About Car Bike Racks
Car bike racks make life so much easier for active bikers because they allow us to travel to any destination with our bike. Going mountain biking or to the lake is more convenient when you can simply strap your bike to the top of your vehicle. Car bike racks are a must have car accessory for anyone who loves the great out doors. Many cars come equipped with bike racks or you can simply buy a bike rack and install it yourself.
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Function
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Car bike racks are located on the exterior of a car. The main function of a car bike rack is to provide a safe way to transport one or more bikes. The bike rack helps to keep the bike in place while driving.
Types
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Rear bike racks are installed at the back of a vehicle. These racks allow you to mount your bike using straps and brackets. Rear bike racks are great for people who are short stature because the back of the vehicle is not as high as the roof, making mounting much easier.
Roof racks are attached on the top of a vehicle. It is not always easy to mount bikes on top of a vehicle especially if the vehicle is a large SUV. People who use roof racks need to remember that the bikes are on the top of the roof before going through a drive thru or pulling into a garage.
Hitch racks are also placed on the back of a vehicle, however these racks are attached on a trailer hitch, and making damage to vehicle from the bike rack less likely. -
Size
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Some car bike racks are adjustable to fit the car. However, some bike racks are only made to fit certain cars so it is important to measure the dimensions of the rack and your car to ensure a perfect fit. A rear bike rack is usually a foot or longer in length. Know the size of your hitch if you need a hitch rack because these racks come in various sizes for different hitches.
Significance
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Car bike racks are important because it secures and cradles the bike to prevent damage to the car or bike. The purpose of the rack is to hold the bike in place and prevent any movement or scratching up against the car. Car bike racks make traveling with your bike simple.
Considerations
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If you live in a high crime area you may want to consider buying a bike rack that locks. This will give you additional protection just in case anyone tries to steal your bike.
If you own a large tall vehicle you may want to consider buying a hitch or rear bike rack. However, if would have a small car, roof racks are wonderful.
If you are on a tight budget consider buying a rear rack because this type is generally the least expensive.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Flickr pokeweedthecat
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Comments
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powdermonkey
Sep 27, 2010
If the roof mount bike rack is the best option, recognize the ability to upgrade standard crossbars to Wasatch Powder Monkeys' evolutionary SmartCrossbars. These crossbars work with all standard Thule® and Yakima® feet and towers and deliver the following additional benefits: - Less wind noise - Less wind resistance for better gas mileage and a lower CO2 footprint - Easy to get stuff on and off, so - Reduce component wear & tear (since it's easy to take off) - Seamless movement between vehicles - use 1 set of attachments for all your vehicles Another added security benefit, per the above article, is SmartCrossbars ability to lock attachments 'into' the rack. This provides a higher level of security then standard crossbars.
