Carbon Bike - on car roof?

[nike 5]

Carbon bikes are strong, in the areas designed for bike riding - have put my carbon Mountain bike on roof (not sure if this is a good idea?)
Thinking about buying a carbon Road bike - is this still advisable? - as would guess it to be more fragile?


If the answer is
Yes - I am worrying about nothing (happy days)
or
No - instead of using a bike rack on my roof rack, is it better for the bike to avoid the wind by using a roof box

(note - I do not have the option of putting bike within car)

Thanks
Kevin

[CoolC]

All the pro teams seem to be fine with their bikes on the roof.

You're worrying about nothing.

[Rouleur]

What exactly do you think a bit of wind is going to do to a bike?

This should put your mind at rest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZmJtYaUTa0

[cerbfan]

Incredible video, often wonder if people like him have no imagination about what could happen when things go wrong!!

[BadgerBenji]

Have you looked at the Saris Gran Fondo, doesn't touch the frame only wheels, and doesn't obscure the lights or number plates.

[nessiemac]

I use on of these with my carbon mountain bike. Have to take the front wheel off but doesn't touch the frame at all and i very stable.

[nike 5]

My thinking (behind the question) was that carbon has a grain, and is strong in the directions needed for cycling (but weaker in others).
On a bike rack, the bike is held by the wheel (which I'm happy with) and a clamp on the down tube (which holds bike in place in a small isolated spot)

On a steel or alloy bike the worse that could happen is a dent, but on a carbon bike the worse that could happen is a crack (from wind and cross winds apply pressure at 70mph on the down tube via the clamp)

From your comments, and your experiences, this does not present a problem.

Happy days then - and that youtube clip kinda puts things in perspective too.

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I'm using Thule 591 bars

[WarrenG]

http://youtu.be/bM9Eh2uQ7Ek

Wheels down seems safe enough for a top-spec road bike, I'd worry about the bike shoes' cleats on the roof of my car a bit more though!

[Eddh]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee54EP-nho4

If you need anymore convincing, watch him bail the back flip and just drop it on the floor at the end

[juan king]

has he smashed the windscreen?

[Fluffsri]

I have the Thule 951s as well. The bike is held by the clamp not grollied by the clamp, the wheel straps act as the hardcore securing, if that makes sense. When this issue was raised years ago with my mates we put a bike in the rack and clicked it till it gripped. The bike wouldn't come out.

[jfdi]

Should be fine so long and you don't put the roof down

[anonymous-user]

I wrap some bubble wrap around the down tube where the clamp fits. The straps over the rims do most of the work, the post on the down tube just keeps it vertical. I also put some clingfilm over the forks on the mtb if its on the roof rack, particularly if its front facing. At that sort of speed, all sorts of crap gets forced down the stanchions and through the seals.

[gangzoom]

My road bike gets to travel at 70mph+ on regular occasions...I find at higher speeds because the front of the bike is light the front wheel often lifts clean off the rail regardless of how tight I strap it in, so I have to mount it back to front. The arm that holds onto the downtube also flex/bends a fair bit which other motorists find un-nerving, which means I don't get people tailgating me

[esuuv]

nessiemac said:

I use on of these with my carbon mountain bike. Have to take the front wheel off but doesn't touch the frame at all and i very stable.

This is what i use with my Scott Foil, just dont like the idea of scratching it with a clamp

[nike 5]

Thanks for the replies, you've put mind at rest.

Good idea of putting cling film to avoid stone chips too.

Liked comment about not putting the roof down too :-)

Will have a think about those other roof bars.

Thanks again.

[ALawson]

I may invest in one of these, good review in some magazine this month.

Also reviewed here. http://www.bikeradar.com/beginners/news/article/sa...

I like the fact that the bike is wholly supported of the wheels.

[WarrenG]

gangzoom said:

My road bike gets to travel at 70mph+ on regular occasions...I find at higher speeds because the front of the bike is light the front wheel often lifts clean off the rail regardless of how tight I strap it in, so I have to mount it back to front. The arm that holds onto the downtube also flex/bends a fair bit which other motorists find un-nerving, which means I don't get people tailgating me

Did you always have the rack pointing that way and just reverse the bike? Or did you swap the whole thing end for end?