bike racks

barbaram · 05-21-2006, 06:59 PM

Ok , had to use the saris bike rack today. makes me a bit nervous having it on the rear window.

Tried to put the bike in the back with the seats down with no luck? does anybody do this? please- let me know any suggestions ?

Thanks!

gocruik · 05-21-2006, 08:07 PM

Barbaram,

I don't know if this will work, but try taking off your quick-release front tire. Release the lever on the front brakes first. Release the lever, unwind the lever three times. The Front wheel should drop down with some encouragement.

Put the bike in gear side up. And the wheel in on top. It should fit.

Remember to retighten the front wheel and retighten the front brakes on reassembly. And bang the bike up and down a couple of times to be sure it is installed tightly. And check that the front brakes work.

good luck

Gordon

More than one bike? Put a blanket between them. and consider taking off the pedals. Check a bike book about this.

eyeguy13 · 05-21-2006, 08:18 PM

You can put your bike in the back of your car, but as a cyclist, that gets old quickly. You can consider a roof rack or a hitch rack. I've had both and like the hitch rack better because the bike is to the rear of the car. This should help decrease drag because the bike and hitch are in the dead area behind the car. Also, you don't have to worry about killing your bike on the roof rack as you drive into your garage. Since the hitch rack is behind the car, no worries! I had to alter my bike rack and make it shorter so the wind will flow over the bike and bike rack. I went riding today with the shorter bike rack and the bike was tucked nicely behind the car. I couldn't even see both wheels of my bike from my side view mirrors.

The roof rack is good too, but at higher speeds, you will notice a few MPG less because of drag on the rack and the bike. A fairing will help this though.

The hitch rack will require the purchase of a rear hitch, of course and Coastal is a good source. There are others but I installed the Coastal hitch and it seems to work well with my Yakima Kingpin bike rack.

Good luck with your decision.

larkinmj · 05-21-2006, 08:31 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(barbaram @ May 21 2006, 06:59 PM) [snapback]258949[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Ok , had to use the saris bike rack today. makes me a bit nervous having it on the rear window.

Tried to put the bike in the back with the seats down with no luck? does anybody do this? please- let me know any suggestions ?

Thanks!
[/b]

Barbara- why does the Saris rack make you nervous? I'm very pleased with mine. With three bikes on it (mine is very light, but my daughters' mountain bikes are pretty heavy) it is very secure and stable. I have a red one, which is a pretty close match to my Barcelona Red Prius!

eyeguy13 · 05-21-2006, 08:47 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(larkinmj @ May 21 2006, 07:31 PM) [snapback]258984[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Barbara- why does the Saris rack make you nervous? I'm very pleased with mine. With three bikes on it (mine is very light, but my daughters' mountain bikes are pretty heavy) it is very secure and stable. I have a red one, which is a pretty close match to my Barcelona Red Prius!
[/b]

larkinmj...

That just looks like a mess!!!!!

Do your bikes sway at highway speeds or are things pretty stable???

john1701a · 05-21-2006, 09:56 PM

Since about 95% of the weight rests on the bumper, that 5% on the glass is rather trivial.

As for stability, it is better than any hitch rack can deliver. I used the hitch type for almost 10 years. It's really convenient, but the switch to the strap-on kind wasn't a big deal due to the elimination of swaying.

By the way, the bike inside fit so well that one of the back seats could still be used. And I was able to attach a third bike to the rack. So... our 3-person driving trip up to the headwaters of the Mississippi for biking in Itasca State Park went without a hitch. (I know, bad pun.)

More and larger photos are available here and here.

larkinmj · 05-21-2006, 10:16 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eyeguy13 @ May 21 2006, 08:47 PM) [snapback]258994[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

larkinmj...

That just looks like a mess!!!!!

Do your bikes sway at highway speeds or are things pretty stable???
[/b]

It's VERY stable. When I used a hitch rack on previous cars, I was always a bit nervous on the highway, as the bikes tended to sway. With this rack, there is NO motion whatsoever. Obviously, you want to make sure that all the straps are tight after you've loaded the bikes.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a @ May 21 2006, 09:56 PM) [snapback]259024[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Since about 95% of the weight rests on the bumper, that 5% on the glass is rather trivial.

As for stability, it is better than any hitch rack can deliver. I used the hitch type for almost 10 years. It's really convenient, but the switch to the strap-on kind wasn't a big deal due to the elimination of swaying.

By the way, the bike inside fit so well that one of the back seats could still be used. And I was able to attach a third bike to the rack. So... our 3-person driving trip up to the headwaters of the Mississippi for biking in Itasca State Park went without a hitch. (I know, bad pun.)

