I’m trying to figure out the best way to transport my bike with my car. I have no hitch so I can’t use one of those carriers. I have these roof rails but they don’t have channels and are curved so I can’t exactly use something like this (https://a.co/d/03tQBxhI). If they were flat I’d get those then just drill some holes for bolts. (I could do that still but I’d either have to do it right in the middle or have it slightly leaning) Putting the bike inside is somewhat of an option but it’s an awkward fit.
Anyone have any advice?
Edit: I made a comment with more info about the possibility of adding a hitch https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycling/s/DI2QGnSkoY
by imaginarytoby
15 Comments
Swagman Standards and Uprights clamp on the bars,
Have a hitch installed. It is worth the expense.
Install a hitch on your car
Aftermarket hitches are available for most vehicles. I much prefer a hitch rack over other solutions.
Anyway, you’re looking for roof racks using factory bars, [https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Roof_Bike_Racks-pc-Factory_Bars.aspx](https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Roof_Bike_Racks-pc-Factory_Bars.aspx)
Get a bike rack that fits your roof rails.
What car do you own?
if you want to use your roof rails you will need something like this: https://a.co/d/0bZ3Nrhw
you could also look into something clamp on like the saris bones series for your hatchback door. i have one and it actually holds up not bad…but probably won’t survive if you are off-roading.
hitch is probably the best if you can spring for it.
I see your car here is inside a garage.
Just sayin’: when I bought my first bike, I thought, oh, I have roof rails, I’ve seen those clamps for bikes, right? So I asked the shop person because they had one for like $200 or something. She said, “That’s the single most expensive way to transport a bike, bar none.” I was like, well, it’s quite a bit more than that to install a hitch and buy a hitch rack… Turns out that about 97.356%* of people who put a bike on their roof *forget* it’s up there at a particularly bad time, *at least once*. And once is all it takes!
*made up statistic, but ya know, it’s certainly non-zero.
Look at seasucker. I just bought one after owning a Thule trunk rack and love it.
Install a hitch. The third time your bike falls on you trying to put it up on the roof will be your clue.
Hitch.
Is this an suv? Can’t you just fold the backseat down and toss it back there?
Going up top sucks its a pain in the … also it
Will cost as much as a receiver style hitch
Get the hitch
hitch rack or it’s not if it’s when you ask yourself “why didn’t i go with the hitch rack??” lozzz
Buy something like a Yakima Frontloader.