cycle carrier

[david k]

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...1011_langId_-1_categoryId_165477#BVRRWidgetID

anyone used one of these? i was after a cheap carry rack for transporting me and the kids bikes, my friend has used this only a few times and then bought the roof rack style. i cannot afford the roof rack style the amount of times im going to use it so looked at these. He will want around £30 for it, doesnt fill me with confidence but i only want for short journeys, what do you think?

Any views?

 

[eldudino]

I acquired one from a club member who'd used it without problem but try as I might I couldn't get it to fit a 307 hatchback and ended up leaving a bike in Wales for the best part of 6 months at my in-laws due to the rubbish rack! It probably works fine on other vehicles but it didn't suit the bumper on our old car.

 

[mummra]

You've got to watch out if you've got a small spoiler on the boot.
My car has a tiny spoiler at the top of the boot so this style wouldn't fit.

I did have one of these on a previous car and they do work fine but a little fiddly to fit especially for the first time.

 

[Munchkin100]

I have this one and it works brilliantly on my Mini. I had to get this one as my old one wouldnt hold the bike away from the paint work.... scratched my Pug 206.. made a right mess. Should have got the high mount in the first place but you live and learn!

 

[david k]

ive got a scenic 57plate, fits fine
how do you stop handle bars turning and hitting roof?
also, the top cushions sit on the glass is this normal?

 

[Munchkin100]

Yep cushion sits on glass, ive never had a prob. I have the bar that you hang the bikes on straight rather than at an angle. This helps as im rather short and keeps the bike handle bars away from the roof. I always use extra bungee cords and strap everythink down so the wheels dont spin round this makes the bike more stable and stops the handle bars turning. Lucky for me tho as I have a mini the bike is higher than the roof so no chance of hitting it.

 

[david k]

got 1 bike on seems fine, gona take it for ride now! bet 3 bikes is a squeeze

 

[david k]

carrier works well, pain to get on and off though, cannot use boot either

 

[subaqua]

Have one for the Skoda Octavia, fits well and can get 3 bikes on No problem.

you can get plastic dumbell type things if you have a glass edged hatch ( I do ) to fit the 4 upper straps.

setting the thing up can be a bit fiddly and i marked the interlocking black plastic things with paint to make it a bit easier to set up.

would i buy one again- probably

 

[david k]

ok hd it a week heres my view

great carrier, works well, bikes r soled. problem is its fiddly, u cannot use the boot when its on. still unsure, think i may need roof bars soon anyway so going to look at that type and make a decision

 

[Chutzpah]

I understand you said that cost is an issue, but I'm glad I invested in a roof bar kit. A little more of a faff to get the bikes initially on but you soon work out the best way to get bikes up there, and probably as quick as any other method of transporting your bikes.

You may find that once you purchase them you head out on further anyway, making the cost worth it (explore a bigger area!).

If you're carrying more than one bike and do this then consider these carriers, you get two and when I checked they're exactly the same as the Thule ones that are more expensive - they even have the same instructions!

 

[subaqua]

I understand you said that cost is an issue, but I'm glad I invested in a roof bar kit. A little more of a faff to get the bikes initially on but you soon work out the best way to get bikes up there, and probably as quick as any other method of transporting your bikes.

You may find that once you purchase them you head out on further anyway, making the cost worth it (explore a bigger area!).

If you're carrying more than one bike and do this then consider these carriers, you get two and when I checked they're exactly the same as the Thule ones that are more expensive - they even have the same instructions!

if you have roof bars then

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.200-039...campaign=GSF_TescoDirect&utm_content=200-0398


but no rioting over them