Bike rack, rear or roof?

[Recess]

Hi there.

I'm really sorry if this has already been asked. I did a search, and couldn't find an answer I'm afraid.

I've got a nice, new, shiny VW Golf. I've also got a nice new shiny bike (after realising that my old "Made of impenatrable steel" bike wasn't the best) and I'd like to put one on the other. What way round depends on the mood of my wife...

Anyway. Two obvious questions follow.

1) Is there specific designs of racks for hatchbacks like a Golf?
2) What's better, roof or boot mounted.

I woulda thought boot mounted could maybe buckle the frame through wind resistance? Or is that SOOOO 1990? I guess cross winds could do the same on the roof, but I'd like some advice from those who know more that I do (which is -nothing.)

For the time being, I'll just rip the front wheels off my bike and the wife's, and chuck 'em in the back, but it's be nice to have a backseat...

Thoughts appreciated, abuse reluctantly accepted.

[slooney]

Recess-

I have a friend who is a dedicated roadie, and he chose to move his bike to a rear (boot) mounted rack because of fuel economy. He's an engineer and a bit compulsive and was doing mileage studies of "bike on roof" vs. "bike on back" and found a 2-3 mpg savings with the bike on the back.

Also, your bike is less vulnerable to road thrown crap (rocks, birds, bugs, etc.) that may damage the finish, and less likely to be scraped off by a branch, garage door, or low flying airplane :)

Steve

[landstander]

I prefer the roof mount, but then I sometimes transport a tandem... not really an option for a boot or hitch rack. I'd suggest checking out Saris (http://www.saris.com/)... when using the Short Tray Fork Mount rack (what I use for my non-tandem bikes), it only takes about 30 seconds per bar to install or remove. Also, it doesn't require you to mangle your roof in any way. :)

Note: I'm having trouble reaching their website at the moment, so I haven't verified whether or not Saris can accommodate a VW Golf.

[DiRt DeViL]

Every system has their pros and cons, this is a summary of what I have learned.

Roof Rack - more aero drag, safer bike transport until trying to enter a garage or drive thru

Hitch Rack - best fuel economy, easier to load/unload bikes, prone to rear collitions

Trunk Rack - good fuel economy, prone to rear collitions, complicated install

I personally prefer to have the bikes on the roof.

[Recess]

Great, thanks guys, I really appreciate your advice.

If the roof-rack keeps me away from McDonald's drive thru's, all the better.

Thanks for your help.

[desmoface]

Hi, thought I'd chime in. I have a Subaru Impreza with the rear spoiler and I wound up with the saris bones 2 trunk rack. It's not too tough to get her on and it seems pretty stable...here's the link:
http://www.graberproducts.com/products/bones2.htm

There is a strap for securing the bike downtube to the rack and it's not long enough..thats my only complaint. Apparently saris makes a longer one that one can purchase...they should have just included the longer one on the finished product. Other than that..works as advertised.

Steve

[Fibber]

Some consideration should also be given to your type of bike, and your physical strength. Lifting 30 lb bikes onto the roof is not impossible for me, but is a strain (back injury from car accident).

Hatch mounted systems using straps never appealed to me. Again, it is a function of the quality of the system and the skill of the operator, but I have seen a few near misses that could have resulted in paint/glass damage, or a lost bike.

I chose to install a receiver hitch on my Subaru Outback (Liberty to you Brits?), and get a rear rack. Higher initial cost, and sometimes inconvenient for getting into the wagon (Estate ??) rear compartment, but easy to load the bikes, and very secure.

Steve

[cooker]

It's been 'threaded' before (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=151613&highlight=hitch). For me, a trailer hitch mount with a hinge to allow it swing down out of the way of the rear hatch is ideal. No contact with car paint, no need to hoist bike up too high, no risk of forgetting it's there and smashing it into the wall above the garage door.

[jacksbike]

Everyone has a different view on where to put bikes on a car and , as noted, there are a lot of factors involved. I prefer roof racks because each bike is attached separately and will scratch another, they can be easily locked , plus there is no problem opening a rear hatch. Negatives to this is wind resistance, perhaps a tiny bit less gas mileage, and , if it is really raining, water being blown into the bike. A rear or hatch rack , being obivously behind the car, will not affect your gas mileage or driving on a very windy day. But , depending on the quality and price of the rack, the bikes can scratch each other, bang into each other, handlebars and pedals can get intertwined, and the bike or the rack can scratch the car. I think that if you spend (US) $100 or more you can purchase a nice trunk rack that the bikes are kept separate and physically away from the hatch. A roof rack also gives you the flexibility of attaching others sports racks such as skis, kayaks, etc,. or just for carrying pieces of lumber from the lumberyard. Tough choice.

[Recess]

Hi again.

I've got an addition to this question. As the main argument for using rear racks rather than roof racks seems to be to do with air resitance, I'm wondering if one of the 'High Rear' racks are still within that argument.

I've been looking at something like http://www.thule.com/templates/THULE_ProductPage.asp?id=61809 as it clears the number plate and light display, so I don't have to worry about a light board - but as the bikes are now peering over the roof, have I cancelled out the reason it's better - and would I be better just going for a roof-rack?

Thanks in advance.

[marmot]

I didn't want a roof mount because 1) I think I might be too puny to hoist my bike up there, 2) I was worried about low-hanging limbs on bush roads and my own forgetfulness at drive-thrus, and 3) I sometimes carry kayaks and bikes on the same vehicle at the same time, meaning the roof is already occupied.
Ignoring a lot of warnings, I got a strap-on tailgate mount. It was easy to install and use, worked great all summer and fall, and caused no damage to the car or the bikes. Quite the success, really.

[Recess]

Well, I just bought a high-rear-mount rack for the bikes. Hopefully get it either tomorrow or Wednesday. Will let you know how I get on.

[Recess]

Hi there. Ok, the rear rack arrived today (check out http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Halfords-high-mount-3-bike-carrier_W0QQitemZ7225985809QQcategoryZ56202QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem for an example of it (though that's not the one I won))

Thing is, as I got it from Ebay, it didn't come with instructions.

I can tell by the picture how the main straps attach to the car etc (there's four of them with odd wheel lookin' things at the end, I assume I close the boot over them to keep them in place, then tighten) but I can't work out how to use the red straps to keep the bkes attached.

Any one ever use this, or have any suggestions on how to attach the rack to the car?

Thanks in advance.

[globalbikes1]

Not sure of the particulars of your rack but one tip I have is to make sure any extra strapping is tied off. Any strap left to wip around in the wind, while going eighty down the road, is likely to take the paint right off you car. http://www.globalbikesbikeshop.com