I purchased a SeaSucker bike roof rack about 3yrs ago and have used many times and thought it was a great product until my bike flew off the top of my car into the middle of the interstate. I made sure the quick release was tight when I mounted the bike on the SeaSucker since I was traveling 13hours on an interstate with the speed limit at time 80mph.
About 9 hours into the trip my bike flew off the top of the car going about 80mph. The SeaSucker was still mounted to roof but the quick release some how must of come loose (vibration, force of wind, defect in product, doesn’t work at 80 mph with wind…I don’t know why this happened since I made sure too tighten when I mounted) and that what caused my bike to fly off. Thankfully no one was behind me and I did not cause an accident.
When stopped and picked up my bike there was not a scratch on it. The only visible damage was to the front break lever.
I ride a Specialized Tarmac Pro.
QUESTIONs:
How do I determine if my bike is still safe to ride and the carbon was not damaged? Would a local bike shop be the place to bring? Would they have the equipment/expertise to determine?
Also has anyone else had this happen to them using a SeaSucker roof rack? I haven’t yet contacted them but thought I would ask for opinions if I should. I am 100% sure the quick release was tight when I mounted bike to rack.
Your local bike shop knows nothing and will have nothing useful to contribute. Probably won’t be cheap, but I’d have a carbon repair place go over it, they’ll have ultrasound and be able to detect internal damage.
As for why, what quick releases do you use? I suspect there’s something with those that caused them to vibrate open along the way. Next time you’re on a long trip, if you use the same bike rack, mbe stop every few hours and double check your quick releases are still closed.
yes…I now agree about needing to check quick release often on long trips. I should of done that because every time I do stop I always check the SeaSucker suction and make sure it is fully engage.
I am not sure the type of quick release the SeaSucker bike rack uses. It built into the bike rack. I just take front wheel off my bike and place fork on rack that has quick release built in.
My other car has a Tule roof rack. I have always felt more comfortable with how fork goes into that bike rack since it is clamped into rack with something more than just a simple quick release. You can also lock the cover on the Tule where fork in clamped for extra protection.
I don’t know your rack specifically. But, I never rely on the QR as the sole means of keeping the bike on the rack. I always run a tie strap of some kind through the frame and the rack structure. Depending on the arrangement, I also try and actively tie the QR lever in place, so that everything is positively held in place.
As IMswimmer said, LBS won’t know squat—and, have nothing to offer that you haven’t already done (ie, “look for scratches”). Further, they aren’t likely to be willing to give you the “A-OK”, due to liability concerns.
That’s scary. I was thinking about the sea sucker mount as my car doesn’t have roof rails or ability for a trailer hitch. I always had a fear of the bike flying off on the highway.
That’s scary. I was thinking about the sea sucker mount as my car doesn’t have roof rails or ability for a trailer hitch. I always had a fear of the bike flying off on the highway.
This is highly likely a user error case, so if you use correctly, you shouldn’t worry about the technology. Or better yet, if you have a thru-axle bike, the issue the OP mentioned will never happen. However, it is still a good idea to check the suction of the cups once a few hours if you are on a long drive trip.
I have a sea-sucker and the quick release seems very solid on mine. Even when i open it, the lawyer tabs on the fork require me to unthread the skewer a bit. I can’t imagine that it would just unthread if it was tight and the dropouts were aligned correctly. My biggest beef with the rack is that the wind noise is loud, even if i don’t have a bike mounted.
With the way my car is shaped, mounting the cups on my sunroof gives me the best fitment of the bike. I’m more afraid my sunroof will fly off than the cups coming loose or quick release opening, but i also stop to check them occasionally to make sure the vacuum seal is still good.
Regarding the bike, I’m pretty dumb so i would probably look it over for damage and start riding it again if i didn’t see any damage. I’m not saying your bike is or isn’t safe…I’m just saying that if it was me personally, I’d treat it similar to if i crashed in a crit. Again, I’m a dummy and you shouldn’t take my advice as any sort of expert opinion.
Good to know. Tired of shoving bike in the back of an SUV.
What’s wrong with shoving the bike into the back of a car, let alone an SUV? It’s so freaking easy and light and it stays safe in there. Even if you only have a tiny car with no foldable rear seat, just go with a waxed chain and you can rapidly remove/install front and rear wheels with no mess or problem.
I myself would only get a bike rack if I had multiple bikes that couldn’t fit into my car (I might try), or family/passengers that make putting the bike in the car impossible. Luckily for me, my family isn’t interested in waking up a 5AM to go to T1.
Good to know. Tired of shoving bike in the back of an SUV.
What’s wrong with shoving the bike into the back of a car, let alone an SUV? It’s so freaking easy and light and it stays safe in there. Even if you only have a tiny car with no foldable rear seat, just go with a waxed chain and you can rapidly remove/install front and rear wheels with no mess or problem.
I myself would only get a bike rack if I had multiple bikes that couldn’t fit into my car (I might try), or family/passengers that make putting the bike in the car impossible. Luckily for me, my family isn’t interested in waking up a 5AM to go to T1.
Good to know. Tired of shoving bike in the back of an SUV.
What’s wrong with shoving the bike into the back of a car, let alone an SUV? It’s so freaking easy and light and it stays safe in there. Even if you only have a tiny car with no foldable rear seat, just go with a waxed chain and you can rapidly remove/install front and rear wheels with no mess or problem.
I myself would only get a bike rack if I had multiple bikes that couldn’t fit into my car (I might try), or family/passengers that make putting the bike in the car impossible. Luckily for me, my family isn’t interested in waking up a 5AM to go to T1.
Takes up space when traveling.
Also buy a ladder. And a second bike, for when you drive it into a garage.
Good to know. Tired of shoving bike in the back of an SUV.
What’s wrong with shoving the bike into the back of a car, let alone an SUV? It’s so freaking easy and light and it stays safe in there. Even if you only have a tiny car with no foldable rear seat, just go with a waxed chain and you can rapidly remove/install front and rear wheels with no mess or problem.
I myself would only get a bike rack if I had multiple bikes that couldn’t fit into my car (I might try), or family/passengers that make putting the bike in the car impossible. Luckily for me, my family isn’t interested in waking up a 5AM to go to T1.
Takes up space when traveling.
Also buy a ladder. And a second bike, for when you drive it into a garage.
For most sedans, I can drive into my garage with the bike mounted on the seasucker
I can’t with any of my cars when its on the roof.
I have one car (a '67 firebird) where I can put the mount near the top of the glass on the rear window and the tire sits on the trunk. That car can make it but its too close for comfort so I take it off.
I don’t know your rack specifically. But, I never rely on the QR as the sole means of keeping the bike on the rack. I always run a tie strap of some kind through the frame and the rack structure. Depending on the arrangement, I also try and actively tie the QR lever in place, so that everything is positively held in place.
+1
I never ever carry anything on a roofrack without a secondary rope/strap tied down, preferably to something other than the rack.
no SPOF is a primary precautionary principle…
to the other question, is the bike safe to ride ?
do you feel lucky ?
Zinn thinks the ultrasonic testing isn’t enough. The manufacturers seem to like visual inspections, coin taps, etc. But they won’t guarantee anything from those tests.
I had an early carbon fly rod delaminate explosively after a similar shock - rod in its case fell ten feet onto rocks, when I slipped on ice backpacking out of an early blizzard. There were no signs of damage on the rod, but the next time I was casting for distance and stressing it, the rod shattered.
In your place I would not ride your bike again…