CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

Which Car Bike Rack?

(43 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by Wilmington's Cow
  • Latest reply from Nelly
  • This topic is not resolved

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12

  1. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    With us tagging a week on Harris onto our annual Skye trip this year we've been looking at getting a bike rack for the car again. The car is a new Mini (Cooper S).

    Roof rack is out - had one on the old car and it damaged the roof. Official Mini roof rack is waaaaaay out cos you've got to drill holes in your roof for it (and it costs a fortune).

    Tow bar can't be done due to the central exhaust pipe.

    Had a boot mounted rack on the old car as well, but the top feet sat on the roof, and again damaged it. Anyway, I think the spoiler on the new car would get in the way a bit.

    Looking at the Saris Bones which seems to sit on the bumper, with the top feet resting on the window. Anyone have any experience of this one? TBC have a damned good deal on the two-bike version (though out of stock, and need it for a week on Friday).

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. wingpig
    Member

    If you're in a rush I could lend you a Revolution whateveritscalledownbrandrack boot-mounted thing, which fitted on wifepreviouscar (winkywee Seicento), though it didn't have a spoiler. Its top feet (hands?) rested on the window and it was quite happy with two bikes attached, albeit without most of their wheels to prevent the load being wider than the car. I had some extra paranoia-assuaging stabilising-straps for it too.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. DaveC
    Member

    Hire car?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Hire car for two weeks would cost a fortune! Besides, the Mini is GREAT FUN on the wee windy roads... ;)

    And we'd be getting a rack to use at other times as well, not just this holiday.

    Turns out my brother still has an old Saris rack, so I'm going to have a look at it when I'm up north this coming weekend. But I'll bear your offer in mind Mr wingpig - ta!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. chdot
    Admin

    "Mini is GREAT FUN on the wee windy roads..."

    Watch out for cyclists, pedestrians, wildlife...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. cb
    Member

    I once failed to fit a bike rack to the boot of my old Golf - there wasn't enough space at the top of the boot to accommodate the hooks. Had to stick the bike I needed to carry on the boat I was towing.

    Don't have a towbar on the new car, so I bought some roof bars. On a trip up to Glen Affric last month carrying three bikes the fuel consumption went up from 60+ MPG to 43MPG.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. crowriver
    Member

    None. Take your bikes on the train, then cycle to the ferry or across the bridge to Skye...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. wee folding bike
    Member

    Brompton Superlight or Friday?

    Buy an old Volvo wagon?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. gembo
    Member

    depending on where you are staying in Harris - leaving the mini at Uig and taking bikes across on the ferry is distinct possibility. Roads are quieter than on Skye. If sunny - nothing compares

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. Claggy Cog
    Member

    Should have bought a Vauxhall they have those new fangled optional stowaway bike racks. Saves towbars, roof racks, well just any bike transportation system. Extra cost for one about £400 on the price of the car but that would be about the same for the fitting of a towbar etc.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    "None. Take your bikes on the train, then cycle to the ferry or across the bridge to Skye..."

    "depending on where you are staying in Harris - leaving the mini at Uig and taking bikes across on the ferry is distinct possibility."

    When your other half doesn't really cycle + you're self-catering and have a car full of various food items, cleaning products, cooking implements, hillwalking gear, photographic gear and nicer gear (for a couple of nights out, or trolleying round galleries, where pretty much inevitably framed pictures also become part of the luggage), relying solely on the bike is not going to be an option.

    I know in theory that it can be done, but not everyone has the same idea of what makes a good holiday (thankfully, the world would be boring if we all agreed) and to be frank, the cottage we're staying in is about 15 miles (at least) from the nearest road connecting it to anywhere other than it's own peninsula, and I even I'm going to baulk at a 30 mile round trip just to get to the start of the ride somewhere else, or if it's blowing a hoolie and lashing with rain simply sitting in the cottage passing time rather than going to galleries or Talisker...

    Horses for courses, and liking cars here and enjoying using them while on holiday, is a more controversial state than in many other places.

    It's certainly Harris that is where we're likely to use the bikes (though I might get a couple of early morning solo rides in on Skye).

    Posted 12 years ago #

  12. Its_Me_Knees
    Member

    Following on from this... I'm looking for a car bike rack that I can keep in the garage and use as a get-me-home device (just add wife, car and desperate phone call...) should something irreparable happen to my steed - or indeed to me - while I'm out and about. I looked at a Saris Bones Solo, but the Saris web site doesn't list my wife's car (Skoda Fabia) as compatible. Anyone got any alternative suggestions..?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  13. Greenroofer
    Member

    We had a Thule boot-mounted rack for the back of our (previous model) Fabia hatchback. It was absolutely rock solid, but it was a bit of a b****r to fit: it really needed at least two people to get it on.

