Best way to carry a Downhill Bike on a car.

MrsBartolozzi

My son has bought a downhill bike with a similar frame to this one.
None of the roof mounted carriers I've looked at will carry this because the frame is too chunky to fit in the clamp. Does anyone have any experience of carrying this kind of bike, or could give me some ideas please?
I don't have a tow bar on my car, so while this is an option I'd rather spend a bit more on a roof mounted one if it would be cheaper than the buying/fitting of a tow bar + rack.

Thanks in advance.

neilmcl

What sort of car have you got? Could it not go in the boot?

Gloomendoom

Get a tow bar fitted... and get your son to pay for it.

Mids_Costcutter

This roof-mounted bike carrier doesn't clamp the frame at all, the bike is secured by its forks:

http://www.thule.com/en/GB/Products/Bike-Carriers/RoofCarriers/Thule-OutRide-561#

Should do the job?

forgotmyname

Cannot see any problems carrying that.

Roofbars will either be attached by the wheels with steady bars to the frame, Or seatpost or even the handlebars.

Other type the bike fits upside down. Seat locates into a bracket and the handlebars get clamped. It goes nowhere.

photome

I have thule roof mounted carriers and the clamp that fits to the frame would prob fit round the frame in your link, both my bikes have oversize frames and they fit with no problems

MrsBartolozzi

Thanks for your answers. Ive tried thule root carrier and the bit of the frame the clamp hits is just above the pedal where the frame is about 7 inches in circumference.
Bike won't fit in boot, its a megane hatch and bike frame is a large size, 30" wheels etc.
I'm liking the idea of an upside down carrier though so ill look into that after work today, thanks.
Getting a quote for a towbar too, sigh kids eh?

vikingaero

I was going to suggest a boot mounted carrier with an adaptor:

http://www.origin.thule.com/en/GB/Products/Bike-Carriers/Accessories/Thule-Bike-Frame-Adapter-982

If your car has low set rear lights then buy a high mounted carrier and vice versa.

Mrs V has a Y shaped frame on her Specialized bike and the Thule clamp works fine. You just have to be creative in placing the bike on the bar and we slide the wheel clamps towards the rear of the rail.

forgotmyname

I have a towbar mounted carrier also. It clips onto the towbar with a single snap action.

Will fit flanged towbars or swan neck ones etc. But you will probably need a trailer board for the lights and numberplate.

Seem to have clamped down on this.

red_eye

MrsBartolozzi wrote: »

My son has bought a downhill bike with a similar frame to this one.
None of the roof mounted carriers I've looked at will carry this because the frame is too chunky to fit in the clamp. Does anyone have any experience of carrying this kind of bike, or could give me some ideas please?
I don't have a tow bar on my car, so while this is an option I'd rather spend a bit more on a roof mounted one if it would be cheaper than the buying/fitting of a tow bar + rack.

Thanks in advance.

nice gambler, best way to do it if you dont want to spend money is to remove the wheels and put it in the boot or see if you can mount the bike upside down.
have a look on chainreaction.com