Mountain Bikers--What R we using for racks? - Page 3

shiftonthefly · 04-02-2008, 11:54 AM

After seeing the Thule kit and the OEM kit, I'm thinking the OEM might look cleaner since the "ends" dont stick out, but its not THAT big of a deal.

I'm still wanting the hitch mount bike carrier

Edvig · 04-02-2008, 12:00 PM

Fork mounted all the way...

I tried a down tube clamp tray with my WRX and it doesn't work well with my Kona Dawg frame. The downtube on the Dawg is a funny square shape so it forced me to clamp on to the bike very low on the frame. Also...the fork mounted trays holds the bike better in the twisties too.

kris: my bike shop told me that the Thule Fit kit for our cars (460R PODIUM AERO FIXPOINT FOOT) is not in stock yet and is at least 3 weeks away.

STIcer · 04-02-2008, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edvig

Fork mounted all the way...

Eh, if I had to take the front wheel off then I might as well throw the bike the back.

RIDE · 04-02-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edvig

Fork mounted all the way...

Could not agree more. Fork mounted is far more stable and something about the whole bike being up there just looks funny.

Not to mention that removing the front tire takes all of 10 seconds.

RIDE

redbread · 04-02-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STIcer

Eh, if I had to take the front wheel off then I might as well throw the bike the back.

If you had tubes that were 0.38mm thick (Columbus Spirit on the 29er, the butted ti roady isn't much thicker) like me, you'd probably go ahead and use the fork mount!

Oops, just remembered that my builder used Zona on the down tube as long Spirit tubes aren't available. Guess it's 0.5mm thick, 0.02 inches instead of 0.015.

DrPhyzx · 04-02-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STIcer

Eh, if I had to take the front wheel off then I might as well throw the bike the back.

Until you have kids.

DrPhyzx · 04-02-2008, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redbread

If you had tubes that were 0.38mm thick (Columbus Spirit on the 29er, the butted ti roady isn't much thicker) like me, you'd probably go ahead and use the fork mount!

Oops, just remembered that my builder used Zona on the down tube as long Spirit tubes aren't available. Guess it's 0.5mm thick, 0.02 inches instead of 0.015.

Amen. You can easily flex the tubes on my Scott Addict with a gentle pinch of the fingers. No clamp, no way.

GilMikalian · 04-02-2008, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIDE

Could not agree more. Fork mounted is far more stable and something about the whole bike being up there just looks funny.

Not to mention that removing the front tire takes all of 10 seconds.

RIDE

Nope. I challenge you to try to budge my bike when it's clamped down. Also, taking off the wheel is not time consuming, it can be a dirty proposition, especially if the trail is at all wet. As for funny looks, I think any time you stick a bike on a car it looks funny, not sure the front wheel adds any more to the funnicity (wait, that's not a word).

redbread · 04-02-2008, 01:31 PM

I use rack mounted wheel forks for carrying muddy wheels, it's not much worse. All I know is that when I worked in Germany, I only saw fork mounted bikes going 250 km/hr down the Autobahn. That's when I realized that they're plenty stable! I can't imagine what mileage those cars were getting at that speed with two or four bikes on the roof. I miss diesels...

***kris*** · 04-02-2008, 01:37 PM

Fork vs. down tube mount is like Mitsubushi vs Subaru....you're always going to find people that line up on either side of the argument. I will say this; fork mounts are the most stable, and from my perspective, are easier to use when loading/unloading, also work really well with a bike bra for bugs etc. I wouldn't use anything else.

RIDE · 04-02-2008, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GilMikalian

Nope. I challenge you to try to budge my bike when it's clamped down. Also, taking off the wheel is not time consuming, it can be a dirty proposition, especially if the trail is at all wet. As for funny looks, I think any time you stick a bike on a car it looks funny, not sure the front wheel adds any more to the funnicity (wait, that's not a word).

Agree to disagree.

Have you driven behind a car with bikes on top that had both wheels on? Those things sway like crazy. Not to mention, you can also store your front tires on top with a seperate fork-type mount and have them seperate from the bike. And I have found it more awkward mounting a bike with both wheels on.

The other great point is that the down tube clamps are not an option for those of us with high end rigs with thinner walled tubing. Also many of the newer full suspension designs don't work either. Neither my road bike or mountain bike would work on any other rack than a fork mounted one.

And again...I just can't get over the look of the entire bike being up there. I don't think a bike looks funny on top of a car...then again, cycling is my main hobby and passion so when I see a bikes on top of a car, I think it's cool. For the casual cyclist...it may not matter...but most every serious cycists that I have known over the years that has a roof rack, goes fork mounted.

