Help me spend some more $$: bike racks

[susan.wells]

I have a hitch for my Subaru and nothing could be easier. But... since you said you're not ready for that I can recommend the Saris Bones . We use that on our other vehicle. We tried many other ones (our local LBS was generous enough to let us return those that didn't quite work or fit as we wanted) and I found many had arms with very limited ranges of adjustment. The Saris allows you the "dial-in" the fit for both your vehicle and bike.

Susan

[singletrackmind]

Hitch rack. It doesn't mess with the paint on your car and you still have access to your trunk. I have a Sportworks modular on my 4runner and like it a great deal though there might be ground clearance issues with a car. I like that the contact points are the bike's wheels so frame style does not matter, it holds kids bikes too and it only takes seconds to load and unload a bike. Bi-State busses use them because of this. The rack is too cumbersome to pull off constantly though.

By the way, hitches aren't really a big deal to put on. Get the 2" version if it's at all available for your car, it gives you the most rack options. Most hitches are made to bolt into existing holes and often your local rent a truck places can set you up.

[Technotart]

I tried a couple of the trunk/rear door/tie on racks - I didn't trust any of them - too much wiggle, too afraid they would scratch. Hitch rack it was! No contact with the paint at all.

[Trek420]

I'm 5'1" have a Yakima Cobra roof rack. Holds my bike securely without a scratch, and I don't have to take the wheel off. My old Olds Alero is low but still too high for me to reach. I keep a cheap plastic stepstool in the car, that's all you need.

Just use every trick in the book to remind yourself not to do the idiot move of the year and drive it into the garage ;-)

Even with a roof rack you have to be carefull. Several times on the freeway I've caught up with drivers so's to gesticulate wildy pointing upwards that their bikes were leaning crazily outwards.

None of them had the Cobra, it's been secure.

the least expensive Yakima latches onto the bike with a sleve that goes around the bottom tube of the bike, even my LBS said it's a bad idea, it will scratch your frame.

Then come the various models where you take the front wheel off. Not mechanicly inclinded does not BEGIN to describe me, I'd ride off with the wheel loose I'm sure. But AG will attest and advantage is the bike's lower an easier for us "verticly challenged" gals that way.

Finally a quick question; how many of us have chosen a car to go with a favorite bike rack?