car bike rack question. protectimg the bike finish
 

this is a pic of my rack. my bike is carbin fiber and i dont want to boog it up.. what are my options?

Here is the best bike rack you can purchase for the money. I ruined my bikes frames with two other bike racks before I bought this, they also have it for four bikes too.

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-BIKE-CARRIER-R...item1e5b5eb635

The only positive way to protect the bike frame and paint is to get e rack that only clamps to the wheels and doesn't touch the frame. There are several, Hollywood makes one and I bought the; http://zanes.com/product/saris-cycle-on-pro-52638-1.htm It takes just a few seconds to mount the bike and only the wheels are clamped down. And rack the biks hangs from can suffer swing.

That can be countered easily with a strap that you tie through the frame, front wheel and one leg of the rack. I do that on my saris bones, because the rack itself was cheaper than getting a hitch installed and then getting a hitch-mounted rack.

OP, perhaps a couple pieces of soft cloth where the bike is bound to the rack to protect the finish?

Put a piece of that foam pipe insulation on the rack where you think the bike might touch.

I have a Saris rack and put my CF bike on it all the time. I don't see any marks caused by it. On your rack, I'd guess the crank arm contact the upright part of the rack any way, so frame would be safe there.

Works for me, too. Secure the foam with zip ties or tape. I've also used it occasionally on parts of the frame, where that seems better than putting it on the rack.
You can get the foam in 4-foot lengths and a range of diameters at places like Home Depot. cost 2 or 3 bucks.

I use socks. Soft, cushiony, cheap, and the right shape for wrapping around the top tube.

thank you.. i will try the sock ..
ant

Spend $50 bucks and get the rack I posted from eBay. Why would you trust a 50 cent worth of old sock to protect your $3000 bike? Well actually your bikes worth more then $3k buy I was talking about the stumpy.

Because a sock will do the job quite well.

Yeah until it rubs and wears off from the rack then you have a scratch actually a gash like this on your frame. This happen to my bike within the first week of purchasing it. unfortunately I don't have a better picture and the bike is gone now.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...FIT/bike13.jpg

Well, I do a quick inspection of the points where my bike contacts that rack every time I rack up my bike, so I can see if something is going to affect the frame of the bike. Just throwing the bike on there without giving the rack a quick inspection and expecting the frame to be flawless every time is just asking for trouble, no matter what type of rack you use to transport your bike.

False! when you have one of these you don't have to worry about ruining your frame. you can just throw your bike on it and the frame will be flawless every time you use it. Like I said before I'm not gonna trust a tube sock to protect my frame actually frames while I'm doing 75mph on the freeway, between mine and my fiance I spend $5000 for our bikes so I really don't mind spending another 50 bucks for a great bike rack to have a piece of mind while I'm transporting my bikes.
But then again everyone is different, while you are inspecting your socks, your contact and pressure points to make sure that your frame is safe I'll put my bike on my rack in ten seconds or less and be on my way to enjoy my ride while knowing when I get there my bike will look the exactly the same as when I loaded on the rack.:thumb:

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...IT/x805-2b.jpg

You act like it takes me 10 minutes to painstakingly pore over my rack, then another 10 to laboriously and carefully mount my bike to the rack. It just ain't that complicated. I look over my rack to make sure everything is in order, that takes about 10-15 seconds (testing the straps and what not).I put the bike physically on the rack and ratchet it in about 10 seconds, another 10 to run the strap through the wheels and frames to prevent swing, and I am off. 45 seconds to make sure the bike is not going to be damaged and secure to the rack at most is just not something that needs to be cut down on. It isn't a tri transition, its getting your bike on the frame to go a ride.

Besides, you get what you pay for. A $50 el-cheapo rack, or something that looks like it's not made in a high school shop class. I see people cheap out on their rack all the time and it shows, no matter what type of rack it is. Bikes bouncing around, swinging, rack look like its about to come off or break. If you want to protect your investment, getting a cheap rack is not the way.

