Thule Pro Ride

[zeepee]

My fiance has just got a new car and instead of installing a towbar to fit my bike rack on, we bought a roof rack and two pro rides.

 

This weekend we took it out for the first time, driving to nelspruit with it. It was a bit nerve racking to say the least, didnt feel comfortable having our babies flapping around in the wind ontop of the roof.

 

Does the nervousness pass after a while?

How do you guys keep reminding yourselves not to drive into garages or park under shade nets with the bikes on the roof?

 

How many of you have forgotten about them and driven into something?

[sr2106]

Have written off a Trek Madone by driving into garage - now have a picture of bikes stuck to sunvisor.

[Pantani]

 

Have written off a Trek Madone by driving into garage - now have a picture of bikes stuck to sunvisor.

 

Hahaha, had my Cervelo for a day and almost drove into underground parking with it. Stopped the car with the Sti an inch away from solid concrete. I did reverse into a shaded parking and snapped a part of a brake caliper off. But that is minor. Out on the freeway I have hammered along at 180km/h with bikes on the roof no problem. But just drive behind someone doing that and you suddenly think, "Hey, those bikes sure are flapping around..."

 

[ASTANA]

some people put the bikes further to the front so you can see the tire - back or front either way from the inside when seated. This will help you to remember if you can see part of the tire.

 

Other wise - POST IT on the steering wheel - BIKES!!!! then you will hopefully remember LOL

 

Will hate myself if I screw up my bikes in a stupid way like this!

 

Good luck

 

[zeepee]

We drove through one of those "end of the world" storms comming back last night and looking up I didnt enjoy seeing R100k's worth of bikes being pummeled by the storm.

 

So thats my biggest fear at the moment, driving into the garage with the bikes on the roof

[blockhouse]

Zeepee, I have the same fears with my Pro Ride. There seems to be a lot of movement, and I'm worried that my carbon xc rims are taking the majority of the stress

[techguy]

Just make a mental note of it when you put it on the roof...have had a couple of close calls but not too close..

[WR 1.0]

The nervousness should pass, your increased fuel consumption won't.

[Lukep]

I am always scared of the bikes on the roof but people also drive too close to cars in front of them so it is also possible that some one can drive into the back of you with bikes on the tow bar. At least you can prevent yourself from driving into a garage etc!

 

[Daxiet]

I have been cruising around with them for a year had only one incident about 2 months after getting them. Damage was more to the car than the bike.

 

Probably having an incident makes you less likely to smack them again... who knows.

 

They're solid, reliable, but have seen some people forget to tighten the clamp properly, but survive to tell the tale.