General Cycling Discussion - Saris Rack Question ??? Help

I just got a nice Saris (back of the car) rack used from a guy and it didnt come with instructions. Does anyone have a picture of one on a car so I can see how these thing is suppose to go. Or please describe how it fits and works. I'm kind of confused about the straps part and where exactly the 3 on each side hook. Also any tips about the whole rear bike rack long distance travel thing. I am going on a 2 hour drive with 2 bikes on Thursday and need to figure this out.

Thanks

Well duh i went to the Saris website. Still wish i had a pic. but anyway, New problem I have a womens Beach cruiser with no top tube. How am I going to hang that on there,. They sell a Beam thingy for 30 bucks, but I dont have time. How can I mount this bike on the rack without it. Upside down...OMG im going to look like a dork riding down the road i can see it now.

Help

If you can get to your LBS, you can pick up the attachment for female/kid frames there. If there is a Performance Bike nearby they sell one for like $14.00. I think it would throw the balance off if you did it upside down but I"m not sure.

OMG im going to look like a dork riding down the road i can see it now.


Self-fulfilling prophesy

I know....

Okay one of these womens bikes top tube is not to drastically far down and will probably be okay. the other is a SUn Cruiser retro and the top tube drops waaaaay down.

I guess i gotta go buy one of those bike beam things and pay more for it than i did for the whole bike. :(

Well you can certainly hang the bike upside down, but I would definitely take it slow for the first 20 or 30 miles to see how it handles that. In my experience the worst problem is when you get behind a semi. There is a lot of turbulence coming off of a semi at 70mph. I had a bike stripped off of a WallyMart rack once by a passing truck. I have hauled my bikes on my saris bones from chicago to atlanta to mississippi to duluth and environs with no problems whatsoever.

I would definitely get the bike beam, and probably for both bikes. If the bike is to much higher than the back of the car you will eat the $30 in gas really quickly.

torgrot

Well I bought one Saris bike beam from the LBS...34.99 :eek: I tested out the rack and yes the one bike will work without a beam. It is up a bit high but oh well, Im not buying another Beam for that price.