    We got round this by replacing the Fabia with a diesel Octavia estate. It's got a huge boot, but it's a bit like going everywhere by private hire taxi...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  14. Uberuce
    Member

    You mean you cut cyclists up, jump into ASL's, overtake like Zatoichi and then angrily call into talk shows about it? *sceptical eyebrow*

    Posted 12 years ago #

  15. Greenroofer
    Member

    @Uberuce. No, I think the analogy ends with the make and model of vehicle. Beyond that we're models of political correctness :-)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  16. Uberuce
    Member

    If I had to guess, I'd not have put you in the PHT club, right enough.

    Off topic, but are you one of the parents that locks their bikes up when collecting their kids? I'm only asking since I'm seriously considering a slapping-round-face-with-large-salmon policy for the ones that don't, so if you're vegetarian and don't lock, I'll source a soy-based salmon alternative.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  17. Its_Me_Knees
    Member

    Better admit up front that my car is an Octavia...

    Back on topic, anyone got experience of these:

    Sentinal 2

    (I've got a wiggle voucher burning a hole in my pocket....)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  18. Instography
    Member

    If it's just for getting home in an emergency, I'd buy the cheapest I could find from Halfords or Gumtree. I have a old Rhode Gear one permanently attached to my wee Fiesta for the half-trip to work. Picked up free from the dump.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  19. amir
    Member

    Will the bike not fit in the boot?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  20. DaveC
    Member

    I have just bought some Thule roof racks from EBC as they have a sale one at the mo.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  21. freewhwheelin
    Member

    I think the best option in public transport,train, and cycling, most ethical anyway.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  22. Instography
    Member

    Ethical?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  23. splitshift
    Member

    I got some halfords,roof rack, and cycle carriers, "universal" mount ! Very easy, one person mount on roof, could prob carry them in the boot, just needs carefull treatment of locks, the barrels fall out, and keep an eye on the lock nuts!I essentially got the rack free due to some ioncompetent halwits person, i know its hard to beleive but true !Work fine, deffo increase in fuel, but hey ho, i dont go far.On a slightly similar note i have become my nemesis, Ive just bought a derv Audi to replace the wifes ancient merc !I hate Audi drivers, (nearly all of them !,the pink shirted, stupid LED light
    brigade !)At least mine was a right off so technically am recycling and hence green !Should take a week or so to rectify the bent bits !
    I still want a van, with beds, and a cooker and ................sigh !
    scott

    Posted 12 years ago #

  24. Its_Me_Knees
    Member

    @ Instography@ : "I'd buy the cheapest I could find from Halfords or Gumtree."
    See where you're coming from here, but some concern that iffy 2nd hand stuff might knacker the bodywork...or indeed the bike :-(

    amir : "Will the bike not fit in the boot?"
    I did think of this...MTB won't, hybrid won't, roadie might with all the wheels off. It's a fabia...boot is like a glove compartment for people facing backwards.

    It's a pity there isn't an AA for cyclists...there isnt, is there..?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  25. freewhwheelin
    Member

    I find it a bit dificult to realise that on a cycling forum, that so many people still espouse car use, when it suits them. Perhaps that's what I meant by ethical.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  26. chdot
    Admin

    "
    I find it a bit dificult to realise that on a cycling forum, that so many people still espouse car use

    "

    That's the useful thing about CCE, it demonstrates that 'motorists' who complain about 'cyclists' are out of touch.

    Increasing numbers of people who happen to own cars (and use them where they think appropriate) are now cycling - especially to work.

    As individuals they will be more aware of people on bikes when they drive and also aware of the 'bad deal' bike riders get - from other road users (and poor infrastructure).

    So while it's still only a minority who choose/dare to cycle, they can no longer be written off as 'Eco-Warriors' or 'Lycra-Louts' it's now 'normal'/wise people making rational transport choices and wanting other people to do so too!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  27. freewhwheelin
    Member

    Just not sure of you can have a foot in both camps.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  28. chdot
    Admin

    "Just not sure of you can have a foot in both camps."

    Most people don't think of "two camps" in such a black/white way

    Many people want 'things to be different' - eg completely segregated cycle infrastructure.

    Sometimes incremental changes (with a few quantum leaps) is the way things happen in reality.

    It might be nice to be more like Amsterdam (where there are more cars per head than Edinburgh) or Copenhagen, but this is Edinburgh.

    Politicians (and voters) could learn a lot - and be bolder, but at least things are changing.

    Some people are even selling their cars because like cycling do much!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  29. freewhwheelin
    Member

    Some people are even selling their cars because like cycling do much!
    SOME people would never consider car ownership for the very same reason.
    perhaps you may delude yourselves, for what you see as valid reasons, others don't

    Posted 12 years ago #

  30. freewhwheelin
    Member

    I was shocked at the last demo @ Old St Andrews house, to see a local bike shop turn up in a VAN, get his bike out for the demo, then load it back into the van FGS ! OK, what did he achieve, apart from free and opportunistic self advertising ?

    Posted 12 years ago #

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