Roof Rack Cycle carrier

Posted by: i am simon 2 on 02 June 2004

I have just ordered the Mont Blanc System 3000 roof bars for my mini (new bmw variety).

Much research shows that the best way of transporting bikes on this car is with a roof rack.

The BMW Mini roof rack involves drilling into the roof, I was not having that so I bought the Mont Blanc system which appears to be very secure without marking the car.

It seems that many different types of bike holders can be used with these roof bars, and as I have so far only ordered the roof bars, I was wondering if I should go for any specific types of bike holder. Fork mounted, inverted etc etc.

We will only need to transport two bikes, both are front suspension mountain bikes, mine is a Giant XTC SE4 and hers is a Kona Lana.

Convinence and ease of mounting / removeing bikes is quite important, and whilst we may go on the odd motorway trip, I do not plan to do any trans continental stuff, so stability whilst important does not have to be bullet proof.

Any help from the cyclists amongst you would be appreciated.

Simon
Posted on: 02 June 2004 by Steve G
quote:
Originally posted by i am simon 2:
I have just ordered the Mont Blanc System 3000 roof bars for my mini (new bmw variety).
http://www.autorack.co.uk/images/mini.jpg
Much research shows that the best way of transporting bikes on this car is with a roof rack.


I'd tend to agree as the car is low enough that you'll have no trouble getting the bikes on and off. Just be careful with the cars paintwork though as folks I know with roof racks always seem to end up scratching the paintwork.

quote:

It seems that many different types of bike holders can be used with these roof bars, and as I have so far only ordered the roof bars, I was wondering if I should go for any specific types of bike holder. Fork mounted, inverted etc etc.


The fork mounted ones are the most secure but personally I'd go for the ones where you can leave the wheels on, the bike is mounted upright (with slots to hold the wheels) and an arm extends to clamp to the frame. Make sure that any one you get allows the bike to sit upright and stable before the arm is attached as that makes putting the bike on the rack easier.

I use a rear mounted rack because the car I use for transporting the bikes is a people carrier and I'd need a ladder to get the bikes off a roof rack!
Posted on: 02 June 2004 by Rasher
Simon, what you need to get is one of these bike racks.
Posted on: 02 June 2004 by Dobbin
I use 2 Thule racks - current model equivalent is the Proride 591. As you might expect from Thule quality is superb, they lock with a key and the bike can't (easily) be nicked. The lock also prevents the rack from being removed from the roof when not carrying a bike.
These folks are good
http://www.roofracks.co.uk/main/used_cycleracks.htm
and have some older Thules (about which I know nothing) going cheap.