Time to buy a bicycle rack and looking for input

[BonnieS]

Catrin, do you use something like WD40? Just spray it on?

[goldfinch]

I have a Yakima heavy duty rack that I like a lot. However, it is hard to get on and off because of the weight. It folds up nicely and stays on my car all summer. My spouse doesn't like it because it is so heavy.

Muriel, we also have a rack that looks like the rack in your first link. It is much lighter than the Yakima and I can easily use it myself. However, those center thingies that hook over the top tube of the bike are fussy. They sometimes are difficult to get up and down. The foam covering on our's moved and the metal ended up scratching my bike. At least it was my ratty hybrid. But the scratch is big and ugly. I do not like the rack other than the fact that it is light and easy to store. But my review is colored because of the scratch.

[murielalex]

I'm really torn. I'm very tempted to get the single 1UP for the exact reason you listed and buy a second section when I have more free funds, but I plan on putting fenders on my Gunnar, and from what I can tell, that would probably be a no go. Yet, I have a Kirk coming in late Spring, and the last thing I want to do is worry about the paint, and I would. Right now I have a Saris Bones, and on the very first time I put my Gunnar on, it damaged the decals on the seat tube.

[spindizzy]

I bought the 1-UP this summer and have absolutely no regrets. Easy to install. I first took short trips first with the roadie- had great fears that my bike would fall off because it was so easy to put on. Spent a lot of time checking the rearview mirror Travelled to Tremblant from Toronto. Bike made it unscathed. Then another long 8 hour road trip back to Ontario. Windy weather. Bike is still intact. Took rack off for the winter- again - pretty easy. I will buy the add on for travelling with 2 bikes. Love this rack!

[murielalex]

Oh, I'm so glad you posted! Are fenders out, as I suspect?

[thekarens]

We got the Kuat NV. We decided as much as we spent on our bikes it was worth spending a little more. It's nice, has an integrated bike lock and bike repair stand http://kuatracks.com/en/products/bike/the-nv/

It was a toss up between that one and the 1Up. The Kuat we could get local and a discount through our bike club so we went that direction.

[murielalex]

Hmmm. I like. Does the cable have any kind of covering on it so it wouldn't damage paint?

[thekarens]

It's not coated. Haven't had a problem with the paint so far. I suppose if I were worried I could wrap it with a towel or something....I'll be honest, that thought never crossed my mind.

[goldfinch]

Oh, I'm so glad you posted! Are fenders out, as I suspect?

I am not so sure. Our Yakima rack has a similar bar that goes over the wheel. My spouse puts his bike with fenders on that rack, he just doesn't force the bar down as hard as when it is directly on the wheel. Nevertheless, it seems stable. But maybe he is taking a risk, I just don't know.

[Trek-chick]

Here is a photo of the Saris Freedom Rack in action. I LOVE this rack!!!! Easy set-up and getting the bike on/off is a breeze.

[gnat23]

Another vote for the Kuat. I have one on my Mini Cooper, and I *always* get comments about it. It's spiffy-easy to use, love the integrated lock for those emergency grocery stops, and feels good and sturdy.

-- gnat!

[BonnieS]

Trek-Chick, What a great picture of your Saris Freedom! I am getting that exact rack this week. Plus a pin to keep it locked on the car. So excited. And it's several months away from outside cycling yet!

[indysteel]

I am not so sure. Our Yakima rack has a similar bar that goes over the wheel. My spouse puts his bike with fenders on that rack, he just doesn't force the bar down as hard as when it is directly on the wheel. Nevertheless, it seems stable. But maybe he is taking a risk, I just don't know.

We do the same thing with our Thule rack and our fendered touring bikes--but only for short trips. When we drove out to Maine this past fall (21 hours), we just removed the fenders and then put them back on when we got there. Same thing with a 5-hour drive to Saint Louis two years ago. It's not that hard to install them and it gave us a bit more peace of mind.

[spindizzy]

Oh, I'm so glad you posted! Are fenders out, as I suspect?

I think they would be. I am thinking of where that bar sits on my wheel and where fenders usually are.

I like that integrated lock on the Saris Freedom Rack! that would be the downside of the 1UP. I usually will make a stop or 2 on the way home from wherever I cycled that day. Threading a cable lock is a pain. Minor, but still a pain.

[Catrin]

My Thule has a lock on the arm that goes down over the wheel - to my mind that is better than a cable lock. There is an additional cable lock installed on the rack but it is optional - you have to purchase a lock core for it. To me the placement of it is awkward, I prefer the clock on the arm much better - much more difficult to cut.