Now that this forum has gotten me addicted to keeping our bikes clean and scratch free, I find that I don't like jamming them together on the trunk rack. Any tricks for keeping them from scratching one another (e.g. padded blanket between them)?

On this Allen rack (recommended),



the first-loaded bike is at an angle, so it pushed against the other parts of the rack. I have to remove the water bottle cage to keep it from bending. I'm thinking of moving the support towards the other bike, so that the bike can hang down perpendicular to the ground, and the bikes will be parallel.

Where exactly are they touching, it's hard to see from this angle. My friend uses those foam "noodles" for swimming pools. Just put a slit in them and cut to size, putting them over the parts of the frame you want to protect.

Cheap and dirty - buy a few of those giant car wash sponges. Stick them between the bikes and bungy the bikes together.

A more elegant but much more expensive solution is to buy a receiver hitch that holds the bikes upright by their own wheels.

First off buy a better rack. One with straps/velco that secures each bike in place.
Or better yet go roof rack.

I use the "noodles" that they sell as pool toys at *Mart. Cut in half, they are about 2.5' long and work real well to wedge between two bikes... just wedge one in between the bike at an angle where it is held in place between the top tubes and bottom brackets and use bungees to hold the bikes together. Everything works fine this way for me. I use one between the rack and bike, and one between each set of bikes as well.

Also, roughly the same density, so I suspect it would work just as well is the firm pipe insulation available at Lowes/Home Depot type stores.

Doesn't matter. I have a two bike Sarris Bones and I have the same problem. The only thing I have seen so far that keeps bikes from bumping is a three bike rack but only two bikes loaded.

Two of my buddies have 3 bike racks, one a Sarris and the other a good brand I can't remember right now. Both work great with 2 bikes but have problems when 3 bikes are loaded.

I have found the best thing to do is to tie them tightly together, so they move together. Pad between bikes where needed.

One quick way to solve problems- stop mounting them chain side facing chain side.

Oh and keeping bikes scratch free is a myth. At least for the ones you want to ride. Just ride and enjoy yourself and don't worry about a few scratches otherwise, f you want them scratch free them keep them at home use them to hang your laundry.

Thanks for the tips.

D'oh -- of course, I should have thought of that when I was carefully arranging them so that the derailleurs weren't in trouble. That solves most of the problems.

I have never had a problem with my bones 3. You can use the second space of the 3 space rack to keep them seperated. Even when they are close together I have never had them touch. One bike faces right and one faces left. Tie the wheels off so they don't spin going down the road and cause the crank to turn and you are good to go. The only thing you may notice is a slight rub on the top tube from the straps but make sure the straps are clean and put a thin piece of foam between the strap and the tube and there are no problems.

The thing about the Saris that I like is it holds the bike in 3 places, 2 straps on the top tube and 1 on the seat tube so there is no issue with the bikes swinging.