Cycle car rack advice and also a maintenance stand

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Thanks for all the suggestions and advice.

I'm thinking of going for this for the car: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thule-TH9502-Rideon-2-Bike/dp/B001P8243C/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1383089470&sr=1-1&keywords=thule rideon 2 (I know the pic shows a 3 bike option, but if they send me that I wont complain like )
....
Getting there slowly

Billy

check that that model is lockable onto your towbar. I am not seeing any information that is saying it is. If it is not, how are you going to safely leave the bikes in something like a service station? I don't know what bikes you have, but the one thing we have noticed time and time again is curiosity when our bikes are on the back of the car. Some people are just genuinely interested in the bike rack and what to know more, others I have not been so sure about. Also the bikes do not lock onto that model and are not clamped into place so they will be able to move around slightly (sideways rather than rolling) which I have seen damage bikes in the past. (I'm slightly paralysed so can't lift my bikes very high, so have been using this style of bike rack for nearly 20 years).

With a couple of weeks searching we picked a model similar to this one up off ebay for £200, except ours takes 4 bikes and has a 50kg weight limit. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thule-EuroC...3132804&sr=1-36&keywords=Thule#productDetails

If you are happy with that style of bike rack, you will see plenty of them on Ebay usually going for £50-75.

EDIT: OK - it needs an accessory to lock the rack to the car and another accessory (possibly per bike) to lock the bikes to the rack.

 

[XRHYSX]

this is my bike rack.. which is permantly bolted to the removable part of my towbar that can be locked, if someone wanted to nick it they would need to have the two driffirent sized spanners to remove it, I could if I wanted to easily put a cable lock around it and part of the car if I was to leave it in a bad area, I have sometimes locked the bikes to the rack if I have gone to the shops en-route to or from our destination,

as for cleaning I use one of these some muck-off and a stiff wheel brush

 

[StuUngar]

This Thule Express 2 is one of the best purchases I have ever made http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thule-TH970...id=1383340819&sr=8-4&keywords=thule+bike+rack

Compared to the Halfords strap tie jobby I had before it is like night and day. Obviously you need a towbar and electrics. You can get lightboards from Ebay and probably Amazon for around £15.

The bonus of this is it folds up really well and can just sit in the boot. As you can see it can also double up as a bike stand. In fact IIRC from the reviews some people have actually bolted a towball to their garage walls to do exactly that and save buying a dedicated bike stand.

Buy one - you won't regret it! Just remember to learn how to use it correctly and watch ya fingers!

 

[StuUngar]

As to cleaning your bike this is the ONLY thing you will need - currently at a great price £8.33 delivered - http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fenwicks/fs1-cleaner-concentrate-ec020494

 

[Blert596]

Well I got myself the Thule Xpress here http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...adeDoubler-_-1736887-_-banner&catalogId=10151 and will hopefully take it on its first outing on Sunday.

Couldnt find an Lidl/Aldi stand anywhere so bit the bullet and ordered one of these from Halfords. I wanted one straight away so ordered on their reserve and collect in an hour. Went to pick it up and its not gonna be available till Tuesday http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_525683_langId_-1_categoryId_228853

If anyone can think of a decent reason not to get that one then please let me know. For the price i'm expecting good things . If theres better for up to that price out there then I'd appreciate a shout up. As I said, I only really chose it because I thought I could get it today as I had the day off and wanted to have a bit of a spring clean. Went out for a 30 mile ride instead and got a puncture at 18 miles so cut the ride short to 20.

Oh, and got some Muc Off cleaner spray.

 

[rb58]

Baby wipes are good for bike cleaning.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Baby wipes are good for bike cleaning.

no no no no NO....

please save the environment and only use them for what they were for originally and don't give me the they a recyclable crap. So is a dish cloth or dedicated face cloth (which is what I use btw and a lot cheaper in the long run).

