuryR1) and a lot of cycle touring with just small panniers I know how to fit the luggage in, but how to carry the bikes? There's no rack available but strap on racks have been used.. but I'm not a fan and it'd be difficult to get both bikes on. Mates were happy to take a couple of extra bags but didn't have room for bikes. So the engineering cap went on...
Mounting brackets bolted behind the lashing eye plates. These are left on the car and the rack slides into the square tube and held with a bolt through a captive nut.
The rack in the open position allowing boot access.
In the closed position it clamps to 2 brackets bolted to the hard top mounting plates, via quick release levers converted from mountain bike seat-pin clamps.
The ally bits just happened to be on the back of the scrap mans transit last week and the front fork clamps came off an old rack along with the front wheel carriers.
In use on the way down.
...and apart from 1/2 litre of oil used each way the (170,0000mile) old girl never missed a beat.
Then when a cycling club trip to the Alps came on the horizon it seemed obvious to turn the drive down into a "road trip" and use the MX5. So then a (loud) stainless exhaust, de-cat and K+N kit was fitted... well it had to be done!
Having done a few Euro trips in my kit car (Fisher FuryR1) and a lot of cycle touring with just small panniers I know how to fit the luggage in, but how to carry the bikes? There's no rack available but strap on racks have been used.. but I'm not a fan and it'd be difficult to get both bikes on. Mates were happy to take a couple of extra bags but didn't have room for bikes. So the engineering cap went on...
Mounting brackets bolted behind the lashing eye plates. These are left on the car and the rack slides into the square tube and held with a bolt through a captive nut.
The rack in the open position allowing boot access.
In the closed position it clamps to 2 brackets bolted to the hard top mounting plates, via quick release levers converted from mountain bike seat-pin clamps.
The ally bits just happened to be on the back of the scrap mans transit last week and the front fork clamps came off an old rack along with the front wheel carriers.
In use on the way down.
...and apart from 1/2 litre of oil used each way the (170,0000mile) old girl never missed a beat.
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