Dont buy cheap bike carriers

[Dangermouse]

We did, and I am now in shock...just had a look at my down tube and it has 3 small paint chips exactly where the sprung loaded bolt is located, so I looked at the bike rack, and yep, red paint on the spring, it has not done any damage to Eileens bike but her downtube is round, mine being a Trek is a roundish tube with a flat top, but much wider....my immaculate bike now has a few very small chips ..... Grrrrrr

 

[glasgowcyclist]

We did, and I am now in shock...just had a look at my down tube and it has 3 small paint chips exactly where the sprung loaded bolt is located, so I looked at the bike rack, and yep, red paint on the spring, it has not done any damage to Eileens bike but her downtube is round, mine being a Trek is a roundish tube with a flat top, but much wider....my immaculate bike now has a few very small chips ..... Grrrrrr

I've always used that insulating foam you can get in DIY shops for lagging pipes. There's one with the perfect internal diameter for my tubes and they're cheap as chips.

I know, I should've told you sooner.


GC

 

[Dangermouse]

Cheers mate...... I knew I had to lag me bike but forgot

 

[thecube]

This is why I bought a Thule 561, an excellent carrier and uses the forks to attach to the carrier. I did get a 591 too, but haven't used that one yet.

 

[Big Dave laaa]

Thule racks are worth every penny. Don't risk your expensive bikes on anything else.

 

[LimeBurn]

I use a mont blanc barracuda which I'd great very sturdy and has a rubber lined clamp which doesn't damage the frame but I have noticed that if the frame is really dirty then you might run the risk of scratching it so I always rinse any dirt off before clamping it now.
For the carbon Road bike I bought one of the elite San remo ones which are really cheap as there's not much to them as they clamp on to forks using a standard quick release - fantastic bit of kit which has served me great so far including a few very long journeys into the depths of North of the border.