Thoughts on Aluminum frames on hanging racks
#1
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Thread Starter
Thoughts on Aluminum frames on hanging racks
Are the concerns hanging Aluminum framed bikes on a hanging hitch rack? I have an old Saris 3 bike rack that is heavy and built well. I would like to use it instead of buying a new tray rack. I know people fret on carbon bikes hung on racks, What about Aluminum?
Also, any ideas of extra security (non-theft related) to hold the bike on the rack. thought about large Zip ties of something?
Also, any ideas of extra security (non-theft related) to hold the bike on the rack. thought about large Zip ties of something?
#2
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I carry aluminum bikes on the back of my hanging rack all the time. Just drove 1500 miles with a 60# aluminum ebike. Velcro straps or lots of bungees to keep things moving together lessens impact on the bikes.
For some minor level of security I loop a cable lock around my receiver hitch than run that through the bikes with a padlock. Won't survive a night in a motel parking lot but good enough for restroom breaks and traffic lights.
For some minor level of security I loop a cable lock around my receiver hitch than run that through the bikes with a padlock. Won't survive a night in a motel parking lot but good enough for restroom breaks and traffic lights.
#3
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Using a rack for an aluminum bike has never been a problem for me. You are not putting any extraordinary stress on the frame. If you want a cheap and effective way to tie a bike to racks that do not include tie-downs, save your old bike tubes. I use a rack for my recumbent trike with the two front wheels on the roof and the rear wheel on an old RhodeGear rack. It stays firmly in place at speeds up to 80 mph on the interstate (don't tell the cops!). An alternative is to buy a spool of 1/4" bungee cord. I just bought a 50 foot roll from Home Depot for $18 to lace a seat on an older recumbent trike. I can use the leftover as tie downs. Both of these have some "give" so are really good for tying things down. If you want shorter pieces, REI carries it in bulk spools at their stores for 40 cents a foot for the 6mm/1/4" size. They call it "accessory cord".
#4
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for that suggestion. the rack has straps, but I want to double secure the bike while on the highway at 80mph speeds. Appreciate It!!
#5
Are the concerns hanging Aluminum framed bikes on a hanging hitch rack? I have an old Saris 3 bike rack that is heavy and built well. I would like to use it instead of buying a new tray rack. I know people fret on carbon bikes hung on racks, What about Aluminum?
Also, any ideas of extra security (non-theft related) to hold the bike on the rack. thought about large Zip ties of something?
Also, any ideas of extra security (non-theft related) to hold the bike on the rack. thought about large Zip ties of something?
#6
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In the 13 years I had a CR-V with a hanging rack on the rear, I drove something like 40K miles with aluminum and CF frames on a hanging rack. This included many trips back and forth across the US. Zero issues, and you would be hard pressed to tell where any of the bikes contacted the cradles. The only scratches I got were from where I made a cradle repair using a hose clamp one time and I scratched a frame getting it on and off the rack.
I would make sure to run a strap through the wheels to keep the bikes from swinging on the racks.
I would make sure to run a strap through the wheels to keep the bikes from swinging on the racks.
#7
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Ouch! People steal bikes at traffic lights? I had no idea anyone would do this.
#9
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I hung my aluminum bikes on racks, I wasn't worried about the Aluminum so much, but I put micro fiber around the frame to protect the paint. then used old tubes to tie the crank to the rack, so the wind would swing and twist the frame in the rack as I drove down the road at highway speeds.
#12
Senior Member
People in Chicago steal Semi trailers at traffic lights. ! Driver stops they unhook the brake lines and un hitch. The driver drives off without the trailer, or he gets out and dies, or gets beat so bad by multiple criminals he goes to hospital because he got out!
I hung my aluminum bikes on racks, I wasn't worried about the Aluminum so much, but I put micro fiber around the frame to protect the paint. then used old tubes to tie the crank to the rack, so the wind would swing and twist the frame in the rack as I drove down the road at highway speeds.
I hung my aluminum bikes on racks, I wasn't worried about the Aluminum so much, but I put micro fiber around the frame to protect the paint. then used old tubes to tie the crank to the rack, so the wind would swing and twist the frame in the rack as I drove down the road at highway speeds.
#13
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You know what else isn't on the news? All the stolen bicycles that gets posted on the Facebook market pages!
#14
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So in other words, your claim was make-believe.
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#16
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#18
I work for a railroad that was featured on an episode of Cops! way back in the day. A sting was set up outside an intermodal terminal in NJ. The driver would pretend to break down. While he was checking under the hood, people would run up to the back of the truck, break the seal (a crime in and of itself) and grab the empty boxes. In one case, the truck hadn’t even come to a complete stop. The police would come out of a hidden door to apprehend as many as possible. The funny part is that the thieves didn’t even realize they were running off with things like empty VCR boxes, which tend to have some weight to them.
#19
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By The Way, I dropped micro fiber cloths on the rack frame holders, because the rubber was breaking down, and it would smear onto the paint and frame. My Saris trunk rack was 10+ years old though However the wind force as I was driving Freeway at 70 would definitely swing the bottom of the bike out away from the car. that didn't help the rubber holder things any.
29er x2.35 catch a a lot of wind, as do deeper dish wheels. a 29er tube worked great for tying it back.
my straps were deff on the dry rot side & crusty from using it in the winter months, and the frame was rusty.... I was pushing my luck. Saris makes a great product.
29er x2.35 catch a a lot of wind, as do deeper dish wheels. a 29er tube worked great for tying it back.
my straps were deff on the dry rot side & crusty from using it in the winter months, and the frame was rusty.... I was pushing my luck. Saris makes a great product.
#20
First-person info = he saw it.
#21
I have a few hundred reasonably strong zip ties. For longer drives in the rack I use a few of those to supplement the rubber straps