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Any thoughts or Opinions on trunk mounts? + San Fran sight recommendations to see...

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Any thoughts or Opinions on trunk mounts? + San Fran sight recommendations to see...

Old 07-16-06, 08:42 AM
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Any thoughts or Opinions on trunk mounts? + San Fran sight recommendations to see...

I'm thinking of buying a rack for my car. I want to get a roof rack for my Trek 1200, but I've been looking online and it's just so expensive, costing me more than $400. It's too much for my minimum wage salary I tell you. But I have to admit, those roof racks are pretty nice and cool.

So maybe, just maybe, more than likely, even though I don't want to, I'll get a trunk mount instead. I know it's more affordable. Any positives and negatives regarding trunk mounts (besides the fact they aren't as cool to look at ), I would like to know and learn.

I'm going to San Francisco 2 weeks from now on a weekend to run the SF marathon. I want to bring my bike and ride around San Francisco, get myself lost, and just go exploring on my own. I live in a farming, agricultural community, so visiting a big city and exploring a new environment would be freaking awesome and a change of phase.

Anyone who lives in the bay area or who have been there, would you folks recommend places to visit and sight see with my road bike in San Francisco?
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Old 07-16-06, 09:22 AM
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I used a trunk rack for years before buying a hitch rack about 3 years ago. Although a good trunk mount rack is an effective way to carry your bike for a short distance, I wouldn't recommend it for long distances. Also, after time you are going to damage the finish on your trunk to some extent.
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Old 07-16-06, 03:40 PM
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Originally Posted by blandin
I used a trunk rack for years before buying a hitch rack about 3 years ago. Although a good trunk mount rack is an effective way to carry your bike for a short distance, I wouldn't recommend it for long distances. Also, after time you are going to damage the finish on your trunk to some extent.
True if you are really picky. You will probably damage the finish a bit. My Sarris Bones has done some slight damage. But I would wager far less than accidentally wacking your roof a few times lifting it onto the roof. Plus you don't have to worry about the bikes being knocked off the top of the roof at the garage.

If I were to do it over again I would have spent the money to get a hitch and use a hitch rack. It is the way to go IMHO.
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Old 07-16-06, 03:50 PM
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Do they still have a Sunday brunch at Cliff House? Strawberries, champagne, and a harpist too. After, you can take a ride down to Judah and have garlic crab at Thanh Long.
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Old 07-16-06, 03:57 PM
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I've got a Saris Bones 2 that i purchased off of ebay last week and so far i am very satisfied with it.. MSRP is $120 i believe, but i bought mine for $75+shipping. It is rated the top trunk rack on the market.
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Old 07-16-06, 03:58 PM
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I looked at about every option when I was looking for a way to transport my bikes. Roof rack was out of the question since I have convertible.

The trunk mounts pretty much had the same downside.. paint damage.. I ultimately got a hitch and a hitch mounted 2 bike carrier and other than lots of cussing trying to install the hitch, Ive been happy with the setup.

I'd really recommend the hitch mount route as well. If you look around online, you can pick up a hitch for usually around ~$100.00 shipped and I see hitch mounted racks for sale all the time on Craigslist for cheap.
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Old 07-16-06, 03:59 PM
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I have the Yakima KingJoe3 and it works equally well on my SUV and my sedan. My son uses it to take his bikes to school in San Diego and it hasn't failed us yet.

Riding in the City never appealed to me that much (lots of traffic, bad pavement). If you can make it to the East Bay, there are fairly quiet roads with good hills and great views. Grizzly Peak, Skyline, Redwood, Pinehurst, Wildcat are the roads you're looking for or you can PM me.

Have a great time.
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Old 07-16-06, 04:15 PM
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I have three racks. A Thule roof rack system, a Hollywood hitch rack system, and a thing called a Hunch Rack which is sort of a cross between a roof rack and a trunk rack mad by Delta Cycle. In terms of hauling bikes (up to four) nothing can beat the Thule roof mount (or a similar system from some other manufacturer). The problem is that you have to buy the foot adapter to fit your particular make of automobile so that if you need to use the rack on more than one vehicle, you'll have to buy separate adapters.

