Roof mounted cycle carriers
Atomic
Posts: 126
in General Chat
What cycle carriers are suitable for carrying a carbon frame bike on the roof of my car?
I currently have a Mont Blanc Barracuda carrier like this
http://www.montblancuk.co.uk/products/c ... racuda.htm
which clamps onto the tubing of the bike but I am worried that this may cause damege to the frame. Is it OK to use this type of carrier so long as I don't tighten the clamp too much or do I need to buy an inverted carrier such as this
http://www.montblancuk.co.uk/products/c ... f/cm25.htm
or can I use a carrier that fixes to the fork such as this
http://www.montblancuk.co.uk/products/c ... winner.htm
Sorry to be a pest but obviously I dont want to cause any damage to my bike.
Thanks
I currently have a Mont Blanc Barracuda carrier like this
http://www.montblancuk.co.uk/products/c ... racuda.htm
which clamps onto the tubing of the bike but I am worried that this may cause damege to the frame. Is it OK to use this type of carrier so long as I don't tighten the clamp too much or do I need to buy an inverted carrier such as this
http://www.montblancuk.co.uk/products/c ... f/cm25.htm
or can I use a carrier that fixes to the fork such as this
http://www.montblancuk.co.uk/products/c ... winner.htm
Sorry to be a pest but obviously I dont want to cause any damage to my bike.
Thanks
0
Comments
Mine sits in the back and looks out the windows. I cant bring myself to clamp her on to a cycle rack.
Yeah......Thought about that.......but would the kids be able to hold on to the roof rack for 3 hours down the M6?
I suppose if I tied them down properly.
I dont have kids (thank god) so dont have that problem. Have you considered a rear mounted carrier?
Or did you mean for the kids
The thing with roof mounted cycle carriers is that they cause the most drag and will therefore cost you more in fuel.
If both wheels are clamped down and you protect the bike from the weather then it seems a roof mounted carrier is a reasonable system.
I still think you should find some way of offsetting the kids seating postion as well.
Mine is huge. Job done and the bike goes in the boot .
What is the WAT on that
If you don't have a towbar and insist on a roof-mounted carrier, I think Atera's Giro AF uses pretty much the same clamping. There were a couple for sale on eBay a few days ago. Failing that, always keep a look-out on the clearance section of the Roof Box Company's website (http://www.roofbox.co.uk/bargains-sale-clearance/) – there are some good deals to be had there.
No problems so far with clamping by the forks and it seems pretty sturdy when its on.
But you can clamp it without putting too much pressure on the frame, I wouldn't worry about it. The most important thing is that you tie down the wheels well. This might be an issue if you have nice carbon wheels, especially if they are deep.
I wanted to get a toe bar hitch for my Audi A3 but it would have costa FORTUNE as I would have had to geta tow bar fitted.
I am happy to put long on the motorway with the bike on the roof, but not the the speeds usually used here in Germany! for 130kph or 140hph is fine.. (80 mph I think). (It's officially rated for 130.)
Would go any faster than that with it on the roof.
On a long frive I put a few of thise plastic pull-tie thingies on it, just to spread out the force a little and to make it just a bit safer.
Anyone have experience with a bike on the roof with deep section wheels? Maybe then you just want to get it into the car somehow. I can't imagine how my rack would work with fast wheels or a disc.
Maybe just leave on the training wheels for transport, with the good wheels in the boot. I am still saving for nice wheels.