cover for bikes on trunk mounted rack?

[Trek420]

I would not cover the bike on a trunk rack. You'd be making a sail. Besides the drag on gas mileage I would think the bike could fly off.

I'd check with your LBS for directions, practice practice. Put the rack on, take it off, back on .... do some short trips and make sure your baby is secure.

Oh, and welcome to TE

[OakLeaf]

Plus... if you've ever seen a newbie hauling anything with a cover on it, you've seen the cover flapping and taking the paint off the whatever. A lot of people cover their saddles with a shower cap or Lycra saddle cover, and some people cover their handlebars to keep the tape clean, but that's more an issue for roof racks than rear racks.

[Possegal]

As to the placement - if you have a 3-bike rack and only one bike on it, put it on the spot closest in to the car. I believe somewhere in the directions for the Saris bike rack it says that, but I've had mine for 4 yrs and don't really remember.

[DMC]

Many thanks!

Cover = sail...that makes sense. Glad I didn't learn from experience.

Thanks for the welcome! I have been lurking for quite a while. You ladies seem to have all the answers. Learned how to ride with my clipless pedals and how to fit myself for a new saddle from your posts.

[lo123]

Many thanks!

Cover = sail...that makes sense. Glad I didn't learn from experience.

Thanks for the welcome! I have been lurking for quite a while. You ladies seem to have all the answers. Learned how to ride with my clipless pedals and how to fit myself for a new saddle from your posts.

If you might be in inclement weather, you can use a Chain Condom http://www.chaincondom.com/ to protect your drive train.

[badgercat]

If you might be in inclement weather, you can use a Chain Condom http://www.chaincondom.com/ to protect your drive train.

I was just coming here to suggest the same thing! I have a roof rack, but I used a Chain Condom for a 1400+ mile drive this summer (which included a torrential downpour) and it worked great!

ETA: I would say not even just for inclement weather, though--I think the greater value is from preventing grit and grime from getting up in there.

[pll]

Looks like a great idea but I hate the phallic reference (is the company owner 12 years old?). Would have to get the Mt Ventoux special edition.