Car Cycle Rack

[Puddles]

Hello peoples..

Through necessity I appear to be the owner of a Dacia Sandero Ambiance Hatchback or I will be when I collect the thing. (Conversation: Parents - Hey we are buying you a new car Me: Why I am fine on the bike Parents: Well your Dad has cancer and needs to go to the hospital for lots of treatments, sort of every day for weeks at a time and you can kind of fit your work around that and so you are "it" as his chauffeur) which is not a problem - the chauffering bit - but I am probably the least excited person in the entire world to be collecting a new car.

Anyhoo cos I have more knowledge of cycling than cars and even that is sparse, I need some assistance....

I need something that will go on the back to carry 3 bikes.... as it will make camping holidays easier

The bikes being

Bertha - (Dutchie Chic)

and the small peoples bikes being a

Frog 52

& a Frog 62

There will be no room in the car for these.... and I do not want roof bars as I would never get Bertha on there (I am not a tall person and she eats too many cakes)

Thank you peoples!

 

[cosmicbike]

Towbar and a Thule 9403

 

[Puddles]

Towbar and a Thule 9403

Is there a non-tow bar option?

 

[sanddancer]

You could get something like this

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/300-rear-cycle-carrier-3-bikes-id_8342387.html


I'm not a big fan of them myself. I have a very old one in the shed. I stopped using it many years ago as it had a tendancy to come loose but maybe the modern ones are ok. Someone else may be able to advise on that

 

[gasinayr]

type your car type into Thule's web site and see what options fit your car

 

[Puddles]

Years ago I had one of those, but even with one bike on it I hated driving anywhere because I was always so anxious about the bike falling off, which would be appalling for following traffic. I wouldn't trust it with three heavy bikes I'm afraid, too nervewracking.

Thanks this is why I do not want to go for a cheap option and end up with something a bit boingy - plus I just have no clue about this.

Bertha is the heavy one the Frogs are really light.

 

[sanddancer]

The other thing was that I couldn't leave the thing on the car, and it was a real fiddle to fit each time, and never quite went on the same way twice. I have to admit that the bike never did fall off it, but the anxiety that it might was enough to put me off. The towbar option really is best and easiest, if you can get one fitted.

Exactly how I felt. I think I only used it twice on two different vehicles.
as for the roof mounted jobbies.
I was parked in a supermarket car park when someone drove through the height barrier with 3 bikes on

Puddles if you do go for a towbar they are around £130 for a kit. Are pretty easy to fit at around two hours. You may be able to source a 2nd hand one for around £40 and get a reputable back street garage to fit it for another £40.
And best wishes to your dad .

 

[NorthernDave]

We've got Halfords cheapest rear bike rack.
No frills, easy to fit, does the job and didn't cost a fortune.
Fits 3 bikes, holds them high enough to show the rear number plate / rear lights without waving the bikes about in the sky like some racks.
You'd need to get a crossbar adapter thingy for the Dutch bike, but they're not a fortune either.

 

[Scoosh]

If you do go for the towbar option, I have a towball mounted rack for sale ... but it is in Edinburgh.

 

[Puddles]

If you do go for the towbar option, I have a towball mounted rack for sale ... but it is in Edinburgh.

I am as far away almost as you can get from you, just short of the Isle of Wight

 

[Dec66]

I have one of those "strap to the tailgate" thingies, and I've driven for a couple of hours with kid's bikes on them, but despite nothing ever having fallen off I do share the anxieties of others, so much so in fact that when we go to the New Forest next week I'll be going down the A31 instead of the M3 in order to check the strap tension regularly (easier to stop on A-roads than motorways)

Additionally, they aren't very good for kid's bikes as the smaller frames don't fit over the bars properly; you end up putting them on by the seat posts and handlebars and hoping for the best.

So, in short, if you can get a towbar mounted rack, then do.

 

[Dec66]

Oh, and by the way, all the best to your dad, and to all of you. Hope he's well again soon .

 

[Tim O]

Indeed, best wishes to your Dad. I have used a rear cycle rack similar to the Thule one (but unbranded) which I picked up from my LBS years ago. It goes just high enough to leave the registration plate clear. Watch for that because the coppers will pull you if it's obscured. I must say I have not had a problem if it's all tightened well down. On longer trips to the mainland (England) a solution I use to prevent the "constant anxiety" syndrome is that I put one roof bar across the back of the rear of the roof and put a giant ratchet strap around the bikes, the cycle rack and the roof bar. Nothings fallen off yet (fingers crossed).

I had a similar experience to the one mentioned above: We were going on a cycling holiday to France when the children were young. Had 3 bikes on the back and 2 on the roof. I was following signs to some town and found myself on a single carriage slip road heading for a tunnel and the wife let me know in no uncertain terms that there was a height restriction bar just ahead. Slammed on the brakes and felt a complete pillock (not unusual). I have to say the French drivers were astonishingly patient and kind considering about 3 of them behind me had to reverse on to a busy carriageway to let us out (I can guess what they were thinking about "Les Anglais.."!). Maybe it was because I had bikes on the car?

 

[Salad Dodger]

We used to have a Cavalier hatchback, and carried 3 adult bikes on a rack hooked onto the hatchback. I never had a problem with it, but I was always, always uneasy about all that stuff on the back.

Now we have a camper van, and I had a towbar fitted specifically so we could carry 2 electric bikes on the back. The carrier is really substantial, and was sturdy enough to knock over a stop sign when I backed into it by accident (!) We have done about 20,000 miles with the bike carrier on the van, and I continue to be very impressed by the solidity of it.

Oh, and as an edit: best wishes to your Dad.

 

[Salad Dodger]

By the way, Puddles, if you end up needing a "fake crossbar" for the Dutch style bike, I have one in the shed which could be yours for cost of postage.