Let's have your bike/roof rack stories.

[Globalti]

I've never understood why people put bikes on roof racks - there's something boastful about it if you ask me, it's like showing off a trophy. At worst put it on a boot rack or at best secure and dry inside the boot or an estate car. I sometimes see people driving alone in an estate car or van with the bike up on the roof or the boot - is that stupid or what?

I've seen bike-barrier accidents a couple of times. I've also seen bikes fall off boot racks, once a pair of bikes got crushed under a lorry and once a couple I know drove miles on the M6 with a bike hanging off by its wheels before they realised. When they stopped they found the handlebar ground down to half way through the hydraulic brake reservoir. Recently in Gisburn Forest we saw a bloke arrive with his and his kids' bikes on a boot rack, he reversed to park and smashed into a tree wrecking bikes, rack and a rear light. We didn't laugh.

 

[Ravenz]

well if they are on the roof, at least the bastards are not riding them on the flamin' roads!

I am allowed a rant in response to stupid thread..?

 

[Greedo]

Ding! Ding!

well if they are on the roof, at least the bastards are not riding them on the flamin' roads!

I am allowed a rant in response to stupid thread..?

 

[Maz]

When I drop my car off at the garage, I cycle there with the car strapped to my back.

 

[papercorn2000]

I don't think any can beat the ANC/Halfords TDF story from 1987...

 

[Greedo]

What were the African national congress doing in halfords????

I don't think any can beat the ANC/Halfords TDF story from 1987...

 

[Chris James]

I have a roof rack mounted bike carrier. This is because, despite also having an estate car, going away with two kids below two and a half years requires taking an incredible amount of crap with you and fills up the entire car.

I already had roof bars for a roof box and the estate car had roof rails making getting roof mounted carriers a bit of a no brainer.

I only use the bike carrier if I am going away somewhere with the family, otherwise I ride from my house.

Hanging bikes off a boot mounted carrier doesn't seem a great idea to me as that area is not designed to take those sort of loads and you may damage the paint work.

Having said that, I have seen someone with roof mounted bikes plough into a low bridge sign so there are definitely downsides to roof mounted carriers!

 

[Crackle]

Yep, roofrack here RR and yes, have done a few stupid things. Drove into a low hanging tree, tried to get under something too small and knocked a car park height barrier off in France. No damage in any case. Also once had a pheasant catch between two bikes on the roof and remain there crucified for several seconds before the wind took it off, with us staring transfixed through the sunroof.

I marginally prefer roof mounting to rear mounting.

 

[Maz]

I don't think any can beat the ANC/Halfords TDF story from 1987...

What WERE they thinking?!

 

[asterix]

I marginally prefer roof mounting to rear mounting.

Is that relevant?

Getting back on topic, my bikes are carried inside a van if I carry them at all (rarely). After all, they are meant to carry me..

 

[Maz]

After all, they are meant to carry me..

Is that relevant?

 

[Crackle]

Is that relevant?

I also like to take them off from behind and make sure they're firmly braced before starting

 

[Amanda P]

Well, I sometimes carry bikes on a roof rack.

That's because I bought the roof rack before there were such things as carriers to go on the boot. And bikes won't go inside a Mini or a 106.

And yes, I did once go under a not-quite-high-enough height barrier.

It wasn't my fault though: it was a roof car park, and the barrier at the entrance had been removed. It was only when I came to leave that I found a barrier. In any case, there was plenty of clearance at the actual exit, but the barrier was set about a foot lower (to allow for longer vehicles than my Fiesta, I suppose).

No permanent damage: the roof bars got bent towards the car roof as the bike wheels rolled under the barrier (bike goes upside down on the rack). I just straightened them out over my knee, and they're still in use now.

 

[Auntie Helen]

If you've got two trikes (as we have) you're never going to fit them both in a car, even though we have a reasonable-sized estate car. Especially when the dog is in the car too!

 

[Over The Hill]

On the roof the bike is secured safely on firm roof bars, the bikes are out of the way.
Slung on the back, they block the view, block the lights and number plate and are hanging on to the tail gate which was not designed to have bikes hung from it and often is made of plastic.
So if it cant go in the car (I can get one bike in if i have no rear passengers) then it goes on the roof. I would not have a -hang off the back- type.

Cant see a problem with that.

If anything is annoying hanging off a car it is those stupid tonka-toy Jeep things or fat Van things that have the spare wheel stuck on the back door. Why is the car so flippin big but still not big enough to fit a spare wheel in it somewhere.
I dont care that they use up more fuel but really why drive around in a car that looks like it has been designed by a seven year old boy.