Bike Carrier - Rear Mount v's Roof Mount

[mimitabby]

Well, let's see, for my case, given the bikes on the back of the car
+ Without the bikes on the back of the car, I can get 60mpg (yes, I really do)
+ With the bikes on the back of the car, I get around 45mpg
+ If the bikes are on the back of the car, we're probably driving at least 50 miles to the ride, so, use 100 miles/trip as a fair estimate
+ Over the course of the summer we'll probably do that at least once a weekend, sometimes twice, and sometimes for much longer, so use 20 times a season. That is low, but better low than high.
+ My bad math says that is a little over 10 gallons a season with the bikes on the back. People who drive my car with roof racks report 30mpg or 30 gallons a season.

Is that alot? 25-75 bucks in the US, much more elsewhere. I guess it all depends on your priorities. For me, that bothers me; for others it is no big deal. Tradeoffs.

Thorn;
so what are you driving? Just curious.

and a sidepiece to all this: so my DH just got a new, very expensive bike.
We put it on the rear rack on my car because the new bike's fenders extend so low you can't put the thing on the roof rack.
After we put the bikes (mine too) into the rack, I had to get out of the parking space. I was terrified ; I had to back up! So DH got out of the car
and directed me; driving by feel just doesn't work with an expensive bike dangling on the back!!!

[Thorn]

Thorn;
so what are you driving? Just curious.

I drive a Prius. A large share of its gas mileage comes from its aerodynamics. So, throwing a bike rack on it, even on its rear end, disturbs its slipstream. I used to blame the bad mileage with the rack on my DH not knowing how to drive the Prius, but, alas, I also got the low mileage with the rack so he's off the hook.

Of course, the severe coldsnap we had a few weeks back also whacked the mileage. When it was hovering around 0F, the electric motor rarely kicked in (it felt so odd sitting a a stop light and having the engine run!). During that week, I was barely eek-ing out 40mpg (winter normal mileage is mid-50's; I routinely hit 60 for the tank in summer). Still, 40mpg with minimal electric boost for a car that size is pretty good. I suspect that is attributed to its aerodynamics more than anything else.

But, I'm a software engineer and only dabble in things mechanical--enough to stick my foot in my mouth.

[Mags...]

I live in Aust. and I'm 5'2". I didn't like the idea of struggling with my bike to get it on top of the car, plus like many Australian homes, mine has a carport and I felt sure I'd get home from a ride and forget I've got the bike on top and crash into the ceiling. So I bought a Thule EuroWay, same as Thisle

Thule EuroWay 945/947
http://www.thule.com.au/products.php (click on towbar mounted)

It's one of the best accessories I've bought. I can load it up and put my bike on myself with no problems. It's got the electrical fittings right so when it's loaded on the back of the car, your braking/indicators are 100% visible. Big plus is that when it's loaded up and you need to access your hatch, you can tilt the whole contraption with one lever and you can open your hatch. I bought some locking nobs as well which replace the clamp nobs for the top tube. This way, when my bike is on the rack and locked, no-one can remove it, or any bike behind it. My husband is very careful about his treasured carbon frame bike and he reckons the clamping of the top tube is gentle and that the bike stays firmly secure because the weight of the bike is supported by the base and held safely by the wheel straps. Unlike some racks where the bike is clamped by the top tube and that clamp takes the weight and that can damage a carbon frame.

[mimitabby]

I drive a Prius. A large share of its gas mileage comes from its aerodynamics. So, throwing a bike rack on it, even on its rear end, disturbs its slipstream. I used to blame the bad mileage with the rack on my DH not knowing how to drive the Prius, but, alas, I also got the low mileage with the rack so he's off the hook.


But, I'm a software engineer and only dabble in things mechanical--enough to stick my foot in my mouth.

Ah, the same thing happened with my old Geo Metro! We put a bike rack ON THE BACK and it went from 40mpg to about 25mpg!

[farrellcollie]

I use a roof rack and I carry a small ladder to get bike on and off of my station wagon (I am about 5'2) - I used to have a rear mount - but it took longer to attach bikes and I was more worried about backing into something.

[uforgot]

I drive a dodge neon. I had a hitch put on it (yeah, the guys at the shop were laughing at that one!) and put a Thule hitch rack on it. I have full access to the trunk with it. My bikes don't scratch as you lash them to the post and the bottom in separate places, and I put one of those swimming tubes in between. I can also lock the hitch to my car and the rack locks around the top tube of my bikes. I love it and felt I made the right decision. I can only carry two, though, I would have to get a 2" receiver hitch for four, and they don't make them for Neons. Can you believe it! I live in the middle of big truck country and my students just love the fact that I have a hitch. Then again, last week we had "drive your tractor to school" day...

One other thing that I had to consider...I read that you have to be careful with roof racks because sometimes people drive into their garages and forget their bikes are up there. The minute I saw this, I knew I would never own one as it would be just a matter of time.