BigK75

Hey Folks:

I have a Trek Madone 5.2 bike that I absolutely love. It carbon fiber and I am looking for a way to transport it. So far I have been taking off the front wheel and putting it the back of my 4runner. This is tedious and annoying and I am now at the point where I want a bike rack. What kind of racks (make and model number) do you guys use for your carbon fiber bikes.

I am looking to get some ideas before I go out and purchase something and realize its a piece or crap.

Claude

dpeters11

We have a Saris Thelma 2 bike, one of ours is a carbon Ruby. Works great if you have a hitch. Nice thing is nothing touches the frame.

Carbon Unit

Are you looking for a hitch or roof mounted rack? If you are looking for a hitch rack these are the two best racks you can buy. If you are looking for a roof rack, someone else will chime in and give you feed back on those.

This is the second best hitch rack:

https://www.raxterracks.com/index.cfm?id=3&prodID=9

This is the best hitch rack you can buy:

https://www.1upusa.com/1upusarackhome.htm

BigK75

Hey Guys:

Yes I am looking for a hitch. Right now I have a 2" receiver on my 4runner.

Claude

Carbon Unit

A couple of reviews.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ghlight=raxter

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ghlight=Thelma

BigK75

i am getting a price with shipping for the Raxter to Canada. In the meantime I have once more question. Would something like a Thule Helium or Revolver work. (the hitch were the bike is hanging by the crossbar). If yes is there any chance to cause damage to the CF?.

Something like this as an example:
https://www.thule.com/~/media/Products/Classification_1_root/Image_Hierarchy/ImageFolder_5111/ImageFolder_176141/964_oc.ashx?h=408&thn=1&w=618

foresthill

I have a thule T2, and the thing is fantastic. Pricey, but worth it. With the 2 bike extension, I can't think of a better way to carry 4 bikes. The rack only touches the wheels, so the frame material (and more important for MTBs, frame shape) is irrelevant. It's big and heavy, so a bit of a pain if you plan to take it on and off the vehicle much.

On another vehicle, I use this one:

https://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._1031409_-1___

It's almost 1/3 the price (depending on what sale is going on), but is surprisingly functional. For the budget, this is a great deal, and I've been very happy with mine. It's also a tray mount, tho there is one bit that touches the frame. Shouldn't matter for a road bike. This rack is super light. Very easy to take on and off whenever you feel like it.

DrPete 

Any of Yakima's fork mounts work fine. I like the SprocketRocket, personally. For a truck you can just use the cheapie fork-mount-on-a-crossbar model, whatever that's called.

M_Wales

I'm using the Thule 517 Peloton fork mount with both my carbon bikes with no worries.

https://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._400005_400169

Along with the 450 crossroad railing feet.
https://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._400005_400169

And 50" load bars
https://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._400005_400169

Carbon Unit

What turned me off on the Thule was that Thule recommends that the front hold down should make contact with the front brake.

I received this email from Thule's support:

Response (Olivier Thibodeau) - 08/11/2008 05:46 PM
Hello,

When using the T2, the arms will have to come in contact with front brake or fork for it to be stable on the wheel.
Also, we do not recommend putting road bikes and/or bikes with carbon frames on a hitch bike carrier. we recommend putting those bikes on a roof rack with one of our accessory bike carrier for roof racks. The best for you would really be a fork mounted bike carrier for the top of the car such as the Echelon or the Peloton.

A bike rack similar to the Thule that has a few advantages over the Thule is the Kuat NV, but I would rather have the Raxter or 1UP rack.

Here is a link:

https://www.kuatinnovations.com/index.php?page=NV

Carbon Unit

Those type of racks make me nervous because there is the possibility of damage to the frame. Others may feel differently. If I were buying a hitch rack, it would be one that holds the bike by the wheels.

BigK75

Hey CarbonUnit:

Do you have any experience with the Swagman XTC (Cross Country) there is someone selling one on kijiji/craiglist for under 100 bucks. This would way cheaper for me and save a bundle on the shipping. Any thoughts?

Claude

valygrl

Inside the car is better than any rack.

Carbon Unit

I don't have experience with it, but the most experienced guy with hitch mounted racks in JayC. He wrote the review of the Raxter rack that was in one of the links that I attached to this thread. I think he has experience with Swagman. You might send him a private message and ask him. For that price it might be a good deal. I looked at the photos online and it looks fine as long as it doesn't scratch the top tube. You can wrap cloth around the top tube if necessary and that will protect the top tube.

BigK75

Thanks Carbon Unit. I will send him a PM and see what he thinks.

The price is perfect so if he says its okay maybe I will give it a try.

Claude

BigK75

Dang I tried to send him a PM but you need a minimum of 50 posts. That sucks. Oh well maybe he will see my post.

Carbon Unit

I will send him a post and copy you on it.

Joey Li

this is correct. taking the front wheel off and putting it in the trunk will work with any car that has a trunk and is not much harder than using a rack.

advantages:

1) most racks are perfectly safe, but a bike in the trunk will never fall off.

2) you can save money.

3) If your bike is large enough for the wheel base to be longer then the width of the car, you can risk hitting your bike against something

4) If the bike is on the roof it can hit bridges or tunnels.

Carbon Unit

I sent JayC an instant message and copied you on it.

BigK75

Awesome. Thanks Bruce.

Carbon Unit

Glad to help. Hope it works out for you.

BigK75

I will follow up and let you know whichever way I go.

dissident

inside the car with the front tire off is gravy... taking off both tires to fit it completely in the trunk so nobody knows it's there... somewhat more irritating.

JayC

Hey guys!

My very first hitch mount was in fact the Swagman. Its a decent rack, holds the bikes really sturdy and its made pretty well. My biggest problem with the Swagman, and that carries over to the Stick Up and whatever the other one is from Thule, they make contact with the top tube. The bikes will vibrate around enough in the rack that eventually you'll start to mar the top tube. You can put a microfiber rag between the hook and top tube and that does help but then you have rags you have to keep up with every time you're loading and unloading your bikes. It's also a real negative when you are carrying bikes with cables across the top tube like mountain bikes. You have to put the rag between the cables and the frame.

Thats really the only negative I can say about the Swagman. Its light, it can be locked and it does a good job of carrying the bikes. Just the whole top tube thing kind of stinks.

If I was buying today, I still would buy the Raxter. I have a Yakima Holdup right now and its alright but in the grand scheme of things, I still think the Raxter is better. Its lighter, its easier to load the bikes and with the adjustability in bike position on the rack, you can fit just about anything on it.

Im hoping to obtain a Kuat towards the end of the season to review. I emailed them and they were very receptive, they just said their stock was too low to do it at the time.

In conclusion, of all the racks I have owned, this is probably how I would rank them.

1 - Raxter
2 - CycleOn Pro
3 - Thule T2
4 - Yakima Hold Up
5 - Swagman
6 - Thelma

Id rank the Thelma lower if I could

Hope that helps you guys and Ill be happy to answer any more questions you may have. I'm trying to hang around here more now that Im actually riding again.

jgjulio

+1
Love the Thelma.