Car bike carrier recommendation

[mip]

I'm fed up with having to take the child seat out of the car and put the back seats down when I need to take my bike to the LBS. It's not always convenient to cycle there so I've decided I need a cycle carrier for the car.

We have a Mazda 6 estate (2007) with a tow hitch. What would people recommend?

Thanks in advance for the suggestions.

 

[Scoosh]

A wee search on CC gives this thread:
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/what-cycle-carrier.16932/

Also worth noting comments here.

This is a good place to start looking and get some info on what might best suit your vehicle.

If resources are a bit stretched, your local Gumtree may help ...

HTH

 

[mip]

A wee search on CC gives this thread:
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/what-cycle-carrier.16932/

Also worth noting comments here.

This is a good place to start looking and get some info on what might best suit your vehicle.

If resources are a bit stretched, your local Gumtree may help ...

HTH

Thanks for that. It would appear that it's quite a complicated topic. Lots of reading to do.

 

[Scoosh]

Depending on children's ages, number (current and future ), how long you will be keeping the car, whether the next one will/ might have a tow-knob etc, I'd give real consideration to a tow-hitch mounted one.

IMO, they are easier and debatably more secure than roof-mounted ones and, having a cycling acquaintance go under a low entry to a carpark with his bike on the roof .... and a carbon seat on his recumbent ... .... = £££ !

Less degradation to the vehicle's fuel economy with tow hitch mounted bikes too.

 

[Hacienda71]

Be cautious of which carrier you use if your bike is carbon.

 

[RaRa]

I would definately suggest you go for something on the tow hitch, roof mounted racks are a real pain to lift bikes up onto and in my experince it's quite nerve racking driving along watching the wheels slightly swaying in the wind. I have a two bike Thule hitch carrier and couldnt be happier with it. I know you can get them in Halfords who also do their own slightly cheaper version.

 

[jay clock]

If you can afford it (£345 or so) then the Atera Strada is STUNNING. Fits on the towbar in seconds, and slides up back and forth for boot access.
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0G2fkVQpmI
for the vid and here to buy ( may be cheaper elsewhere) http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rb...ghts_no_ar2603/Qx@w,6M42VAwp3@Rb{~cC4ure5K{W}

I have the extra bike attachment (an extra £50 here http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4.php?query=18910&popup=TRUE&emulate=accgen) so it takes 4 bikes. Max 60kg and it really is clever. The sliding up and down requires a push of a button, and press on the bar with your foot

I reckon with 2 or 3 bikes you could go from zero to fully loaded in 10 mins.

 

[2pies]

I went through this thought process a month or so ago. I found a good rear carrier that I liked the look of and had good reviews but it wasn't approved for my car, Vauxhall Omega.

In the end, I took the plunge for a Thule roof carrier. Despite what others have said, it is extremely secure as the bike simply can not move as its strapped in at the wheels and firmly gripped (and locked) on the down tube. Also contrary to others opinions, lifting a 9kg bike on to the roof is not difficult. I managed OK after a 60 mile sportive.

I was lazy and got Halfords to fit it for me, which they did a good job of. I haven't bothered taking it off the car since as all the pieces are locked in.

 

[numbnuts]

I have this one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOW-BALL-..._Cycling_Bags_Panniers_SR&hash=item230d65db06

 

[RaRa]

In the end, I took the plunge for a Thule roof carrier. Despite what others have said, it is extremely secure as the bike simply can not move as its strapped in at the wheels and firmly gripped (and locked) on the down tube. Also contrary to others opinions, lifting a 9kg bike on to the roof is not difficult. I managed OK after a 60 mile sportive.
.

I think maybe my height contrbutes to why I wouldn't recommend a roof rack. I physically can't lift a mountain bike high enough to get it in place without causing either the roof or myself damage. If you're taller than 5ft 8 you may not have the same problems. I also found that the fat tyres do not fit at all well into the roof rack that came with the car hence the wobbles.

 

[mip]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[al-fresco]

The roof rack mounted Thule 591 Pro-ride is the best way I've found of carrying my bike. It's always on the car and getting the bike on and off takes just seconds. The bike locks to the carrier, the carrier is locked to the roof bars. I've used one for a year and just bought a second one. The best deal I found was from Fordonline.

 

[JtB]

This is the one I ended up getting a few years back http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/one-way-to-carry-4-bikes-on-a-family-car.33098/

 

[jay clock]

Looking at the link that JtB put up, he was put off by the need for straps on the Atera Strada if you have the 4th bike attachment. The notes on this state "Two straps are supplied with the 4th bike adapter; these are not to support the bikes, as is often supposed, but to provide additional side to side stability. This is however a "belt and braces" issue and the use of these straps is not required."

It might be more of an issue if you had 4 heavy mountain bikes, but with a heavy mens tourer, a women's hybrid, and two bikes for a 10 and 12 yr old my Atera Strada has been rock solid

 

[mip]

Bought a Thule Xpress 970. Great bit of kit, very happy with it.