I'm just sayin'

RIDE

Edvig · 04-02-2008, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GilMikalian

Nope. I challenge you to try to budge my bike when it's clamped down. Also, taking off the wheel is not time consuming, it can be a dirty proposition, especially if the trail is at all wet. As for funny looks, I think any time you stick a bike on a car it looks funny, not sure the front wheel adds any more to the funnicity (wait, that's not a word).

The fork mount does lower the center of gravity of the bike while it's on the roof so the bike does wobble less as I'm rushing to the trails. I would rather have a hitch mount on my STI, but that's not possible here in the US.

Is the hitch receiver offered in Canada? I know it's an option in Europe.

I throw my dirty wheel in the back of the car. If it's really muddy, I'll wrap it in a sheet.

redbread · 04-02-2008, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris

Fork vs. down tube mount is like Mitsubushi vs Subaru...

So true, very funny!

GoldNBlack · 04-02-2008, 04:17 PM

Here are some more pics of my setup. So much slicker and lighter than my old one for the other car.

The peloton/echelon heads are made to mount to the bars and come with the necessary hardware.

In this shot you can see how I used the plate that goes with the clamp mounts, Then I just cut the bolt (rounded head with the sqaure shank that fits in the clamp plate) to length.

The wheel mounts come with all the clamp hardware to go around the bar, yet they also had this hole in the middle that works perfectly for mounting them to the slot. Works for me but a super fat non aerodynamic wheel when going 80 on the highway might strain this single bolt mounting.

STIcer · 04-02-2008, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhyzx

Until you have kids.

I do, why would I want to take them along?

Anyways, moot point it looks like tube mount is the only way to go from subaru for 2 bikes.

04-02-2008, 11:54 AM	#31
shiftonthefly Junior STI Driver Car: 08 DGM STI Fav Mod: right pedal Location: Dallas Posts: 129 Join Date: Dec 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Mountain Bikers--What R we using for racks? After seeing the Thule kit and the OEM kit, I'm thinking the OEM might look cleaner since the "ends" dont stick out, but its not THAT big of a deal. I'm still wanting the hitch mount bike carrier This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

04-02-2008, 12:00 PM	#32
Edvig STI Driver Car: 08 STI, 05 Legacy Fav Mod: dirt, grime and brake dust Location: Westchester County Posts: 203 Join Date: Feb 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Mountain Bikers--What R we using for racks? Fork mounted all the way... I tried a down tube clamp tray with my WRX and it doesn't work well with my Kona Dawg frame. The downtube on the Dawg is a funny square shape so it forced me to clamp on to the bike very low on the frame. Also...the fork mounted trays holds the bike better in the twisties too. kris: my bike shop told me that the Thule Fit kit for our cars (460R PODIUM AERO FIXPOINT FOOT) is not in stock yet and is at least 3 weeks away.

04-02-2008, 01:31 PM	#39
redbread Amateur STI Driver Car: 00 BMW M Coupe Location: Dallas Posts: 32 Join Date: Nov 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Mountain Bikers--What R we using for racks? I use rack mounted wheel forks for carrying muddy wheels, it's not much worse. All I know is that when I worked in Germany, I only saw fork mounted bikes going 250 km/hr down the Autobahn. That's when I realized that they're plenty stable! I can't imagine what mileage those cars were getting at that speed with two or four bikes on the roof. I miss diesels...

04-02-2008, 01:37 PM	#40
*kris* Platinum Member Car: 08 STI Location: Toronto Posts: 290 Join Date: Aug 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Mountain Bikers--What R we using for racks? Fork vs. down tube mount is like Mitsubushi vs Subaru....you're always going to find people that line up on either side of the argument. I will say this; fork mounts are the most stable, and from my perspective, are easier to use when loading/unloading, also work really well with a bike bra for bugs etc. I wouldn't use anything else.

04-02-2008, 04:17 PM	#44
GoldNBlack Junior STI Driver Car: Alp White 2008 STI Fav Mod: ... Location: San Jose Posts: 60 Join Date: Dec 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Mountain Bikers--What R we using for racks? Here are some more pics of my setup. So much slicker and lighter than my old one for the other car. The peloton/echelon heads are made to mount to the bars and come with the necessary hardware. In this shot you can see how I used the plate that goes with the clamp mounts, Then I just cut the bolt (rounded head with the sqaure shank that fits in the clamp plate) to length. The wheel mounts come with all the clamp hardware to go around the bar, yet they also had this hole in the middle that works perfectly for mounting them to the slot. Works for me but a super fat non aerodynamic wheel when going 80 on the highway might strain this single bolt mounting. Last edited by GoldNBlack : 05-02-2008 at 10:26 AM. Reason: Fix Broken Links