Cycle rack for cars

[Swanage53]

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am fairly new to this cycling world and even newer to this forum - see yesterday's introduction, so apologies if this has been asked before or even if I am asking in the wrong place.
Up until about a year ago I had an estate car which was great for loading bikes in ghe back, however we sold that on and we currently have a 4 door mini cooperon a 17 plate ( I know it's not a real mini and is a BMW in disguise) and an 07 Vauxhall Tigra convertible, which I know is a totally silly car but loads of fun and we enjoy it immensely. Obviously with 2 silly little cars neither of which has a towbar, transporting bikes is not easy! Taking into consideration that the mini is a lease car and therefore I assume we are restricted on what we can fit to it and the Tigra has a curious hydraulic affair to allow the boot to open both as a boot and to drop the roof down, can anybody suggest any cost-effective(aka cheap) racks etc?
Thanks in advance for suggestions/advice.

 

[steven1988]

I think your options are limited to something like this https://www.seasucker.com/collections/bike

Ive never used one so can not comment on quality or sturdyness

 

[Slick]

If weight isn't an issue, I found the 3 bike carrier from Halfords to be perfect and can be adjusted to suit most rear ends including saloons.

 

[Swanage53]

I think your options are limited to something like this https://www.seasucker.com/collections/bike

Ive never used one so can not comment on quality or sturdyness

I have had good reports about these, although a tad pricey for ocvasional use.

 

[Swanage53]

If weight isn't an issue, I found the 3 bike carrier from Halfords to be perfect and can be adjusted to suit most rear ends including saloons.

Can you clarify about weight? I am only going to move 1 bike at a time. Either a Trek Domane AL3 or Giant Defy, so I assume that carrying one of these at a a time will be fine?

 

[vickster]

Surely you could put it in the mini? Seats down. Front wheel off if needed. I used to get a bike in my Mk 1 3 door Cooper S Works (sluggish car though )

 

[Slick]

Can you clarify about weight? I am only going to move 1 bike at a time. Either a Trek Domane AL3 or Giant Defy, so I assume that carrying one of these at a a time will be fine?

Yes, one or even both together would be fine. I regularly carried 2 bikes using one of these racks but the only mention of weight was because once Mrs Slick decided she wanted an ebike, I had to upgrade to a tow bar rack.

 

[NorthernDave]

I used to have one of the Halfords 3 bike racks and it was perfectly acceptable for what it was (although we only ever carried a maximum of two bikes on it) - it might complicate matters if it obscures the lights / number plate on your car(s), but that wasn't an issue on mine.

A friend has a Fiesta on lease and specified it with roof bars and bike carrier as part of the package, which might not be much use to you now but something to consider in the future?

 

[EltonFrog]

Does your MINI Clubman have roof rails?

 

[smokeysmoo]

Does your MINI Clubman have roof rails?

The OP doesn't say it's a Clubman, just referred to it as a Cooper.

To the OP, roof bars don't have to cost a lot, (plenty on eBay etc). Then a couple of Thule racks would sort you out. When you change the Mini you may be able to get new feet for the roof bars, if not you won't have a pro Len selling them and getting new ones for the new car, the Thule racks wilw fit on any bars so you simply transfer those.

Anything is possible no matter how impractical a car is

 

[EltonFrog]

The OP doesn't say it's a Clubman, just referred to it as a Cooper.

To the OP, roof bars don't have to cost a lot, (plenty on eBay etc). Then a couple of Thule racks would sort you out. When you change the Mini you may be able to get new feet for the roof bars, if not you won't have a pro Len selling them and getting new ones for the new car, the Thule racks wilw fit on any bars so you simply transfer those.

Anything is possible no matter how impractical a car is

View attachment 430299

Ah yes, I mis-read the post. Ignore me. As you were.

 

[Swanage53]

Does your MINI Clubman have roof rails?

Unfortunately not, it is a Cooper. But that would have been an ideal solution.

 

[Swanage53]

The OP doesn't say it's a Clubman, just referred to it as a Cooper.

To the OP, roof bars don't have to cost a lot, (plenty on eBay etc). Then a couple of Thule racks would sort you out. When you change the Mini you may be able to get new feet for the roof bars, if not you won't have a pro Len selling them and getting new ones for the new car, the Thule racks wilw fit on any bars so you simply transfer those.

Anything is possible no matter how impractical a car is

View attachment 430299

Didn't the Sky team use the F type jag for a while?

 

[smokeysmoo]

Didn't the Sky team use the F type jag for a while?

Sure did