Rutnick

I just got a roof rack for my new Honda Element. While I usually store MY bike inside the vehicle, there are times when I have 4 people with me. 2 bikes on the trailer hitch mount and I have 2 roof tray racks. How many of you use a bike bra to keep bugs off the bike and how many of you just put them up there and that's it?

BTW, the element is a pretty good choice for road and MTB riders. I took 3 guys to Tour De Georgia and my bike was inside and 2 bikes on the hitch mount. We got 27 mpg going to Lookout Mountain from KY. For the trip, we averaged 24mph.

The downside is that well...it's a 4 cyclinder and I miss the hp of my previous car. I now drive like a grandpa.

ovoleg

dude your worried about bugs on your bike?

lol

just go ride man.

dcon

If you want to buy bike bras, go for it. As for me, I rack the bikes up and go.

I find it easier to just give my bikes a little extra cleaning TLC after a road trip.

nitropowered

I use one. Keeps the bike relatively clean. They do wear out though.

superslomo

I have one, it helps keep the road nastiness off the bike in the rain as well, and prevents issues from rocks etc. kicking up in large part. Having to drive to somewhere to ride, where there isn't the luxury of cleaning the bike is nicer without having dried smashed gnats all over your hands.

ovoleg

it seems like you guys drive your bikes around more than you actually ride them.

John Wilke

Load and go. I suppose if you're going to drive 1,000 miles it might be worth it.

jw

ovoleg

do you guys wax your bikes too before you go a on a 20 mile trip?

Rutnick

well, we do take road trips. My last trip was from KY to Georgia to just ride my bike for a weekend and watch Tour De Georgia.

I was asking because in another thread I was torn about doing 3 state 3 mountain. Let's see....It is about a 4 hour drive to the start of 3 state and we would have to haul 4 bikes. I'm already registered for the event but a car wreck has put a damper on that activity.

I ride almost daily but it is nice to see different roads from time to time and that most of the time requires road trips to do mountain climbs.

urbanknight

When we drove from Los Angeles to Washington for the nationals, we hit a few patches of bugs on the 5. By the time we got out of California, the fronts of the frames, seat stays, handlebars, spokes and pedals were COVERED with bug guts. Imagine the weight penalty if I had left those on for the race!!!

Rutnick

When the total cost of the bikes is more than the cost of the vehicle, and I feel responsible for the bikes on the rack, yes.

I also was curious if the bike bra would cause flapping on the bike and cause paint wear. I'd take bugs over paint rub.

Currently my campy bike is on my roof rack just as an experiment. My more expensive bike stays inside the vehicle or on the rear trailer hitch tray rack.

Rutnick

do this, put your bike on a rack and go drive it 300 miles one way and tell me how it looks. I'm not worried about a 20 mile drive. I've got a 600 mile round trip to consider.

Posts like that make me want to drive to your location and give you a big slap with one of those giant tour de georgia hands. At least Tour De Georgia has legitimate mountain stages....

jimbud

Check with your roof top rack's manufacturer on whether they recommend the use of a bra on there rack. I know on my Rocky Mount roof rack it's says bras are a no-no.

Nachoman

I could be totally wrong, but wouldn't arrival to your destination five minutes early and a quick wipe down with baby wipes solve the entire problem?

Rutnick

ahh, I have a rocky Mount roof rack. It is a Noose. Was that in the directions? I haven't installed the 2nd one yet. You know, I actually was pretty impressed with the Noose. The bolts aren't that clean but the setup works and was the cheapest option for my vehicle.

I have to say that putting a bike on the roof of a Honda Element is interesting though. Nerf bars here I come!

Rutnick

are those baby wipes bike forum approved?

WCroadie

some of us race and have to drive to the race, ever think of that?

bbattle

What brand of ladder do you use to get the bikes off the top of the Element?

Rutnick

at 6'1", I hold the bike over my head and with both doors on the driver's side open step up and put the bike on the tray. I can see something bad happening in the future. It is more interesting getting the bike back off the rack.

I was seriously thinking about a plastic step up or nerf bars.

R900

I use one when traveling long distances, such as going on vacation, we often travel at night, so the bras are a blessing. The things are covered. Bikes come out basically clean. Gas mileage suffers a tad, but not bad.

DigitalRJH

Aww that's nothing, during my mountain biking days loading and unloading mountain bikes off a Cherokee with a 4.5" lift and 32" tires is an adventure.

CastIron

So with a 3,000 mile road trip with a bike on the roof looming, I'm wondering about these too. The idea of not having a ton of northern bug goo and road grit wind blasted into every nook and cranny has significant appeal. Anyone have a product recommendation?

El Diablo Rojo

If I'm traveling in the spring or summer I use one if I'm traveling more than 50 miles. It's easy to use and keeps the bike clean.

urbanknight

Yes, it flaps against the frame, although any damage done by that wasn't noticeable, especially when compared to the rock/sand/debris chips my bike got without a bra. The bugs aren't all that much of a problem since they clean off (it's just a pain when there's 100s of them and you're 30 minutes late to registration already). fwiw a coat of wax (thanks for the idea ovoleg) will help things to skim off of the bikes rather than stick to them. Autocross trick to avoid cone marks.

I tried. It still didn't work.

Finding ovoleg is harder than finding lochness or bigfoot. Best of luck.

CastIron

The Lochness Monster is in the pond adjacent the bus parking for the tourist centre. It's fenced and he's chained down so it's perfectly safe. Why Ovoleg isn't is beyond me.