How to put on a Bike Rack the correct way
The market for bike racks caters to the diamond frame, which features a straight top tube across the top of the bicycle frame.
Step-through bikes, once called Ladies bikes, often are missing or have an adjusted top tube on the frame to allow easier mounting and dismounting. Kids bikes also feature frames differing from the norm. If you’re trying to mount either of these, you could run into issues.
Bike racks come in three main types, which each have their own restrictions. They can hold between 2 and 5 bicycles and can be installed on the Trailer Hitch, the Roof, or attached to the Trunk.
Different bikes
Invented in the 19th century, bicycles have gone through many design changes. Most bikes today use diamond frames, which have a straight top tube. Step-Through Bicycles and Kids bikes have lowered, slanted, or absent top tubes.
Step-Through Bicycle
These bicycles were once known as Womens or Ladies bikes because of their lower top tube, allowing a rider to wear a dress or skirt during use. They have several advantages over the diamond frame.
Step-through frames are more suited for elderly and restricted agility riders. Their lower or absent top tubes allow for easier mounting and dismounting. They’re often used for utility bicycles, where the rider would have to make many stops.
These bikes are also often heavier and more difficult to mount on a bike rack because of their design.
Kids Bikes
Kids bike frames are miniaturized diamond frames or step-through frames. Most bike racks use the top tube of the bicycle frame as a mounting point.
This can lead to problems with mounting kids bikes because of the smaller area available.
Types of bike rack
Depending on the bike rack you have, you could face different issues. We’ll walk through the three main types, and how to mount a bike onto each bike rack correctly.
It’s very important to note – always strap down your bikes when mounting them on your bike rack. Immobilize the tires and the handlebars so they can’t turn and strap them securely to the supports of your bike rack.
Trunk Bike Rack
This is the cheapest option. Trunk mounted bike racks are suited for use by many vehicles, mounting on the trunk, rear bumper, or hatchback. While these are inexpensive, they are more likely to cause damage to the vehicle or bikes than the other options.
On a trunk mounted bike rack, two supports carry the weight of the bike. These supports can be padded or not, depending on how much you pay.
To properly mount a step-through bike, the best option is to purchase a top tube adapter – an accessory that creates a top tube for mounting.
If you can’t do that, mount it as best you can between the two supports – paying special attention to keep the center of gravity of the bike down. Strap it down firmly, making sure that it won’t wiggle around if you hit a pothole. Make sure you’re padding any areas that come in contact with the supports. If you are in the market, then take a look at the best trunk bike rack reviews.
For children’s bikes, there is less of a need for a top tube adapter. Mount the child’s bike onto the supports as best you can and lash it down well.
Roof Bike Rack
Roof bike racks come in a couple of varieties – some attach to existing roof racks, such as those found on SUVs, while others mount to the upper door frame using clips and mounting feet. They can be either upright, holding the bike by the frame or pedal crank, or use a fork-mount that requires the front wheel to be removed.
These carriers shouldn’t have an issue with most step-through and kids bikes – attaching to the lower parts of the frame instead of the top tube. Their major downsides are how complicated they can be to install, as well as decreased gas mileage because of wind resistance.
Similar to the Trunk Bike Rack, always ensure that your bikes are lashed down securely, with their tires and handlebars immobile.
Trailer Hitch Bike Rack
These are the most expensive option but have the easiest installation if the hitch hardware is already present on your vehicle. These can come with either a tray that holds the bikes from their tires, or supports that hold the frame similar to a trunk-mounted rack.
The tray mount version should safely accommodate most bicycle frames without issue.
If using the support mount version, the steps are similar to a trunk bike rack.
Place the bike onto the supports, doing your best to keep the center of gravity down between the two supports. For step-through and children’s bikes, you may need to macgyver it a little if you don’t have a top tube adapter. The most important thing, though, is to strap your bike down. An improperly mounted bike will go flying at the first pothole.
Immobilize the tires and handlebars by strapping them to the frame of the bike. Lash the whole bike down and make sure it won’t wiggle if you go over a bump or hit a pothole.
Staying safe and doing it right
No matter which bike rack you’re using, there are a few universal truths when mounting your bike for travel. No matter how well you strap it down, it will probably wiggle at some point. Always pad between your bike and anything that might scratch it. If you’re carrying multiple bikes, pad between them.
