Car roof carrying

[sjs]

Think outside the box and you can come up with several solutions and ideas. I used to transport our tandem on an aluminium ladder by clamping the front forks in a threaded bar attached by an offset to the rungs, positioned so the rear wheel sat between a pair of rungs and seecured with a toestrap. I could slide the ladder onto the roof bars and secure them with more toe straps. We travelled thousands of miles with it held securely. The weight on the roof was noticeable especially when high speed cornering or in windy conditions so no rallying around roundabouts.

Couldn't resist posting this old video:

[JD_bike_rider]

Stating the very obvious...but as someone who has twice had their pride and joy driven into an overhead barrier (I wasn't driving either time!)...be careful! Very easy to forget.

The advantage of a titanium bike is that both times it's only been a carbon fork replacement with the frame completely fine.

This has justified the towbar installation option for me!

[Jdsk]

Stating the very obvious...but as someone who has twice had their pride and joy driven into an overhead barrier (I wasn't driving either time!)...be careful! Very easy to forget.

The advantage of a titanium bike is that both times it's only been a carbon fork replacement with the frame completely fine.

This has justified the towbar installation option for me!

A very useful reminder. I once got close on a ferry but stopped in time.

Jonathan

[jimster99]

Also worth noting that a roofrack costs you a massive amount in extra fuel (potentially 20-30% loaded, 5-10% unloaded). Towbar racks extract a much less ridiculous premium.

See e.g. https://www.consumerreports.org/fuel-ec ... l-economy/

If you're just doing a one-off trip unlikely to tip the balance in favour of tow bar racks, but if going to be a regular thing, potentially something to consider.

Also as already mentioned do not underestimate the likelihood that you could smack the bikes into something low hanging like a tree, bridge or garage roof. Everyone thinks this won't happen to them...until it does.

[TrevA]

We’ve always used Halfords Cycle Carriers attached to a set of Halfords Roof Bars. Managed to get 4 bikes onto the top of an old shape Nissan Micra. It’s been a while since we bought any cycle carriers but the Halfords ones were about half the price of the equivalent Thule ones. Ours stay on the car all the time, as I can’t be bothered to take them on and off. We average 45mpg in our 1.2L Corsa with the roof bars and empty bike carriers attached.