cycle roof rack carrier 26 July 2014 at 11:02AM edited 26 July 2014 at 11:04AM in Public Transport & Cycling 14 replies 1K views

constantworrier

Hi Guys. My friend has just asked me to look for one of these for 2 bikes. She said their car already has fittings or something (qashqai, Nissan?) and someone told her you can get them for £20 but I've looked around and can't see any for that price. Any advice please.

Avoriaz

I can't help on your question but tell your friend to be very careful driving with bikes on the roof.

The vehicle gains several feet in overall height and more than one driver has driven into a car park under a barrier that is higher than the car roof but lower than the height of the bikes.

An expensive and unpleasant mistake to make.

constantworrier

Thanks Avoriaz, will tell her.

sniggings

go to Halfords they sell this sort of thing all day long.

Must say I would probably opt for the type that carry the bikes on the back of the car than the top, probably easier to load too.

Nebulous2

If she already has roof bars then these are a good option, but you are looking at more like £100 for two than £20.

Any bike carrying system will involve compromises. Rear mounted ones may obscure lights and we use a lighting board, which may need a towbar or at least the electrical socket for one.

constantworrier

Thanks Nebulous2 and sniggings

PasturesNew

Has she thought that in the wind/driving rain, she's got to somehow manage to get the bike upside down and pick it up and get up a ladder (so would have to carry one), to lug it up onto the roof, then stretch over (while standing on a ladder in the wind/rain) to secure it?

Unless she's well over 6' high with a mini.

Lots of things "look a good idea" until you work through the detail of how you achieve it.

constantworrier

Thanks PasturesNew. No I don't think they thought about that, thanks will tell her.

photome

PasturesNew wrote: »

Has she thought that in the wind/driving rain, she's got to somehow manage to get the bike upside down and pick it up and get up a ladder (so would have to carry one), to lug it up onto the roof, then stretch over (while standing on a ladder in the wind/rain) to secure it?

Unless she's well over 6' high with a mini.

Lots of things "look a good idea" until you work through the detail of how you achieve it.

Its not hard to get a bike on and off a roof on a normal car (i have an estate) but it will be a little harder on a qashqui (sp)

I use the thule 532, £80 a pair at Halfords at mo (hot uk deals) although i have used roofbox.co.uk many times and found them to be very good.

you will also need roof bars as well though

I prefer roof mounted carriers than tailgate mounted much more secure and you still have access.

You can also get tow bar mounted which are very good but more expensive

RichardD1970

PasturesNew wrote: »

Has she thought that in the wind/driving rain, she's got to somehow manage to get the bike upside down and pick it up and get up a ladder (so would have to carry one), to lug it up onto the roof, then stretch over (while standing on a ladder in the wind/rain) to secure it?

Unless she's well over 6' high with a mini.

Lots of things "look a good idea" until you work through the detail of how you achieve it.

Why do you need to get the bike upside down?

I have never had a problem getting my bikes onto the roof and I have a C4 Grand Picasso (I'm not over 6" tall).

I have Halfords own and they are fine, although looking at the current ones they are only suitable for square bars and I have aero.

Of course you could always go the whole hog and get a dedicated car for transporting your bikes,

https://www.facebook.com/JaguarUK/photos/pcb.784144068275440/784143654942148/?type=1

constantworrier

Thanks photome and RichardD1970.

They are going to buy the ones for the roof from Halfords.

Thanks a lot everyone.