Recommend me a roof mounted bike carrier please
Discussion
chaps and chapettes.
Generally for a single bike, sometimes two max. Suitable for carbon road bikes but also mountain bike now and again. I have a Merc C Class so seeing what my options are ... obviously seen the Thule range but wanted to hear from posters as to their experiences.
Thanks!
Generally for a single bike, sometimes two max. Suitable for carbon road bikes but also mountain bike now and again. I have a Merc C Class so seeing what my options are ... obviously seen the Thule range but wanted to hear from posters as to their experiences.
Thanks!
I'd recommend the Thule Aero (wing) bars and the Proride 591 cycle rack, the square bars dont look as nice although MPG between the two isnt really an issue if there is a bike on top. Its easy to install and although it does lock to the roof and the clamp on the cycle rack locks, you'd not want to leave it up there without some other form of lock. I've put my carbon bike up there for long journeys, if you are concerned about carbon dont clamp it down too tight but as its the down tube, its not really an issue as thats one of the beefier tubes. Sure, the tube isnt designed to have a great pressure applied at those points but the wheel straps keep it upright, the clamp on the proride jsut stops the bike from wobbling whilst its up there. Obviously you need the appropriate foot pack for your car as well.
I got it all from www.roofracks.co.uk The foot packs are about £30, the bars are £50ish and the cycle carriers are £50
I got it all from www.roofracks.co.uk The foot packs are about £30, the bars are £50ish and the cycle carriers are £50
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 28th January 15:59
591s are good. Atera Giro AF are good too. If you're really concerned about clamping carbon tubes then there's the Thule 561, which clamps at the fork instead.
Don't leave any bike unattended on a roof carrier - the locks are just to make it a tiny bit harder for someone to remove it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yu4vEsD9WA
Don't leave any bike unattended on a roof carrier - the locks are just to make it a tiny bit harder for someone to remove it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yu4vEsD9WA
billzeebub said:
Thule 591 definitely. They fit most Roofbars. They come with fixings for square and Aero RoofBars. Superb engineering. They also lock to Roofbars and bike so you can leave them for short periods with bikes in situe.
sjg said:
591s are good. Atera Giro AF are good too. If you're really concerned about clamping carbon tubes then there's the Thule 561, which clamps at the fork instead.
Don't leave any bike unattended on a roof carrier - the locks are just to make it a tiny bit harder for someone to remove it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yu4vEsD9WA
Superb info guys, 591 sounds perfect. I think I'd be happier with the downtube over the fork clam tbh. Yes, I can see from the vid that they're not particularly secure!Don't leave any bike unattended on a roof carrier - the locks are just to make it a tiny bit harder for someone to remove it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yu4vEsD9WA
Its really for transport when I fancy riding from somewhere else ... we're blessed that we have great (quiet-ish) roads with plenty of climbs on our doorstep. I had the winter bike in the boot last week when I went to a local cycle track .... not ideal hence the desire for roof carrying. Thanks again.
I have Thule aero bars and 4 Thule bike racks that i use up and down the country with no issues at all.
3 Thule 591's which are very secure and the best you can but for my carbon Cube i have a Thule 561 which is exactly the same but clamps the front wheel instead. I much prefer that style rather than clamping the down tube.
I have done many miles with 4 bikes on the roof with no issues at all.
Well apart from my mate not putting his DH bike on the 591 properly at Glentress a couple of years ago allowing the bike to rotate out the clamp and put 3 lovely dents on the roof of the car!!
But that was human error rather than the bike rack itself.
3 Thule 591's which are very secure and the best you can but for my carbon Cube i have a Thule 561 which is exactly the same but clamps the front wheel instead. I much prefer that style rather than clamping the down tube.
I have done many miles with 4 bikes on the roof with no issues at all.
Well apart from my mate not putting his DH bike on the 591 properly at Glentress a couple of years ago allowing the bike to rotate out the clamp and put 3 lovely dents on the roof of the car!!
But that was human error rather than the bike rack itself.
I have two Thule 532 cycle carriers mounted on wing bars on my Honda Accord tourer and I use them for carrying both mountain bikes and road bikes and other than being a little fiddly to undo the clamp i have found them brilliant. I've carried bikes all over the UK on them. The 591 makes it easier to release the bike and lock it in place but I didn't think it was worth double the price
Ok, so I bought some genuine Mercedes roof bars and some Thule 591's .... doesn't look like they're compatible FFS!
The bars are 'slightly aero' but it looks like you need a full aero bar for the 591's. Basically the T-bolts (alredy have the 92mm ones) and the clampes wont' fit around the Merc bars.
The bars are 'slightly aero' but it looks like you need a full aero bar for the 591's. Basically the T-bolts (alredy have the 92mm ones) and the clampes wont' fit around the Merc bars.
JEA1K said:
Ok, so I bought some genuine Mercedes roof bars and some Thule 591's .... doesn't look like they're compatible FFS!
The bars are 'slightly aero' but it looks like you need a full aero bar for the 591's. Basically the T-bolts (already have the 92mm ones) and the clamps wont' fit around the Merc bars.
If there is a slot in the aero bars then there should be an alternative piece in the box to slot into it and tighten? There was in my Thule set.The bars are 'slightly aero' but it looks like you need a full aero bar for the 591's. Basically the T-bolts (already have the 92mm ones) and the clamps wont' fit around the Merc bars.
If you're leaving the rack on get aerobars, MUCH quieter and cheaper to run fuelwise. If you don't mind taking them on and off then rectangular are ok. Halfords sell Thule under their own brand name, so worth checking too. If I could fit a towbar, I'd get a rear mounted rack, company car rules means I can't though.
Once you've fitted aero roof bars, put gaffer tape to seal up the remaining gap in the channel. Will cut down of further noise.
I have been using 591 Thule carriers and very good recommend.
But as NESSIEMAC pointed out clamping of down tube is not ideal for carbon bikes.
The Thule website suggests you to use their 561 carriers "for sensitive frames (e.g. Carbon)"
http://www.thule.com/en/gb/products/carriers-and-r...
(Just seen age of age of thread so may be too late)
I have been using 591 Thule carriers and very good recommend.
But as NESSIEMAC pointed out clamping of down tube is not ideal for carbon bikes.
The Thule website suggests you to use their 561 carriers "for sensitive frames (e.g. Carbon)"
http://www.thule.com/en/gb/products/carriers-and-r...
(Just seen age of age of thread so may be too late)
I use a pair of 591's. They're great carriers, but be careful as I've had the jaws spring open on mine when carrying my downhill bike and know of other that have done the same
For peace of mind now I zip tie the bike into the jaws and them simply carry some snippers for when I get to the other end
They also don't reach the down tube on some frames, so you have to zip tie the top of the jaws to the frame and then double wrap it
This is an old pic with my old car, but you get the idea
For peace of mind now I zip tie the bike into the jaws and them simply carry some snippers for when I get to the other end
They also don't reach the down tube on some frames, so you have to zip tie the top of the jaws to the frame and then double wrap it
This is an old pic with my old car, but you get the idea
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