Very few of us have a vehicle big enough to transport bicycles on the inside. This means that for the rest of us, if we want to take our bikes on vacation or outinto the countryside we need some sort of bike rack to attach to our vehicle. There are four main categories of rack to choose from. These are: Roof racks. Strap-on tailgate racks. Towing hitch racks and racks thatmount in the bed of a pickup truck. Each type has its own advantages anddisadvantages so it’s important that you think carefully about how you're going touse your rack before deciding on the type to buy.
Strap-on racks
Strap-on racks are the cheapest type available. They are simple racks that restagainst the back of the vehicle and are attached by webbing straps with hooks thatcling onto the top and bottom edges of the tailgate. Strap-on bike racks are bestused for fairly short trips, as the straps can sometimes work loose on long journeys.Often your rear license plate will be obscured by this type of rack so a lighting boardwill be required to stay within the law. If you don’t already have a light socket fitted,getting one installed will push up your total price for the rack. One problem with thistype of rack is that the bikes can sometimes damage the car’s panels or paintjob.Also, the strap attachments can easily mark the paint under the points of contact.
Roof-mounted racks
These attach to standard roof bars. Some cars have longitudinal rails to which youcan attach a pair of cross bars but on other vehicles you’ll need to buy a separateroof rack and bike carrying attachments. Most cars can carry two bikes and some upto four this way. This type of rack is fairly secure and the bikes can be locked to therack quire easily. Depending on the height of your vehicle, getting the bikes on andoff the rack can be a struggle particularly if you are not very tall or muscular. Havingthe bikes up there in the wind can also cause a lot of drag, increasing your fuelconsumption.
Tow-hitch mounted racks
Towing hitch mounted racks are very sturdy and some will carry up to six bike. Theyare ideal if you already have a tow bar fitting. If you don’t, you’ll need to budget forthe added expense of fitting one. These are at a good low working height andconsequently are very easy to load and unload. Like the strap-on, they can obscurethe license plate so be aware of that. Some have a ‘swing away’ feature that allowsyou to open the tailgate even with bikes loaded. Some even allow you to tow atrailer at the same time.
These are great if you already own a pickup truck. The rack fits in the truck bed justbehind the cab and the bikes lock easily onto the rack. They are very safe, secure
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