Driving to the trail..

[IDB1]

Do you have the bike(s) on the roof? Rear mounted carrier? Or inside the vehicle?

Looking at bike racks and not sure which way to go... got a Vauxhall Astra and a 4x4 (is a roof-mounted rack going to wildly affect fuel consumption? We only get 25mpg average as it is :? )

 

[Chris]

Cant you chuck them in the back of the 4x4?

 

[IDB1]

Cant you chuck them in the back of the 4x4?

Normally have kids and/or dogs along for the ride too . . .

 

[TheGreenRabbit]

Put the bikes in the back and the kids on the roof

 

[IDB1]

Put the bikes in the back and the kids on the roof

Apparently we'll be in a bit of trouble with social services if we ever do that again....

 

[kaiser]

My choice would be tow bar mounted then roof then boot. At the moment I have a roof mounted carrier, very handy and stable but does effect mpg's. Boot mounted for very occasional use, higher chance of damaging bike and car IMO.

 

[IDB1]

Isn't it a complete pita opening the boot with a tow-bar mounted one?

The ones I've seen do look very 'safe' though..

Don't think I'd be too keen to do anything that hit the mpg very much.. 25mpg and the price of diesel is a killer :shock:

Wonder about the ones that fit on the spare wheel of the 4x4's. . . they don't look that safe but I guess they must be ok or they'd not get BS certified..

 

[stewlewis]

In the car, leave the kids at home. Dirty car over winter.
Tow bar mounts, tilt down to open the boot. Probably the sturdiest. Expensive.
Roof mounted. Without the front wheel, quite sturdy. Low MPG, chance of dropping bike on car.
Rear mount. May need a light board, or risk it. Wobble a lot. Low MPG. Easy to load.

I have no offspring so it's in the car for me.

 

[IDB1]

Roof one will be a pain on the truck as well - roofline is about 6' up in the air... be even worse after it gets a 2" lift over the Summer

Will have to keep 'em peeled for a towbar mount bargain


cheers chaps....

 

[suburbanreuben]

Around here, most of the car parks have bars across the entrance at 2m high, to stop camper vans etc... Some drivers remember they have a bike up top; some don't. :cry: