Fork-clamp roof rack and no lawyer tabs.
05-17-13, 09:50 AM
#1
Light Makes Right
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Fork-clamp roof rack and no lawyer tabs.
Hi Guys,
I'm just looking for a little reassurance here. I have a fork-clamp roof rack on my car (Yakima Steelhead). I haven't used a rack like that in a LONG time (been driving a truck with a hitch-mount) and last fall I did something dumb - to mount it to my crossbars the skewer needs to be removed and I put the nut back on backwards. My Mercian jumped out of it. Fortunately I was doing near-zero speed and the back wheel was strapped to the rack's rail so all it did was taco my rim. But now I'm paranoid about putting it up there. I know back in the day before lawyer tabs I had no issue with that sort of rack and the issue was likely caused by my own stupidity but I'm just having a hard time getting over it. My baby coulda been killed!!
I think it's probably an irrational fear but just looking for someone to "talk me down" and reassure me? What are your opinions on using this style of rack with a bike with no lawyer tabs?
Thanks,
Chris
I'm just looking for a little reassurance here. I have a fork-clamp roof rack on my car (Yakima Steelhead). I haven't used a rack like that in a LONG time (been driving a truck with a hitch-mount) and last fall I did something dumb - to mount it to my crossbars the skewer needs to be removed and I put the nut back on backwards. My Mercian jumped out of it. Fortunately I was doing near-zero speed and the back wheel was strapped to the rack's rail so all it did was taco my rim. But now I'm paranoid about putting it up there. I know back in the day before lawyer tabs I had no issue with that sort of rack and the issue was likely caused by my own stupidity but I'm just having a hard time getting over it. My baby coulda been killed!!
I think it's probably an irrational fear but just looking for someone to "talk me down" and reassure me? What are your opinions on using this style of rack with a bike with no lawyer tabs?
Thanks,
Chris
05-17-13, 10:43 AM
#3
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If it helps any, I've been carrying bikes on the roof for over 40 years with no incident. I like the steelhead type racks because they are so secure. No lawyer lips on most of my bikes.
Before the Yakima and Thule racks I had a rack with a separate tray for each bike that slid into rails on the rack. First you removed the tray from the rack. Then you clamped the handlebars and the seat to the tray. Then you turned the bike upside down and slid the tray into the rack. That was kind of sketchy. On bumpy roads the wing nuts that held the clamps to the trays could loosen.
Brent
Before the Yakima and Thule racks I had a rack with a separate tray for each bike that slid into rails on the rack. First you removed the tray from the rack. Then you clamped the handlebars and the seat to the tray. Then you turned the bike upside down and slid the tray into the rack. That was kind of sketchy. On bumpy roads the wing nuts that held the clamps to the trays could loosen.
Brent
05-17-13, 10:56 AM
#4
Still learning
Roof racks are nice, but they affect highway gas mileage by 10%-15%. YMMV.
05-17-13, 11:07 AM
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Excuse me for asking, but I'm curious: what are lawyer tabs / lips?
05-17-13, 11:08 AM
#6
feros ferio
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
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Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
05-17-13, 11:10 AM
#7
feros ferio
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My cycling buddy forgot that his fairly nice Motobecane was on top of his Alfa Romeo coupe. Fortunately, the roof rack straps broke lose, and the bike ended up on the rack, which was resting on the garage floor. The only damage was a scratched car roof and the torn straps. That was close!
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
05-17-13, 11:21 AM
#8
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Kuat NV2 bike rack, best rack made. All scoopers should have one!
This rack has a built in work stand!
First rule of racks: Nothing touches paint. Second rule: No danglers.
https://kuatracks.com/en/products/bike/the-nv/
bill
This rack has a built in work stand!
First rule of racks: Nothing touches paint. Second rule: No danglers.
https://kuatracks.com/en/products/bike/the-nv/
bill
05-17-13, 11:27 AM
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Lawyer Lips are those ridges of metal built into the fork tips that all US bike marketers use to defeat the quick release. After you flip the quick release you still have to unscrew it about 5 turns to release the front wheel. Easy enough to file off in most cases.
