Bike rack recs?

[Owlie]

BF's parents' graduation present to me was enough money "for a decent bike rack." I'm looking at trunk-mouunted racks that would fit a Honda Accord, and $75-100. They sent $75 in cash, but I'm okay with going over that. Recommendations?

I'm excited. This means I don't have to pester my parents for use of the minivan if I want to hit the bike trail!

[indysteel]

I have the Saris Bones rack. But iI also have a car that's similarly sized to an Accord and can easily fit my bike inside, which is by far my preference.

[Owlie]

I have the Saris Bones rack. But iI also have a car that's similarly sized to an Accord and can easily fit my bike inside, which is by far my preference.

I'd rather do that too, except that my Accord is old enough ('99) that the back seats don't fold. It's a pity, as I could actually get the bike in that car.

[tulip]

I'd rather do that too, except that my Accord is old enough ('99) that the back seats don't fold. It's a pity, as I could actually get the bike in that car.

?? the back seats don't fold down?? My '93 Accord seats folded down. I think my mother's '98 seats fold down. Now why would Honda make seats that don't fold down in -99? That's just silly, Honda!

[Owlie]

Weird, isn't it? I think it's one of those "well, we'll try this!" sort of things. My parents' 2001 doesn't have fold-down seats either, so maybe it's a newer rather than older thing...

[Melalvai]

I have been very pleased with our Saris bones too.

[Catrin]

I really like my Saris Bones as well - I have the kind that locks and they are very easy to get on and off the car once they are set up. I have the idea that some racks are more complex to get one/off the car but this is the only rack I have worked with.

[sah]

KUAT

http://www.kuatinnovations.com/

light weight & thoughtful design

[indysteel]

My seats don't fold down either on my 2001 Mitsubuishi Galant, which is just stupid. When I first started riding, I used my Saris rack to get to rides, but I never really liked using it and I didn't like leaving the bike on the rack unattended and exposed to the elements, which made going to rides straight from work difficult. I figured out that I could slip the bike in behind the front seats. I have to take the front wheel off and turn the fork sideways, but it otherwise fits.

It's a 50 cm road bike; it it were any bigger I doubt it would work. I use a velcro strap to hold the bike in place behind the driver's seat. Granted, it has scuffed up the back a bit from the crank and chain, but given that I plan to keep the car indefinitely, I don't worry about it all that much.

Unfortunately, I'm now parking in a new parking garage (my old garage was a secure government lot that's now under construction). I don't feel comfortable leaving my bike in the car where you can see it so my riding habits after work have changed somewhat. I can get it in the trunk if I take both wheels off, but that's kind of a PITA.