Follow these general guidelines, and you can’t go wrong:
- Keep the bike weight balanced, and the center of gravity down
- Always use padding to prevent scratching your bike frames
- Mount heavier and easier to mount bikes closer to the vehicle if using trunk or hitch racks
- Always immobilize the wheels and handlebars with straps
- Make sure that your bike is securely strapped down to the supports
- Make sure that no part of bike hangs below the bumper or obstructs exhaust
- Keep license plate and rear vehicle lights unobscured
Conclusion
Between different bike frames and multiple bike racks, it can be difficult to know if you’re mounting yours correctly. Hopefully, this guide has helped to answer some of your questions.
Just remember – safety first. Always assume that you will hit a pothole and strap your bikes down securely. Don’t let your bike become another highway casualty.
BIKE RACKS ON SALE
- Enhanced Durability: This bike rack is equipped with a hitch adapter to fit standard 1-1/4" and 2" hitch receivers, ensuring broad compatibility
- Versatile Hitch Compatibility: Designed to be used on Class I, II, III, and IV hitches, this bike rack is adaptable and suitable for various types of vehicles
- Secure Bike Transportation: Transport up to 2 bikes securely with the improved rubber bike cradles and buckle-type straps. These features allow your bikes to remain stable during travel
- Sturdy Design: The built-in locking knob keeps the main upright sturdy, minimizing wobble and enhancing stability while on the move
- Weight Capacity: The rack supports a maximum capacity of 100 lbs, with a limit of 50 lbs per bike. This ensures safe and reliable bike transportation
- Color Variation Note: Please be aware that the pad color may slightly differ, offering a variation in appearance
- Compatibility Note: Please note that our 50025 Bike Rack is designed for bikes with a horizontal top bar frame. For different style bike frames, the addition or installation of a horizontal crossbar may be necessary (not included)
- Important Note: Due to the increased distance between the rear bumper and the axle on trailers or RVs compared to cars or SUVs, using bike racks and cargo carriers in this scenario is not advisable.
- Bikes mounted on RV's, trailers, fifth-wheels may experience increased bouncing, swaying, and stress. Always use tie downs and straps during transport for added safety
- Enables bicycle transport by adding top tube to suspension, step through, bmx, and women's style bicycles
- Internal spring maintains constant tension to securely transport bicycle
- Plastic coated hooks protect your bicycle's finish
- Fits bicycles with between 18" and 27" between headset and seatpost
- THE PERFECT BIKE STORAGE SOLUTION - Vibrelli's Swivel bike wall mount stores bike flat against the wall to free up floor space. Ideal for apartments, homes, garage bike storage, and sheds. Wall mount bike hanger fits most bikes including road, MTB wall mount, bmx, cruisers, even bikes with fenders. Mountain bike wall mount is not suitable for deep wheels which are over 3.54â / 9cm from rim to outside of wheel.
- SAFE & SECURE - Vertical bike wall mount - The angled hook allows for easy mounting and dismounting. Rubber coated wall mount hook relieves pressure on the wheels, rims, and spokes and protects from unwanted scratches. Holds bikes up to 30 kg/66.2 lbs.
- BIKE STORAGE FOR TIGHT SPACES - Wall mount bike rack conveniently stores bikes in center, left or right-angled position, perfect for inside apartments or around parked cars. Simply hook the front wheel into position, place the rear wheel against the stabilizer, and swivel bike rack wall mount to desired angle. Your bike will stay in position providing secure storage.
- FIVE MINUTE INSTALLATION - Detailed, step-by-step instructions provided. Swivel bike rack wall mount comes with mounting screws for concrete, masonry or stud walls. IMPORTANT - only install the bike wall hanger on a solid stud, beam, masonry, or concrete wall. DO NOT install on 'unsupported' wall surfaces such as plasterboard walls unless there is a strong wooden stud behind it.
- IRONCLAD WARRANTY - Backed by our ironclad 10-year manufacturers' warranty against manufacturing defects. Vibrelli's swivel bike wall mounts are designed by cyclists for cyclists and built to last.