The hitch rack is probably the easiest to use and will work on any car as long as that car is setup to receive a hitch.

The Hunch Rack attaches like a trunk rack to almost any car (hatchbacks, vans, or typical sedans) by means of a set of straps and hooks that go over open trunk lid hinges or under bumper edges. The Hunch Rack will hold one or two bikes. What differentiates it from most roof racks is the way bikes attach to it - very similar to the Thule system. You take off the front tire, the fork fits into a QR mechanism, and you strap down the rear wheels. Except that it attaches with straps, it's a little like installing a Thule-like setup on your trunk. The bikes ride over the trunk facing forward - like they do on a roof rack. There is almost no danger from pulling into the garage - if you want to put the door down, you should make certain that door braces, etc will not contact parts of the bike - the seat sits up pretty high.

No question, the easiest to use is the hitch rack. It attaches in a snap, the hook up is positive, quick, and secure. Securing the bike is as simple as placing the bikes top tube onto the rubber holder, then, tightening the lockable clamp. No part of the hitch rack touches your paint (but you might want to be careful where your bike's car side crank goes - it could cause a problem).

You can lock both the rack to the car and the bike(s) to the rack. Lock your wheels to your bike and you are snug as a bug in a rug. That's not true with my Thule system or the Hunch Rack system.

The Thule roof rack does touch the paint on your car in four areas. Same goes for the Hunch Rack - but, truthfully, if you keep the car and the contact points of both racks clean, I doubt you'll do any noticeable damage to your paint.

One drawback I observe with the hitch rack is that, although it will carry up to four bikes, the fit is tight, and, although there is no way you'll lose a bike that's secured properly, they can swing to and fro. I solve this by using a bungee (rather than the cheesy strap supplied) to tie the bikes to a stabilizer bar that's part of the rack. It's still tight. You'll have handlebars tangled with drops and handlebars may tear or puncture seats, etc.

This problem does not exist with either the Thule or the Hunch Rack systems.

If you only plan to haul one bike, my choices would be 1) the hitch rack for its security and ease of use, as long as you already have a hitch installed or plan to have one installed. If you regularly haul two bikes, I would suggest you have a look at the Hunch Rack. It's cheap (like $70 - $99 depending upon which model your car requires).

If you need to haul four bikes and can afford the investment, go with the Thule or similar roof-top rack.

Good luck.

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Old 07-16-06, 07:44 PM
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San Francisco is a small city with narrow streets, lots of traffic, and lots of hills. When you get there, visit a local bike shop and pick up a copy of the city bike route map. The bike routes are signed, making them easy to follow. These are wider roads with less traffic, not necesarrily with marked bike lanes. Most of the city's popular tourist attractions are easily accessible by bicycle: the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower, North Beach, Fishermans Wharf. Angel Island allows bicycles, but not Alcatraz.

Most of the tourist areas are along or near the northern bayshore of the city. I believe there is a bike lane there most of the way from the Giants baseball stadium to Fort Point and the Golden Gate Bridge.
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Old 07-16-06, 09:11 PM
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This is the rack Im using.



I've carried two bikes on it and the fit against the bumper IS tight but if you're careful putting the bike in, it's no problem. The bikes lock down great in this rack and you can lock both of the top tube holders with padlocks to prevent theft and once the bikes are locked down, you don't have to worry about them going anywhere.

The rack is easy to get off and on and folds up fairly compactly when you're not using it.

Like I said in my previous post, I did a LOT of research before buying a rack and I just couldn't come up with a better solution than a hitch mounted rack.

About the only downside is the rubber coating on the top bar lockdowns will rub off on the bikes a little. I plan to fix that with a microfiber towel, just haven't gotten around to it yet. I mainly carry my mountain bike around behind my car and you don't notice the marks on it because the top tube is mostly black. My road bike, though, you do
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