How To Choose a Bike Rack
Bike racks are a popular accessory for cyclists, especially on holidays. They allow for comfortable transportation of bicycles without the need to store them in the boot. But what should you look out for when choosing them? Which type will best suit you?
Bike racks on the roof of a car
Roof racks are the most common type of bicycle transport. They allow easy access to the trunk, unlike the carriers in the rear of the cars. They take up very little space during storage and their advantage is also that they’re cheap, especially if you only own a few bikes. However, the disadvantage of roof racks is their more physically demanding installation, they can affect the handling and the fuel consumption of the car. Also keep in mind that you will not be able to access garages or underground car parks with bicycles on the roof.
Roof racks are mounted on crossbars. If you do not know how to choose suitable crossbars, have a look at our guide.
The actual installation of bike carriers on a towing device is relatively simple, but it is necessary to take into account their higher weight. The carriers are attached to the back of the car using a lever or screws. If you are worried about your bikes, get a model with the option of locking the bikes to the carrier and the carrier to the towing device. Towing racks provide easy access to the wheels, and there is no risk of scratching the paint or damaging the car body. Some models can also be folded down, so you can easily get into the trunk of your car. Folding racks/ carriers for bikes can then be used on larger cars that need more space to open the luggage compartment.
Towed racks can carry up to four bicycles and can be parked in the garage. More expensive models can also be completely folded for easier storage and transport. However, the wheels get dirtier on towed racks than on the roof and make it difficult to see from the rear window. The racks/ carriers are usually equipped with space for the third license plate and functional brake lights. If you buy a third license plate, you will not have to change the plate from the car. These can be issued to you by the local inspectorate for 600 CZK.
Choose the mounted rear door rack if you do not want or cannot carry the bikes on the roof or do not have a towing device. This type of carrier is not suitable for cars with rear lights at or just below the level of the rear window. If the carrier or wheels cover your registration plate or the rear lights of the car, it is necessary to purchase additional rear lights and a license plate holder. In this case, for financial reasons, it is better to consider another type of rack.
Mounted racks on the rear door of the car are cheap and easy to install. However, they cannot usually be used on Sedan cars. Cheap holders also often do not offer the option of fixing bike tires to the rails, so the wheels can easily damage the paint of the car or each other. For this reason, it pays to pay extra for more expensive, but more car-friendly models. Not all racks can be used on all cars, so before buying, check the compatibility with your car using the parametric filter in the category.
Important parameters
Planned number of transported bicycles
Select the bike rack according to the most frequent number of transported bikes. For one to two cyclists, consider purchasing a roof rack. These can be bought at a better price, because we buy only one carrier for each bike. Also keep in mind that the carriers for the rear door can usually carry a maximum of three bikes.
Possibility of locking
We recommend choosing a rack with a lock that prevents theft or at least significantly minimizes its probability. If you don't stop much on the road for cycling and you immediately dismantle the carrier upon arrival, the non-lockable variant will also serve you well.
There are two types of locks, one for the rack attached to the car and one for the bikes on the rack. The best case scenario is when the rackhas both types.
Maximum load capacity
The number of bikes you can transport is dictated by this parameter. Keep in mind that each device has a certain maximum load capacity. If you plan to transport the bikes on the roof, also find out the load capacity of the roof (see the car's manual) and the crossbars (see the crossbar’s manual).
Wiring
If you are choosing a bike rack to tow, it is necessary to pay extra attention to the electrical installation. The sockets are 7 and 13 pins. There are more differences, but in practice you will usually encounter the absence of reversing light in the case of 7-pin terminals. You can also buy reductions for sockets.
Frequently asked questions when choosing a bike rack
Are there universal racks or do I have to choose for a specific type of car?
The most universal are bike racks for towing. Roof racks are also relatively versatile - but be aware of the compatibility with the car model and the method of attachment. The racks for the rear door are the least universal. They cannot be used on Sedan cars and it is necessary to check the compatibility with the specific car model.
Will the handling of the car change in any way?
Yes, quite significantly. The center of gravity of the car, its aerodynamics and possibly acceleration will change. Mostly those installed on the roof will affect this. Think about safety and don’t drive too fast.
Will my fuel consumption increase?
Each carrier increases fuel consumption. Consumption varies depending on the car and can increase by up to several litres. According to measurements, consumption will increase by about a third at a speed of around 100 km / h, and will increase even more significantly at higher speeds.
Do I need to buy additional attachments or accessories for mounting the carrier?
The method of attachment is very universal. In the case of roof racks, pay special attention to the installation on the mounting brackets. U-shaped steel brackets, or various quick-release systems are most often used, which will shorten and facilitate the entire assembly and disassembly. For example, the so-called T-slot is more user-friendly. All the necessary equipment is usually part of the packaging of mounting brackets and racks.
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| Mounting the carrier using U-profile | Mounting the carrier using T-slot |
Glossary - Roof racks and boxes
Mounting Brackets (Hagus)
Mounting brackets (or the hagus) are longitudinal roof racks. They are placed in pairs on the roof of the car and are used to attach crossbars, which are the basic element for transporting cargo on the roof. There are two types - classic (raised) or integrated (recessed into the roof). In principle, they differ only in their design.
T-slot
The T-slot is a sophisticated solution that allows elegant and comfortable attachment of car accessories. The fixed rack, box or crossbar is better fixed, easier to dismantle and its position is also more variable. The principle is simple - you insert a "T" -shaped handle into the pre-prepared groove. You then lock the position and you're done.