- Enhanced Durability: This bike rack is equipped with a hitch adapter to fit standard 1-1/4" and 2" hitch receivers, ensuring broad compatibility
- Versatile Hitch Compatibility: Designed to be used on Class I, II, III, and IV hitches, this bike rack is adaptable and suitable for various types of vehicles
- Secure Bike Transportation: Transport up to 2 bikes securely with the improved rubber bike cradles and buckle-type straps. These features allow your bikes to remain stable during travel
- Sturdy Design: The built-in locking knob keeps the main upright sturdy, minimizing wobble and enhancing stability while on the move
- Weight Capacity: The rack supports a maximum capacity of 100 lbs, with a limit of 50 lbs per bike. This ensures safe and reliable bike transportation
- Color Variation Note: Please be aware that the pad color may slightly differ, offering a variation in appearance
- Compatibility Note: Please note that our 50025 Bike Rack is designed for bikes with a horizontal top bar frame. For different style bike frames, the addition or installation of a horizontal crossbar may be necessary (not included)
- Important Note: Due to the increased distance between the rear bumper and the axle on trailers or RVs compared to cars or SUVs, using bike racks and cargo carriers in this scenario is not advisable.
- Bikes mounted on RV's, trailers, fifth-wheels may experience increased bouncing, swaying, and stress. Always use tie downs and straps during transport for added safety
- Improve stability:The bicycle tire storage rack is attached between the grooves of the luggage shelf to improve stability, but only the car with this trunk rack can be used.
- Convenient and fast: The bicycle fork bracket is comfortable and quick with quick release design. It does not damage the paint, is easy to carry, no burden.
- Easy to install: With the most suitable size and weight, the fork mounted bike rack is easy to carry. Both installation and disassembly are very convenient.
- Wide range of uses: The quick release bike block is convenient for storage or transportation. It can be quickly mounted on a truck truck, van, trailer, RV, garage, home or shed for storage.
- Sturdy and durable: This bike fork mount is made of high-quality aluminum alloy, not easy to break, not easy to rust, is very strong and durable, and can be used for a long time.
- Rackless, soft pannier bags are ready for any day trip adventure.
- Perfect for off-road and smaller ADV motorcycles.
- Durable construction and materials that feature YKK zippers and Duraflex hardware, nylon shell and straps, and TPU reinforcements.
- Easily installed, with or without a top-rack.
- Tapered profile doesn’t interfere with the rider and keeps items secure to the bike.
- 200 CFM OF FORCED AIR VIA DUAL FANS blow air directly into gear for quick drying times
- HEATED OR AMBIENT AIR and CUSTOMIZABLE TIME SETTINGS. GearDryer heats the air temperature approx. 35 degrees above ambient air temperature for gentle drying and warming and allows for timed drying options from 15-minutes to 24-hours
- EASY WALL MOUNT INSTALLATION. Optional Freestanding and Rolling Wheel Kit sold separately
- CUSTOMIZABLE PORTS can dry or warm 6 pairs of boots, shoes, gloves, helmets, waders, and more
- SPECIFICATIONS Plugs into any 120-volt outlet--no professional installation needed | heavy-duty steel construction with a durable powder coat finish | 16” W x 6”D x 46”H | 46lbs
- Bike Mount.
- Compatible devices Edge 1000,Edge 20 ,Edge 200 ,Edge 25,Edge 500 ,Edge 510,Edge 520 ,Edge 800 ,Edge 810 ,Edge 820 ,Edge Explore 1000 ,Edge Explore 820 ,Edge Touring ,Edge Touring Plus ,Varia Rearview Radar
- Secures unit to handlebar
- Mount fits up to a one inch diameter bar.
- Perfect for bike
- Bike rack straps for the sport rider and trail rider wheel holders
- If you need to install your bike on the vehicle and drive on the road, you must use a bike strap. They maximize the stability of the bike wheels and brake levers during transport, preventing the wheel from moving and wiggling to the left or right, ensuring you safe driving. They are standard on most bike rack frames
- Bike stabilizer straps are made of nylon material. Hook and loop closure allows you to freely adjust the strap and make it easy to quickly bundle. Cinches and here's to itself for a firm hold (Cycle life ≥10,000 times). Suitable for securing cargo, toolboxes, luggage, equipment, power cord, extension cord, and more
- The bike straps for rack has a rectangular ring that has greater strength than a typical hook and loop strap. They are easy to use and versatile, making them very suitable for organizing and secure items in homes, workshops, boats, camping, trucks, cars or bikes
- The package includes 4 pack 26 "x 2" black straps and 4 pack 8 "x 0.8" black + purple straps. Multiple straps can be combined together to extend any desired length. Designed for indoor and outdoor use, it is fully adjustable
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