Bike rack - rear or roof?

[Loyiso]

Im in a process of buying a 2015 Giant Anthem X 29er small frame, but I have not made a final decision on the best option for my car when it comes to bike racks. I have a 2005 Merc C230 Coupe and getting a bike rack is proving to be mission impossible.

 

Initially I was looking at getting ProRide 598 roof rack but I was advised to get a rear rack that will fit into a tow bar. Im told this is the best option. I began shopping around and being a rookie that I am, I was shocked at the prices for bike accessories, money I would have loved to put into a bike and get a brand new one.

 

Option 1 - Thule quoted me R4999 for 961 wingbar, 754 foot pack and 1233 fitting kit. Then R2999 for ProRide 598. Total of R7998 for a brand new set. I have been looking on Bikehub, Gumtree and OLX for used racks, most of the items I have found are not compatible with my car.

 

Option 2 - I was quoted R4000 for a towbar (R9000 for a detachable towbar), a second hand Thule Euro 941 carrier ranges between R4000 - R6500 on gumtree and OLX.

 

It boils down to safety for my bike, ease of use, fuel consumption and aesthetics. Im based in Durban, so I wont be travelling long distances, except on few occasions when I visit my parents in Joburg. Im short, but can reach my roof comfortably. Both options will increase the fuel consumption (simple physics) but Im told, roof racks are more suitable for road bikes and not for MTB bikes due to weight, even though Anthems are not that heavy. To be honest, I hate tow bars (no valid reason) and it will be my last option (tight budget).

 

I need to decide ASAP as I might have my bike next week but it looks like I will have to wait before I can use it. Please help.

 

Regards

Loyiso

[fanievb]

rear.

easier to put your bikes on and no risk of driving into your garage with the bike on the roof

 

check out http://www.rackandcarry.co.za/ they have a few options when it comes to tow bar fitted bike racks

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Towbar. No doubt about it. Firstly, lower consumption than roof mounted (in the slip zone vs extending frontal area) and 2nd no chance of forgetting that they're on the roof and then klapping them on something.

 

Then there is the benefit of the towbar itself. Better rear crash protection and the bike rack also takes more than one bike if you and your mates wanna go somewhere.

[Bateleur1]

Rear.  When you buy another car you will be buying another rack as well if you stick to roof rack.

[Godzilla]

Hi Loyiso

 

They both have their merits and advantages bud. I have both.

The roof mounted bike rack is BRILLIANT if you are going to be travelling on a dirt road on the way to a MTB event. With the bike on the roof you will arrive at your destination with hardly a speck of dust on your bike.

With your bike on a rear mounted towbar carrier rack your bike will be unrecognisable after 10kms on a dusty dirt road.

If you are going to be travelling on tar to JHB then a rear mounted bike rack is perfect.

If you ever decide to travel to a MTB race that has more than 10km of gravel/dirt road i would suggest you take you bike apart and put it in your boot or fold back seats down etc.

Enjoy !

[venom1]

+1 on the rear.

[Eddy Gordo]

The roof rack is convenient. It major drawback is that many people have forgotten their bikes are on it and have managed to knock on entry to a garage. Also the roof rack is only compatible to that one car and then you will have to replace part of it when buying a new car.

 

The rear is just way easier to load a bike onto, besides the towbar is nifty for towing trailers as well. Best part is that when you buy another car make sure it has a towbar then you can fit the bike rack to it.

[Blokman]

On the roof looks nice , but rear is better. A friend of mine reckons you get two types of cyclists with racks on the roof. Those that have crunched their bikes on a carport or garage door. And those that are going to.

You dont have to get an expensive rack for starters. Thule Express. Other manufacturers have similar models. Holdfast , Buzzrack. It's not the Rolls Royce but it works.

And once you have a towbar you start thinking camping, bushtrailer ................

[Paul Ruinaard]

Im in a process of buying a 2015 Giant Anthem X 29er small frame, but I have not made a final decision on the best option for my car when it comes to bike racks. I have a 2005 Merc C230 Coupe and getting a bike rack is proving to be mission impossible.