More and larger photos are available here and here.
[/b]

Nice selection of bikes there. I had a recumbent for awhile (RANS Rocket), but as I wasn't using it alot, I sold it last year.

barbaram · 05-21-2006, 10:35 PM

[attachmentid=5154]My rack is this one
it's just a bit of a pain to put on and off, thought throwing the bike in the back might be easier.....
thanks for all of your help!

phoebeisis · 05-21-2006, 11:08 PM

Larkinmj- Which Saris rack is that? I'm taking a long trip soon, and I need a rack.Thanks,Charlie

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(larkinmj @ May 21 2006, 07:31 PM) [snapback]258984[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Barbara- why does the Saris rack make you nervous? I'm very pleased with mine. With three bikes on it (mine is very light, but my daughters' mountain bikes are pretty heavy) it is very secure and stable. I have a red one, which is a pretty close match to my Barcelona Red Prius!
[/b]

larkinmj · 05-21-2006, 11:34 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(phoebeisis @ May 21 2006, 11:08 PM) [snapback]259073[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Larkinmj- Which Saris rack is that? I'm taking a long trip soon, and I need a rack.Thanks,Charlie
[/b]

It's called the Saris Bones. I have the 3-bike model; they also make a 2-bike version.
http://www.sarisproducts.com/products/bones.htm

05-21-2006, 08:18 PM	#3
eyeguy13 Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 337 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	You can put your bike in the back of your car, but as a cyclist, that gets old quickly. You can consider a roof rack or a hitch rack. I've had both and like the hitch rack better because the bike is to the rear of the car. This should help decrease drag because the bike and hitch are in the dead area behind the car. Also, you don't have to worry about killing your bike on the roof rack as you drive into your garage. Since the hitch rack is behind the car, no worries! I had to alter my bike rack and make it shorter so the wind will flow over the bike and bike rack. I went riding today with the shorter bike rack and the bike was tucked nicely behind the car. I couldn't even see both wheels of my bike from my side view mirrors. The roof rack is good too, but at higher speeds, you will notice a few MPG less because of drag on the rack and the bike. A fairing will help this though. The hitch rack will require the purchase of a rear hitch, of course and Coastal is a good source. There are others but I installed the Coastal hitch and it seems to work well with my Yakima Kingpin bike rack. Good luck with your decision. __________________ Arrived! 2 May 06, 2006 Classic Silver Package 4, hitch from Coastal and bike rack from Yakima <span style="font-family:Comic Sans Ms">Kyle from South Park: "Hybrid cars are important, they may even save our planet someday."</span> <span style="font-family:Comic Sans Ms">The number one threat to America-bears! They are fearless, Godless killing machines!</span>

05-21-2006, 09:56 PM	#6
john1701a Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,719 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Pioneer #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	Since about 95% of the weight rests on the bumper, that 5% on the glass is rather trivial. As for stability, it is better than any hitch rack can deliver. I used the hitch type for almost 10 years. It's really convenient, but the switch to the strap-on kind wasn't a big deal due to the elimination of swaying. By the way, the bike inside fit so well that one of the back seats could still be used. And I was able to attach a third bike to the rack. So... our 3-person driving trip up to the headwaters of the Mississippi for biking in Itasca State Park went without a hitch. (I know, bad pun.) More and larger photos are available here and here. __________________ JOHN http://john1701a.com 47.9 MPG average @ 108,544 miles

05-21-2006, 10:35 PM	#8
barbaram Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Trenton, NJ Posts: 721 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	[attachmentid=5154]My rack is this one it's just a bit of a pain to put on and off, thought throwing the bike in the back might be easier..... thanks for all of your help! Attached Thumbnails

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05-21-2006, 06:59 PM	#1
barbaram Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Trenton, NJ Posts: 721 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Ok , had to use the saris bike rack today. makes me a bit nervous having it on the rear window. Tried to put the bike in the back with the seats down with no luck? does anybody do this? please- let me know any suggestions ? Thanks!

05-21-2006, 08:07 PM	#2
gocruik Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Barbaram, I don't know if this will work, but try taking off your quick-release front tire. Release the lever on the front brakes first. Release the lever, unwind the lever three times. The Front wheel should drop down with some encouragement. Put the bike in gear side up. And the wheel in on top. It should fit. Remember to retighten the front wheel and retighten the front brakes on reassembly. And bang the bike up and down a couple of times to be sure it is installed tightly. And check that the front brakes work. good luck Gordon More than one bike? Put a blanket between them. and consider taking off the pedals. Check a bike book about this.