Bike racks are an essential accessory for roof racks Sydney allowing riders to easily transport their bikes by car without needing to dismantle them or purchase a trailer. They are available in various designs and price ranges each with advantages and disadvantages. Below are a summary of the three main styles of rack along with their pros and cons…
Roof Rack
These type of bike racks securely attach bikes to the roof of a car via a mount. There are different designs available; some require the front wheel of the bike to be removed whereas others can be clamped directly to the bike frame. These racks can usually be attached to a standard roof rack, load bars or cross bars attached to a car. In some circumstances cars have
integrated crossbars fitted to start with. There are many manufacturers of this type of device but the most popular brands are Thule and Yakima. These type of racks can provide storage for up to five bikes and allow access to the cars boot or hatch. This way of transporting bikes can help protect them from getting scratched or clipping other cars or signposts, however it is important to remember that your car has the extra height on top. Additionally it is sometimes a struggle to fit bikes onto the racks especially with bigger vehicles such as SUVs and people carriers.
Hitch Racks
These type of racks simply slide onto a cars hitch and there are two main types of model. The cheaper models hang the bikes from a couple of arms whereas the more expensive versions use rattle free mounts not unlike roof rack styles. The hitch rack is a convenient method of transporting bikes. There is very little lifting involved, the racks can be fitted or removed
quickly and easily, and the bikes have no contact with the cars paint work. They are capable of transporting most types of bike and can hold as many as four bikes at once. The drawbacks of using these models include risk of damage from high curbs, restricted access to boot space, more difficult parking and rattling can occur when carrying more than one bike.