 

Initially I was looking at getting ProRide 598 roof rack but I was advised to get a rear rack that will fit into a tow bar. Im told this is the best option. I began shopping around and being a rookie that I am, I was shocked at the prices for bike accessories, money I would have loved to put into a bike and get a brand new one.

 

Option 1 - Thule quoted me R4999 for 961 wingbar, 754 foot pack and 1233 fitting kit. Then R2999 for ProRide 598. Total of R7998 for a brand new set. I have been looking on Bikehub, Gumtree and OLX for used racks, most of the items I have found are not compatible with my car.

 

Option 2 - I was quoted R4000 for a towbar (R9000 for a detachable towbar), a second hand Thule Euro 941 carrier ranges between R4000 - R6500 on gumtree and OLX.

 

It boils down to safety for my bike, ease of use, fuel consumption and aesthetics. Im based in Durban, so I wont be travelling long distances, except on few occasions when I visit my parents in Joburg. Im short, but can reach my roof comfortably. Both options will increase the fuel consumption (simple physics) but Im told, roof racks are more suitable for road bikes and not for MTB bikes due to weight, even though Anthems are not that heavy. To be honest, I hate tow bars (no valid reason) and it will be my last option (tight budget).

 

I need to decide ASAP as I might have my bike next week but it looks like I will have to wait before I can use it. Please help.

 

Regards

Loyiso

Hey Loyiso.

 

Towbar is much better for all the previous reasons

 

Just a suggestion as a starter - get the tow bar fitted and if you are only transporting one bike then get a simple THule Hanger rack rather than the larger ride on. I have both and only use the big racks when transporting multiple bikes, otherwise the little racks work fine and are far less of a mission to fit.

[Vlamrouge]

Tow bar all the way.

It gives some form of protection. I've had someone bump me in traffic and I didn't have a scratch and their numberplate was cracked (their problem as they drove into the back of my car).

I guess it adds some value to your car when you sell the car one day.

 

I also agree, if you are only transporting one bike, the Thule Express hanger rack is perfect.

You should be able to find one for about a R1000, but they sell quickly, so you need to react fast.

 

I've transported 2 29ers a few times on my small Thule rack. Just make sure you have adequate protection/cushioning at the touching points.

[CAAD4]

On the roof, if you are insured by Lloyd's of London... BTW how's the new album coming on?

[Gen]

I have both.. roof and towbar . mainly because we have to cart 4 bikes around wherever we go.. and hubby doesn't like the bikes at the back too close to one another lol so 2 on back 2 on roof.

 

Both work great .. I just battle loading the mtbs on the roof because it's a bakkie and the mtb are heavier than the road bikes.(road bikes I load chop chop).but my problem is mainly because I am short.. hubby has no problem with that.[emoji23] [emoji23]

[Bizkit031]

I am in the same spot now but have decided to go rear as my previous car was on the roof and it was stressful. You have to worry about all sort of things that are lower then your bike and will rip it off so I am going rear. Fitting a tow bar and getting a Thule Velocompact.

[Simon123]

I cannot think of a single reason you'd ever want a roof rack.  

 

I think roof racks are exclusively reserved for the specialized / 3 series drivers.

 

Also I'm always stumped why some SUV owners (especially ones like a Discovery 4 or so which come with a detachable towbar as standard) have roof racks.  WTF?

[Antoo]

@Simon123, I don't own a Bmw, nor do I own a Spez, but I have several Thule proride bike carriers.

Can accommodate 8 bikes on my bin of my bakkie, with the canopy removed, and a further 3bikes on my toe bar mount.

So depending on my needs, at the time, I use what will work best.

 

@ Loyiso, I managed to take out 2x bikes on one occasion, when I did not see a short pole, when reversing my bakkie, with bike on my tow bar mount. Topside, or rear side have their issues.

I prefer roof mount

[Ecko_1]

Simple solution. Get roof rack and lower your car to the ground