Maybe you don't have this pestilence in Europe?
Brent
Maybe you don't have this pestilence in Europe?
Brent
05-17-13, 11:27 AM
#10
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Lawyer lips are there to save you in case you didn't use the skewer properly. Do you trust yourself to use them properly? I trust myself. I've ground the lawyer lips off my bike and my wife's bike. They are such a pain, much more so with a roof rack than when removing and replacing the wheel on the bike when the bike is on the ground.
I still use my roof rack, though I do find that the gas mileage and the noise to be annoying.
When I put the bikes up, I pull on them hard. I hope I'm simulating forces that exceed the forces I encounter when driving. Make a habit of doing this, and you'll be fine.
I have even bungied things to the bikes while they're up there. I draw the bungies very tight, and I give them test pulls before I drive away. I've lashed extra wheels to bikes this way. I think I even once lashed a bike to a bike this way.
I still use my roof rack, though I do find that the gas mileage and the noise to be annoying.
When I put the bikes up, I pull on them hard. I hope I'm simulating forces that exceed the forces I encounter when driving. Make a habit of doing this, and you'll be fine.
I have even bungied things to the bikes while they're up there. I draw the bungies very tight, and I give them test pulls before I drive away. I've lashed extra wheels to bikes this way. I think I even once lashed a bike to a bike this way.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
05-17-13, 11:41 AM
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Lawyer Lips are those ridges of metal built into the fork tips that all US bike marketers use to defeat the quick release. After you flip the quick release you still have to unscrew it about 5 turns to release the front wheel. Easy enough to file off in most cases.
Maybe you don't have this pestilence in Europe?
Brent
Maybe you don't have this pestilence in Europe?
Brent
05-17-13, 12:05 PM
#13
Senior Member
I've also had hooks integrated into the locknut on the axle of a mid 1980's Schwinn. The hooks would flip up and latch onto a button-looking doodad on the inside of the forkleg.
It's probably less annoying, but they rattled a bit, so off they came.
It's probably less annoying, but they rattled a bit, so off they came.
05-17-13, 02:05 PM
#14
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Kuat NV2 bike rack, best rack made. All scoopers should have one!
This rack has a built in work stand!
First rule of racks: Nothing touches paint. Second rule: No danglers.
https://kuatracks.com/en/products/bike/the-nv/
This rack has a built in work stand!
First rule of racks: Nothing touches paint. Second rule: No danglers.
https://kuatracks.com/en/products/bike/the-nv/
that is sweet!
05-17-13, 02:13 PM
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05-17-13, 02:24 PM
#16
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Rack was expensive! I did buy it used (naturally), but still paid quite a bit for it. Its locked to the car, via the hitch.
Its my wife's car, and the rack is color matched, so she is happy with the choice!
Its my wife's car, and the rack is color matched, so she is happy with the choice!
05-17-13, 02:41 PM
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Very nice, but what about fenders?
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05-17-13, 04:17 PM
#18
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I am with the its OK crowd. I have been thousands of miles with bike on the roof. The only issues I have had have all been user induced.
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
05-17-13, 06:29 PM
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Still learning
05-17-13, 09:10 PM
#20
Light Makes Right
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Thanks guys, I figured it'd be OK. Thanks for the reassurance.
I used to have a hitch-mount rack on my truck and it was great. I don't really fancy putting a 2" receiver on my Audi though.
I do know roof racks don't go well with parking garages - I watched my boss drive his classic Masi into a garage once. It's a sad thing to see a grown man cry.
Chris
I used to have a hitch-mount rack on my truck and it was great. I don't really fancy putting a 2" receiver on my Audi though.
I do know roof racks don't go well with parking garages - I watched my boss drive his classic Masi into a garage once. It's a sad thing to see a grown man cry.
Chris