Sorry - I hate baby wipes.
(rant over)

 

[Deleted member 23692]

@Blert596 - I'm in a similar situation to you living in a flat with no hose pipe access. Does your rent include use of the shared area outside? if so, then bollocks to the other residents - as long as you leave it clean when you've done then they've no reason to moan (but I assume they will regardless)

So my cleaning goes as follows - bucket of water (with a dash of car shampoo), microfibre cloth and utensils of choice to wash the best of the crap off. Once clean, it gets a wipe over with another MF cloth which leaves it pretty dry.

Next is back upstairs. Wheels come off and go in the bath - either for more cleaning or to dry off fully. The frame then goes on the work stand, under which is a waterproof tarp with an old bath towel on top to catch any remaining crud/water. I can then fettle to my hearts content

 

[StuUngar]

no no no no NO....

please save the environment and only use them for what they were for originally and don't give me the they a recyclable crap. So is a dish cloth or dedicated face cloth (which is what I use btw and a lot cheaper in the long run).

Sorry - I hate baby wipes.
(rant over)

LOL - what next - all babies should be wearing Terry cloth nappies? We should start using leaves to wipe our bums?

As far as I know most baby wipes are flushable so only do the same amount of "harm" as wiping your ass with some bog roll.

Alternatively chuck them in with the recycling seeing that they are paper - and they can be recycled.

Most misinformed and overtly angry post ever!

EXPERIENCE - working on the bins and landfill & recycling plants and realising that most of it is a massive fraud to instill guilt into people.

Baby wipes are one of the LEAST environmentally damaging things that gets chucked. Seeing that they are made out of paper and all....

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

LOL - what next - all babies should be wearing Terry cloth nappies? We should start using leaves to wipe our bums? ...

It is the use of them on bikes I object to - a baby's backside is fine. But to clean a bike down?

 

[bpsmith]

Well I got myself the Thule Xpress here http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_751137_langId_-1_categoryId_165477?storeId=10001&tduid=51cb1208b2693e0713c5bf8004a954d2&_$ja=kw:1736887|tsid:35533&msg=&cm_mmc=AffiliatesTradeDoubler1736887banner&catalogId=10151 and will hopefully take it on its first outing on Sunday.

Couldnt find an Lidl/Aldi stand anywhere so bit the bullet and ordered one of these from Halfords. I wanted one straight away so ordered on their reserve and collect in an hour. Went to pick it up and its not gonna be available till Tuesday http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_525683_langId_-1_categoryId_228853

If anyone can think of a decent reason not to get that one then please let me know. For the price i'm expecting good things . If theres better for up to that price out there then I'd appreciate a shout up. As I said, I only really chose it because I thought I could get it today as I had the day off and wanted to have a bit of a spring clean. Went out for a 30 mile ride instead and got a puncture at 18 miles so cut the ride short to 20.

Oh, and got some Muc Off cleaner spray.

Hope you chose the option with a can of GT50...as it then sells for £89.99 instead of £109.99 on its own. Bottom right of the link to the bike stand you posted.

 

[Blert596]

@bpsmith thanks for that I never noticed it. Much appreciated. I just ordered the stand by itself. It doesnt arrive until Tuesday though so when it's in I'll tell them I want it as part of the bundle deal for £89.99. If they say no then I'll just cancel it. Now...what to buy with the money saved

With regards to the Thule Express it got its first outing today and performed very well. My Allez is only a 54 frame and the arms on the Thule only just fit inside both ends of the top bar. The clamping onto the tow bar and removal to store in the boot is great. The strap that comes with it isnt great though, and I'll be getting some velcro straps I think. It does exactly what it says on the tin really.

As for the cleaning I'm going to put down some decorating sheets and just use a spray all over, clean, spray again and then dry. What could possibly go wrong?

 

[ShipHill]

Caught this thread because I'm looking at stands too. Cheers gang.

What about one of those plastic baby baths from Morrisons or Asda for washing the bike down inside the flat? Throw an old towel down underneath it to catch extra dribbles and do one half of the bike at a time. Just a thought.

It's a good job my landlady doesn't come round my flat though.

 

[bpsmith]

No worries Blert596. Hate to see anyone missing a deal!