How do you carry your bike?

[berkobennie]

I use a Thule Europower on the back of the CRV, to transport to various rides, mostly in the home counties. Two bikes, plus all the other stuff in the back.
Works pretty well for us.

My only concern is the wet! Should I be weatherproofing them in the rain, especially when spray is at 50-60mph.
Battery and control panel go in the car, but should I be doing more?
Cheers, Stan

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi Stan,

I have the Thule 921, a similar model to yours and only ever remove the battery, I have not had any problems so far in all types of weather.

 

[Sheffmax]

I've just bought the Thule 932 Easy Fold and have yet to use it for any great distances. It's easy to fit and you only have to lift the bike a short distance. Only problem is, I can't get the clamp nearest the car to fit my Freego Eagle so have to use the outer rack.

 

[Cyclezee]

I've just bought the Thule 932 Easy Fold and have yet to use it for any great distances. It's easy to fit and you only have to lift the bike a short distance. Only problem is, I can't get the clamp nearest the car to fit my Freego Eagle so have to use the outer rack.

I see that with that model the clamp goes to the downtube rather than the crossbar, but what is the problem, is the clamp arm not long enough?

 

[EddiePJ]

One of my pet hates is rear cycle carriers.
Not above as that system looks first class, but invariably the bikes are obscuring both the vehicles lights and number plate, and more often than not, the bikes are just held on with a bungee strap. I've had three bikes fall off a vehicle that I was following on a German autobahn, and was lucky not to get hit by the bikes! I've also seen several other motorway incidents where bikes have fallen off.

 

[twinkle]

Carrying two trikes is FUN
either one on the roof , One inside the estate car or sometimes
one on the trailer , depends on where we are going and what else we need to take .


trailer

 

[Deleted member 4366]

The best place to carry a bike is inside the car. Take a wheel off, loosen the handlebars and squeeze it in. I bought an expensive rear carrier for my bike, and then I found that it knocked my MPG down from the normal 60+ at 70 mph to less than 40 at 60mph, which makes a difference of over £20 in the cost to take the bike down to my mum's (400 mile round trip). And you still have the problem of keeping it dry. If you put a cover over it, the MPG will e a lot worse.

 

[Sheffmax]

I see that with that model the clamp goes to the downtube rather than the crossbar, but what is the problem, is the clamp arm not long enough?

There are two clamp arms, one long one short, and they can both clamp to either the upright or vertical bars of the carrier. The problem was that I couldn't get the shorter inner bar to fix to either the bike's downtube nor crossbar. The bit of the bike which would be the right distance from the carrier would have meant that the clamp would have been on the knuckle of the carrier but it's not designed for that. The Thule stockist couldn't make it fit either so it wasn't my incompetence!.

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi Sheffmax,

I hope you didn't think that I was suggesting you were incompetent?

I see that the upright frame of the 932 is shorter than some other versions which might explain why the shorter clamp arm won't reach the crossbar.

Not sure what the solution is

 

[rsyme]

I have a Westfalia carrier which goes onto the ball hitch. It is rated for 60Kgs and carries our two Kalkhoffs no problem. The integral lights make it totally safe and the clamp arms are a sufficient length.

 

[daveboy]

I got this from wilco direct £69.99 del free.
I think I got 10% off that price at the time.

 

[Cyclezee]

I got View attachment 7778 this from wilco direct £69.99 del free.
I think I got 10% off that price at the time.

View attachment 7781

Hi Dave,

That looks excellent value for money, if I didn't already have a Thule 921 that I am very happy with, I might be tempted.

One question about the Wilco, can it be locked to the towbar?

 

[daveboy]

Hi Dave,

That looks excellent value for money, if I didn't already have a Thule 921 that I am very happy with, I might be tempted.

One question about the Wilco, can it be locked to the towbar?

Yes it can. A metal plate at the back of the towbar has a hole to put a lock in.

 

[daveboy]

I got View attachment 7778 this from wilco direct £69.99 del free.
I think I got 10% off that price at the time.

View attachment 7781

just found the discount code for 10% off its wdsoc1a that makes it
£62.99 del free. you have to log in to get the discount and they take
paypal . david

 

[peerjay56]

just found the discount code for 10% off its wdsoc1a that makes it
£62.99 del free. you have to log in to get the discount and they take
paypal . david

I also have this carrier ; purchased when David (I think) last posted about it last year. Certainly not as stylish as a Thule equivalent, but great vfm, and solid as a rock.