Thule ROOFRACK- Bad for you frame ?

[ASTANA]

 

 

Want to buy a new bike rack for a Tazz... any ideas ? Don't really like the clip on back racks, and the euro way style is to big for my car. makes the tazz too heavy on the back and lift the front a bit with 2 bikes - the leaver action haha.

 

Was thinking roof mount - this will influence petrol consumption but the bikes is on the top an away from danger - except garages and trees! must be more wake up.

 

Will this rack influence the integrity of your frame when its mounted on the fork? The reason I don't want the ProRide one is that the bike is too high when both wheels are on. This looks like a better option ?

 

 

ASTANA2009-05-26 07:59:55

[Mr Mulebar]

No it will not damage the frame what so ever, you place way more strain on headtube area when cornering and hitting rough terrain. If your bikes have carbon frames you should not use any carrier that clamps onto the frame directly!! So the Tour Ride is the only option in that scenario.

[ASTANA]

? What is the best option then ? This one above or the ProRide ? (Where the complete bike is mounted - with the arm on the downtube)

[Dirtbreath]

I think the one above is a better method of mounting your bike but is a serious ball ache. You have to take your wheel off each time and find somewhere to store.

 

I use the Prorides and to be honest, they are the easiest way of mounting a bike. I think I have done pretty much everything over the years. I have never tried on a carbon frame but never had any issues with an ali one.

 

[ASTANA]

Than for the Info. Well most protour team cars use the one where you mount the fork onto the holder with the skewer. Some use the full bike one, but that's only in case of emergency - when the race leader break something on his bike, like TT's etc.

 

I like the one above more, cause its sits lower on the roof, dont mind the extra wheel in the car.

 

Any other comments ?

 

[Daxiet]

What bike (Road or MTB, more import MTB with Disc?) are you transporting?

 

If you are going to be transporting a MTB with disc brakes, removing the front wheel each time it travels is going to be pain. You will need to calibrate the front brakes each time.

 

I use Proride, simple and very quick to plop the bike up there. Regardless of hight, the Outride or Proride will cause you to hit your bike if you ride into your garage, most public covered parkings, etc. Plus you will probably do more damage if you did hit the bike on an Outride because the fork is secured to the roof rack. With the Proride, the clamps rip off - I have experience

 

[Yang]

Mind you don't hit bridges as well.

[Mr Mulebar]

SO everytime you remove your wheels you have to re adjust your calipers?

 

 

 

Sounds like your brakes are faulty or not set up properly.

 

 

 

Outride works fine with all bikes and let's face it removing a wheel with a QR skewer is not such a mission.

[ASTANA]

Its a Carbon Road bike. The MTB is alu with discs. The Free ride can accommodate disk brakes. No I don't have to readjust the brakes every time I remove the front wheel. Been doing for a while now, put one bike in the car and the other on the old holdfast towbar rack.

 

I believe the free ride will be a bit lower and the forces are on your front fork and rear wheel, where as the proride, the force is on your downtube and wheels.

 

I'm just concerned that the forces of bumps etc will go into your carbon fork and have a effect on the frame integrety in some way (I know this is a bit far fetched, but a R40K + ride... ja want to get this right the first time), for now my baby is traveling inside with me, but its unpractical, no space for passangers and no space for luggage.

 

The Issue with the PRo ride is that the clamp needs to be tightened onto the downtube and guess this can cause some dammage if done incorrectly or can just dammage.

 

The alu frame is fine - think you put much more force on a MTB when you ride downhill, so guess this wount do anything to it.

 

[Dirtbreath]

Have a chat to the Thule guys. There is a new rack that I have seen a couple of (not on their website) that doesnt require you to remove your front wheel and clamps around the front wheel itself. No frame stress for your plastic bits.

[ASTANA]

Spoke to them om the other 2 - Freeride and Rroride. How does this new one work then - "clamp your wheel" ? Like over the tire itself ?

 

 

 

[Dirtbreath]

 

Spoke to them om the other 2 - Freeride and Rroride. How does this new one work then - "clamp your wheel" ? Like over the tire itself ?

 

 

 

 

[ASTANA]

This bike rack might be cooler for a MTB wheel, but dont want to put my carbon wheel or even road wheel under that pressure of the arm to pull it onto the roof

 

Any more thoughts on the Outride - where the front wheel si removed and the bike is clamped in with the front skewer..

 

Side frame may not be made to withstand the side forces onto the frame... any thoughts ??

 

[panther]

I considered the Thule clipon high rack (9105/6). Read Thread.

 

But I do consider the roof rack with roof mounted bike rack.

 

Just worried about low hanging trees, etc.