The bike carrier mounted on a car - how to choose?

Fans of outdoor activities and entertaining pastimes surely know how important it is to ensure the correct transport of the bicycle if you are traveling by car. Often the main trunk is not enough to securely fasten a two-wheeled vehicle in it. That is why most responsible drivers prefer to install a bike rack on a car that is designed for this purpose. How to choose a bike rack from numerous options, we will try to understand in more detail as part of a review of the varieties of these products.

How to choose a bike rack for a car

As you know, a bicycle is quite a useful tool for those who take care of their health and seek to spend cultural leisure time comfortably and usefully with family or friends. When choosing a roof rack for a bicycle, you should pay attention to the fact that this is the most inconvenient item that is difficult to fix on the car. This is due to the fact that components such as the steering wheel and pedals stick out across the structure, the front wheel rotates, and together with the rear wheel they also rotate.

So, the fasteners of this vehicle are aggravated by the above inconveniences, however, if you approach the choice of the trunk correctly and rationally, you will be able to purchase the optimal product. Now let's talk about the types of fastening, their disadvantages and advantages, and determine which is the most relevant option in each case.

Types of luggage

There are such types of luggage racks for cars, on which the method of fastening a bicycle vehicle depends:

1. Behind, on the fifth door of the vehicle
2. Towbar
3. Roof rails (car roof mounting)
4. Aeroboxes

All of them have a number of advantages and disadvantages, after reading which in more detail, you can conclude for yourself which bike rack to install in order to conveniently and, most importantly, safely transport the bike. This is especially true when there is a need for a long journey and fast driving.

Trunk mount

Bicycle on fifth door

Often riders try to secure the bike from behind. This method is the cheapest, but very inconvenient: the frame carrying the bike is attracted to the trunk lid by means of rubber stops and belts with special fasteners. Such a system requires regular monitoring of fixation, so it is unlikely that you will be able to quickly and far drive such a vehicle. In addition, this is a deliberately wrong decision, since the visibility of the license plate and headlights is limited in this way, which is a direct violation of traffic rules.

If we talk about the advantages of such mounts, then:

• Compact system, convenient for storage;
• There is no need to equip the machine with roof rails;

Minuses:

• The bike is fixed only by the frame, the rest of the components (wheels, pedals) are movable, which leads to damage to the car;
• In the attachment points, damage to the car by the trunk itself is possible;
• The trunk lid is not available for opening;
• Not suitable for all sedans.

Tow bar mount

With this method of fastening, the bike is fixed most securely, but this option is not cheap and requires sufficient effort. To begin with, the car must have this same towbar, and then - this type of bicycle car trunk is very expensive.

The main advantages of tow bar racks are:

• Rigid and reliable bike mounting;
• Due to their good carrying capacity, such luggage carriers can carry heavy bicycle models (in particular, with electric drives);
• There are models that allow you to reject the entire "shelf" so that it is possible to open the trunk;
• Most varieties have duplicate vars and a place to mount a license plate;

The disadvantages of such trunks can be called:

• high cost;
• The presence of a towbar;
• Settlement of problems with traffic police on issues of dimming or transferring a license plate;
• Dimensions of luggage racks for bicycles on a car and the availability of free time for its storage during the off-season.

Fixing a bicycle on the roof of a car

Although this method may seem “out of the ordinary,” it is popular and is a perfectly acceptable option. The main thing in this case is to spare no expense and provide a reliable fixation system so that the bike does not break off during a fast ride. The consequences of such a situation can harm not only the two-wheeled vehicle, but also others moving behind and on the sides of the car.

Installing a bicycle on the roof of a car is recommended by most respected manufacturers, but it is worth buying a really high-quality and reliable roof rack.

The advantages of such fixation include:

• Relatively cheap compared to other methods;
• Headlights and license plate remain open;
• Small-sized design, which is convenient to store in winter in any designated place;

Cons of roof mounts:

• The need for additional purchase of accessories for attaching the bike to the rails;
• Increased fuel consumption due to violation of aerodynamics during fast driving;
• Limited opportunities at the entrance to "low" garages and parking lots;
• The biggest vulnerability is in a gust of strong wind.

Aerobox

This type of car roof rack attracts the user with an aesthetic appearance. It is relevant for operation in any weather, which is important for the safety of the bike in working and attractive condition.

The advantages of this fixation can be called:

• Complete safety of cycling in the process of fast driving in all weather conditions;
• Convenient opening of the box on the left and right side of the car;
• Sufficient capacity to accommodate cargo.

The cons of airboxes are as follows:

• The carrying capacity is deducted depending on the permissible load on the roof of the car and the weight of the trunk itself;
• The high cost of the product.

What materials are used in the manufacture of trunks

To date, there are a dozen manufacturing companies that are very successful among consumers who have purchased their products and were satisfied with the result. Regardless of the chosen design and fasteners of the bike carrier, they are all made of high quality, impact-resistant, reliable and durable materials.

As a rule, in the production of trunks, they use:

1. Aluminum
2. Steel
3. Composite materials

Metal components are coated with a polymer coating, which allows for maximum protection of structural elements from corrosion. This significantly extends the life of the product.

A few tips when choosing a trunk

With that said, here's a quick summary of what to look out for in order to properly operate a car bike rack:

1. Load capacity. If you settled on roof rails or airboxes, this is an important aspect.
2. Stability of a design to different weather conditions.
3. Be prepared for the fact that the additional load on the roof with the deterioration of aerodynamics leads to more fuel consumption.
4. When attaching a bicycle to the roof of a car, measure the overall height of the structure to avoid trouble when entering garages and parking lots.
5. Try to check the reliability of fixing the structure as often as possible.