If you are that paranoid, you wouldn't even carry your bike on a rack, because there are any number of airborne vectors on a freeway that could damage your bike. You would be swaddling it blankets in your car. I worry about my bike potentially falling off my car at speed if I don't make sure everything is in order, not if my bike gains a small flaw on its finish. I avoid damage to my bike on a reasonable level but don't freak out if if the clearcoat is chipped, because I bought my bike to use it, not admire it :)

Fixed.:roflmao2::roflmao2:

That's exactly what I thought, that's what you get for using a tube sock.:lol:



Say what you want, I'll take that el chepo rack over many other racks on the market, you have use one to understand. :D


PS: Hope you like my edit.:D

Not particularly funny, as you were implying it takes a lot longer than it does to give your rack a quick inspection and mount it to the rack. I also do not use a sock, or any other padding device to protect my bike, and the scratches it has are from actually using the bike :)
For people who already have a hitch mount on their vehicle, a hitch rack is a viable option. For those who don't, even a higher end trunk rack or roof rack model is cheaper than buying the hitch and having it installed (if you aren't handy like that) and then buying a hitch mounted rack.
I'm being honest with you, that rack looks cheap and flimsy, and is made by a company that seems to sell mostly batteries and associated parts. I have seen hitch rack mounts of the same type that look a lot more solid and sturdy looking than that $50 special you have there. The e-bay page indicates a whole 3 of them purchased, so that is not exactly a ringing endorsement of the product, nor do I see how much weight it is designed to carry. I'm glad that it works for you, but did I have a very expensive bike, I'd be looking for a rack that a) has a proven track record b) solid and sturdy c) easy to install/uninstall if needed and d) quick, easy, and simple mounting mechanism.

WOW! calm down sky, no need to get angry about it, I'm not mad at you for using a sock or a condom or whatever else you use on your bike rack for padding all I'm saying is you can call it whatever you want I'll take my 50 buck el chepo bike rack over a 350 buck Thule T2 and keep my 300. Also while you are spending 45 minutes on your straps and ratchets I'll be in my car and driving away. And finally I'm not carrying a motor X bike, my bike only weighs 26lbs, I don't need a 150lbs hunk of metal heavy duty bike rack so little light and flimsy one like the above picture would do just fine.
FYI, I've been using that rack everyday for the last two years and I've haven't had any problems with it.
Good luck with your padding materials, I'm out. :D

Since you clearly lack reading comprehension let me re-state: I don't use any padding materials at all, it was just a suggestion to the OP if he was concerned about the finish of his bike. You then went on your little diatribe about how your 50 dollar special is the end-all and be-all solution to transporting bikes without damaging them. You decided to put words in my mouth and continually stuff hyperbole into your argument and then think its funny and cute. It isn't. I am not mad, I simply do not appreciate your attempts to make me look stupid and ignorant because you huggle your cheap-looking rack so much.

It's ok sky, don't beat yourself over a bike rack, we were just trying to come up with a good bike rack idea, in this economy we need guys like you who rather pay a few hundred bucks for a bike rack that functions not nearly as good as the fifty buck one.

PS again: remember this is the interwebz don't be so serious about everything learn to have fun a bit.;)

Always have to keep sniping and re-writing others' posts when you can't prove your argument, I see. Pathetic.

OP, I hope you have found something that works for you.

No no you are ok, like I said don't beat yourself up. I'm sure there are some good qualities about you :D

But seriously tho, I'm done playing with you. :)

Take it back to the 41, boys.

I got a new car. I used to have a van and 3 bikes would fit INSIDE!! I loved it. But the gas was killing me. So I got a little car. Last year I really missed going places with my bike and riding there. Got a hitch. Got a rack. This one:
http://www.swagmanbikeracks.com/shop...cat=253&page=1
I never did like putting bikes on a regular bike rack. Too high. Sloped top tubes were a major issue. Stuff on the top tube got in the way (lamp batteries, cables...). Wheels waggling around. This one seems great. Finish and strength are good. Wasn't $50. Toronto Canada $200.

Which one of the 911 should I choose LOL
 

Uhm which one of the 911 racks should I choose.
If you link please be specific.

Thanks

Well I am one that believes that you get what you pay for. My first rack was given to me, a Wally World POS. On one of our first forays down the interstate, a truck passes us and my garage sale bike was suddenly hanging on by one saddle, the other had been pulled off the end of the tube. After I bought a couple of real bikes for the wife and I, I bought a Saris Bones trunk mount. I still have it for emergencies. It served us well, but I was never really comfortable on long trips with it. Enter a new bike for me, my current Kona, and a new car that won't allow me to mount the Saris. I had a hitch put on, and after looking around, and asking questions, I bought a Kuat Sherpa. I can put the bikes on and not worry about them at all. I have driven from Northern Minnesota to New Orleans and back with it and never had a problem. Easy to mount, easy to load, comes with a locking pin, cable and is reasonably light weight. Expensive yes, but I feel it is worth it. You might not.