Bungee cord for bike rack?

[Catrin]

Does it make sense to get a bungee cord to run between my bike's wheels while in the bike rack? One spins quite a lot, of course, and I suspect on longer trips that the rear wheel also will do the same thing. I have a mental image or a stick of something hitting that spinning wheel while I am going down the road :eek::eek::eek:

Is a bungee cord the best thing for this, or is there a better alternative?

[OakLeaf]

A bungee cord will work as long as it's taut. I've used them, but I feel more secure with velcro. Electrical cord wrappers or tomato ties can be found nearly anywhere, and you can daisy-chain two or more if they're pre-cut to lengths that aren't long enough for your bike.

I'd be surprised if your bike rack allows your rear wheel to spin (but I don't know what kind you're using). Usually you only need to secure the front wheel.

[Tri Girl]

I use a bungee cord and bungee the front wheel to the handlebars to keep it from spinning (my back wheel doesn't spin). I'm sure the spinning isn't a big deal, but it drives me bonkers to see it going crazy back there while I'm driving.
Usually when we're taking a long trip we run the bike lock through both bikes and that secures the wheels.

[withm]

I use an Allen Rack on occasion, and I always run a bungee cord from one arm of the rack, through the front wheel, along the frame, through the rear wheel, and then hook to the other arm of the rack.

Several years ago, I took my bike on a 700 mile drive on the rack. When I last filled up with gasoline I checked the bike, and all was well. 200 miles later I arrived at my destination, unloaded the bike only to find that the front wheel was GONE. All I can think is that it vibrated loose (or someone stole it?) and ended up in the grill of an 18 wheeler. Getting a replacement in the boonies of northern Michigan was not fast, or easy. Always secure your wheels!

[Melalvai]

You can log a lot of extra miles if you let the front wheel spin.
;)

[HillSlugger]

I use a bungee to secure both wheels while it's on my car rack.

[Catrin]

Thanks for the ideas, and I didn't think what that spinning might do to the mileage on my nice new Cateye Strada computer :) My bike rack is the Saris Bones RS, and I have not noticed the rear wheel spinning, only the front. Tomorrow will likely be my last opportunity to go anywhere with my bike until at least the end of the week, so if I don't have a chance tomorrow to find some way to secure that front wheel, I certainly will have done so by next weekend.

[HillSlugger]

Thanks for the ideas, and I didn't think what that spinning might do to the mileage on my nice new Cateye Strada computer :) My bike rack is the Saris Bones RS, and I have not noticed the rear wheel spinning, only the front. Tomorrow will likely be my last opportunity to go anywhere with my bike until at least the end of the week, so if I don't have a chance tomorrow to find some way to secure that front wheel, I certainly will have done so by next weekend.

I have a Saris Bones, too. I like to make sure the rear wheel can't turn so I will know that the pedal won't move and contact my paint job.

[Cataboo]

If I'm going to stop anywhere with bikes on the car, i run a cable through the frame and wheels and then chain it to my bike rack. I did that once and when I got to work or wherever I was going, noticed that one of the wheels was hanging by the cable... I don't know if the quick release wasn't tight enough or what, but I was sure glad that I had a cable on them.

[kmehrzad]

You can log a lot of extra miles if you let the front wheel spin.
;)

I love your way of thinking. ;)

What I do is use a velcro strap and attach it from the front wheel to the Saris Bones rack. It keeps my wheel nice and snug.

[sarahspins]

My Thule rack has a strap, and I just use that... I would think a bungee cord would work just fine :)

[Catrin]

I used a small bungee to strap my front wheel to the frame of my rack and it worked just fine. I was much more comfortable with it each time I looked in my mirror :)

[GrassyRidge]

I don't if it's a good thing or not, but the last trip I took I used brake bands to keep the wheels from turning. I also used my bike lock wrapped through the front wheel, around the rack and my bike for extra security.

[OakLeaf]

I'll just mention that bungee cords have a bad reputation among motorcyclists, because when one fails, it can be catastrophic. Make sure you at least get good ones with heavy-duty hooks and a solid connection between the cord and the hook.

[Possegal]

I have a Saris Bones, too. I like to make sure the rear wheel can't turn so I will know that the pedal won't move and contact my paint job.

Me too. I use something similar for both wheels, and darn if I can find it online to share. They are bendable and sort of twist-tie around the wheels. That way there is no hook to deal with, so nothing to fail and go flying off the bike. That was my worry with the bungee cords. I'll keep looking if I can find them online.