Sabre484 Posted February 11, 2009 Posted February 11, 2009 Hi I have been offered a roofrack system (THULE) which can carry 3 bikes. I have before travelled with the rack mounted on the towbar and found that it greatly affects fuel consumption etc. Any feelings on what the pro's and con's are of such a system, besides that you have to remember there is a bicycle stuck on top of the roof of your car???
AndreZA Posted February 11, 2009 Posted February 11, 2009 if you think it chows fuel on the towbar then you should stay away from a roof rack.
droo Posted February 11, 2009 Posted February 11, 2009 It'll affect fuel consumption as much as a towbar mount, if not more, you'll get kamikaze bugs stuck to your bike, and, at least once, you'll hang your bike in a tree. Been there, done it I've got a ride-on towbar rack, and reckon it's the dog's danglies. Clips on and off in seconds, and the wheels stay on the bike. But it's all down to what you prefer...
Sabre484 Posted February 11, 2009 Author Posted February 11, 2009 Problem is that we want to use the new Car on longer trips with the cycling. It is a Renault GT and the exhaust pipes comes out in the middle of the car so no towbar option. Is it relatively stable at speeds of 120 km?
droo Posted February 11, 2009 Posted February 11, 2009 Nothing wrong with a roofrack, and will be perfectly stable. It certainly beats the backseat option... just put a sticker on your dashboard so you don't do the tree / carport / low flying duck thing.
Grayskull Posted February 11, 2009 Posted February 11, 2009 how many bikes do you wanna transport? One bike can easily fit in the back thats if you are only two ppls..
Sabre484 Posted February 11, 2009 Author Posted February 11, 2009 Most of the time it is two. But going down to Knysna or the Argus(That is if my idiotic company will let me go) it'll be three bikes. Problems is long trips require al sorts of things to go into the car. You know what families are like..
White Eagle Posted February 11, 2009 Posted February 11, 2009 I've got a Thule roof rack. On the trip down to Bloem. last year for the OFM with 3 bikes and some serious wind my A4 only used 1.2 litre/100 more than normal . I love it, sure you got to remember that it's there or it could end up rather expensive.
Gert Janse v Rensburg Posted February 11, 2009 Posted February 11, 2009 if it comes from a difrent car you will have to get other footpacks and kits aswell..... wil set you back another R1000..... but the roof rack is the safest and most stable way to do it.......
Moab Posted February 11, 2009 Posted February 11, 2009 get a real car' date=' problem solved. [/quote'] Is a bakkie a real car? I am planning on selling the Renault clio cause there is always a bike on the back seat. (Or the dog) Little bakkie here I come. Plan is to permanently have a bike in it with cleats and clothes.
Sabre484 Posted February 11, 2009 Author Posted February 11, 2009 It is for a different car but have already got the new feet.. Three sleds for the bikes plus roofrack for......R200 Bucks... So all in all it is going to cost me less than R1500. Nothing wrong with the Renault. Fun, Comfortable, light on fuel. Cant exactly fit three bikes on the other new car..Mini Cooper S. That is just the toy.
intern Posted February 11, 2009 Posted February 11, 2009 Renault, fun? That's like saying a visit to the proctologist is 'fun'. I'm too scared to use roof racks, I just KNOW I am gonna pile my bike up against the top of the garage...
Tumbleweed Posted February 11, 2009 Posted February 11, 2009 Renault' date=' fun? That's like saying a visit to the proctologist is 'fun'. I'm too scared to use roof racks, I just KNOW I am gonna pile my bike up against the top of the garage... [/quote'] been there, done thatluckily it was a bmx, so nothing wrong apart from a coupla scratches?
Gert Janse v Rensburg Posted February 11, 2009 Posted February 11, 2009 It is for a different car but have already got the new feet.. Three sleds for the bikes plus roofrack for......R200 Bucks... So all in all it is going to cost me less than R1500. Nothing wrong with the Renault. Fun' date=' Comfortable, light on fuel. Cant exactly fit three bikes on the other new car..Mini Cooper S. That is just the toy. [/quote'] you can actually fit 4 on the cooper S..... ive seen it done......
Daxiet Posted February 11, 2009 Posted February 11, 2009 Thule roof racks are awesome, I have the Prorides. I leave them on 24/7, I haven't taken too much note of fuel consumption increase-I would say it is marginal. On their first outing I pulled in at a Kentucky drive through and a couple m's from loosing my bikes the manager was kind enough to stop me They are very safe up there, the Thule system is well designed. The splatted bug issue is not that bad, normally only find bugs on the bikes when travelling at night. I have my Thules mounted on the Renault factory issued aluminium roof racks-nice roof racks, aerodynamic and the Thule's lock in bolts fit perfectly. Note: I can only comment on the Proride, I don't like the Outride because you need to remove a wheel and the Freeride seems it may not work on certain frames. Daxiet2009-02-11 06:21:19
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