Roof rack recommendation for Carbon dropouts?

[johnnywb]

Anyone got any recommendations?

It seems the options are;
The Inno INA388
or
Yakima FrontLoader

Anyone got any experience with either? Or another solution?

No towbar, so rear mounting not ideal, Also not a great fan of having the bike perpendicular to the wind.

Putting it in the car isn't always an option (2 bikes)

[S10GTA]

I've a mont blanc barracuda. No issues.

[j00pY]

I don't know if this is any use to you, but I ordered one of these from this seller (I am not related to this seller) and got it this weekend. I bought this model especially as it was recommended for carbon bikes:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saris-Gran-Fondo-2-Bike-...

Despite being second hand, it looks nearly new. I got mine for £130 though

[johnnywb]

j00pY said:

I don't know if this is any use to you, but I ordered one of these from this seller (I am not related to this seller) and got it this weekend. I bought this model especially as it was recommended for carbon bikes:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saris-Gran-Fondo-2-Bike-...

Despite being second hand, it looks nearly new. I got mine for £130 though

I like that. Good value as essentially it's two carriers. The only downside is the lack of a way to secure it to the car, in terms of locking it.

Ah, doesn't look like it'll work with a 3 series touring.

Edited by johnnywb on Monday 1st June 12:13

[anonymous-user]

Seasucker? They look ace though have no security

why is carbon dropouts an issue? are you planning to transport it without the wheels in place?

[johnnywb]

pablo said:

Seasucker? They look ace though have no security

why is carbon dropouts an issue? are you planning to transport it without the wheels in place?

Conventional racks clamp around the downtube to secure the bike. Doesn't really work on aero frames and also applies force in the wrong direction on the carbon, in a direction which it isn't designed to be strong in.

Therefore people look at fork mounted, i.e. front wheel off and the bike is clamped through the forks. However, this is ok if you have metal dropouts. If you have carbon, again, it can put strain through the dropouts in the wrong direction. Fine when you're driving in a straight line, but when you're cornering there can be an issue apparently. think of the cenra-petal force pushing the bike towards the outside of the bend, putting an torsional force on the dropouts.

Some say it'll be fine, other say not. I'd rather not risk it to be honest.

[Jimbo.]

johnnywb said:

Conventional racks clamp around the downtube to secure the bike. Doesn't really work on aero frames and also applies force in the wrong direction on the carbon, in a direction which it isn't designed to be strong in.

Therefore people look at fork mounted, i.e. front wheel off and the bike is clamped through the forks. However, this is ok if you have metal dropouts. If you have carbon, again, it can put strain through the dropouts in the wrong direction. Fine when you're driving in a straight line, but when you're cornering there can be an issue apparently. think of the cenra-petal force pushing the bike towards the outside of the bend, putting an torsional force on the dropouts.

Some say it'll be fine, other say not. I'd rather not risk it to be honest.

The same forces will be experienced by both tin and plastic forks/dropouts. Said forks have to - I assume - pass the same EN tests and of course are subject to the same forces when used on the bike. There you go.

[Jimbo.]

johnnywb said:

Anyone got any recommendations?

It seems the options are;
The Inno INA388
or
Yakima FrontLoader

Anyone got any experience with either? Or another solution?

No towbar, so rear mounting not ideal, Also not a great fan of having the bike perpendicular to the wind.

Putting it in the car isn't always an option (2 bikes)

2 bikes? Whip the wheels off if you have to, throw some old towels/rugs/punctured airbed between them and stack them up. It won't hurt them.