Anyone ever have this happen? I’m not a big fan of racks. In fact, my bikes have vary rarely been on them. I just bought a new Felt F55 and I’m taking a trip with some people who have a brand new rack ( hitch) that has never been used before. This actually scares me it being new! It’s never been tried out. I’ve seen someone beside the road before with their bike crunched from falling off a bike rack. Am I just being paranoid?
get it insured, and secure it yourself, stick your head out the window every now and then and check it.
i’ve had a yakima roof rack for years, it never gave my trouble and seems to hold my bike very securely. However there was that time I drove my road bike into the overhang at the parking garage…but who hasn’t done that…it was an excuse for a new bike and a new rack.
I have a hitch rack now and it always freaks me out because it bounces around, very unsettling. when I had a roof rack I would triple check it before I got in the car. I have been know to get out at a stop light to verify it is all correct:) Had a friend in college lose a mtn bike of the top of a jetta, bounce of the trunk and on to the highway at about 75MPH.
You need these by Sportworks:
I used to have roof racks but was always nervous about hitting things and the bikes being exposed to the 80mph air/bugs/dirt so I got one of these. They load in seconds and hold fast. They’re expensive but work great and you can expand them to hold 4 bikes. Lance has them on his Suburban and Subaru if that matters.
I have a saris bones trunk rack, been using it for two seasons now with no issues. The trunk lid would have to fly off for the bike to move.
always taking a chance of one sort or another with any kind of rack. just make sure everything is secure.
i think your biggest issue with a roof rack is low overhead like a garage or low cover at a gas station or drive thru.
with a trunk or hitch mount…its the guy behind you that becomes the concern.
I had a roof-rack jetison off the top with my Serotta on it. Rack and bike left together off at about 70 mph. Serotta really not damaged too badly, raced it the next day. A cheap roof-rack is no bargain. I now have a Yakima, no problems.
just lost my new one off bike off the roof rack coming home from a race. The rack failed after no problems for about 3 years. Its a bummer, my bikes are inside for the time being, but I’ll need to get a new rack as the inside is overstuffed.
-SD