Imagine this, you have exhausted all your options but couldn’t quite find the right guide to buying a bike rack for that beautiful bike of yours? One article speaks of three racks, another speaks of five.
Who to believe? What to believe? What if there are still other options?
Well,this is where your search should end, as you will find all your answers.
I have put together a comprehensive guide with all different types of bike racks to help you pick the right one for the love of your life without racking your brain up.
So, let’s dive in deep!
Different Types of Bike Racks for Car
You want my honest opinion on this? You’ll have a number of bike racks. People divide these things into classes as well as where you’re mounting the object. Let’s
Roof Bike Racks
Well, their name gives the mystery away!
Roof bike racks are attached to your vehicle’s roof rack or upper door frames. They are one of the most popular choices to transport bikes. These racks require you to have a pre-existing roof rack system where the roof rack hangs onto.
In terms of design, you can either opt for an upright roof rack where you mount your bike on both the wheels or a fork mount one where you remove the front wheel before mounting.
Pros
Two of its biggest advantages lie in its clear visibility and easy accessibility. These racks offer an unrestricted view from the rear window and allow you to access the trunk fully without having to unload your vehicle.
With some larger vehicles, these racks will allow you to carry up to 7 bikes. On top of that, they also boast of being one of the most affordable options in the market compared to other traditional options.
Cons
One of the biggest drawbacks of this setup is that it disturbs the aerodynamics of your vehicle and increases fuel consumption by almost 30%, creating a rattling noise at the same time.
In some cases, these aren’t the safest option due to the lack of sturdiness.You also have to lift your bike all the way up to your head to station it, which increases the chances of damage to both of your vehicles.
Below are the two different designs they come in.
Upright Roof Mount Racks
Thesedon’t need you to remove the front wheel from your bike. You can load them easily with both wheels attached and have the bike sitting in an upright position (hence the name). Mostly, the wheels are attached to two hoops and tightened by a knob.
Pros
On top of their advantage in their easy accessibility to the car’s trunk, they allow rear-view mirror clearance. The hoops are large enough to hold different types of bikes. You can also carry other sporting gear on them when not using them to carry your bikes up there.
Cons
Their increased fuel consumption is definitely a disappointment. Also, lifting your bike in an upright position to load over your car would be tiring and time-consuming. It might also damage your car’s rooftop while lifting your bike up there.
Fork Mount Roof Rack
Theserequire you to remove the front wheel from your bike before loading them up above your car. Your bikes are attached to the rack by the fork, hence the name”Fork Mount Roof Racks.”
Pros
They have better aerodynamics when compared to upright roof-mount racks, producing reducednoise. Also, they hold your bikes much more tightly by the fork and let you easily access the trunk, offering rear-view clearance at the same time.
Cons
Opening the front wheel and mounting your baby would be the last thing you would want to do after a tiring, sweaty ride, and that’s where the problem comes in. Add with that the chances of roof racks damaging your car,and you are up for a not-so-smooth ride back home.
Hitch Bike Racks
You can mount these handsome hunks at the back of your car by sliding them onto the receiver tube of its trailer hitch. They come in different sizes and specifications depending on the various classes of hitches (Class I, Class II, or Class III).
Hitch mount racks are best suited for taller vehicles, and the best part about them is their cost-effectiveness. Just hold them up by their necks and mount them over the rack. Then, secure them tightly with the attachments provided, and youare ready for your tour.
Pros
Lifting my bike up in the air is the last thing I would want to do after a five-hour adventure ride. With these racks, I have learned to put that habit behind and just drive back home safely.
Also, they are quite eco-friendly as they burn up to 30% less fuel as a result of not interfering with your car’s aerodynamics, which unfortunately roof racks are guilty of doing.
You can install and remove them easily and mount 4-7 bikes.
I have had friends who forgot they had a bike up there while parking and trust me, that wasn’t a pleasant experience. With these racks, you could worry less about accidentally beheading your bike.
They also keep your bike away from the car chassis, preventing any scratches or dents to either of them. Most of them also come in with their own built-in locking mechanisms that protect your babies from being stolen — preventing every traveler’s worst nightmare. I have been there, felt that.
Cons
Since it’s primarily rear-mounted, it blocks access to the trunk.There are certain designs that move away to give you access, but as we move high up the design ladder, the higher we move up the price ladder. It blocks rearward visibility and creates hindrance while parking too.
Also, if your vehicle doesn’t come with a hitch, you need to install one.
Coming to designs, they are mainly of three types-
Platform Style Hitch Rack
If the hitch rack behaves like a platform and allows the wheels of the bike to rest on them, then that’s a platform style hitch rack. You can just load your bikes without lifting them.
Pros
Their biggest advantage lies in their sturdiness and security. They hold your bikes securely and firmly both at the wheels and the frame. There is ample space in between the racks to avoid contact between the bikes and the racks. It’s easier to load and unload bikes.
Cons
They are very heavy, and that can be a bummer. When not in use, storing them can be a hassle. It’s a bit harder to install and uninstall, and it also blocks access to the rear end of the vehicle.
Hanging Style Hitch Rack
As the name suggests, these racks are hanging, and the bike frame rests on them. They are lighter than platform racks.
Pros
I found the installation and uninstallation to be really easy, and they also don’t extend very far out from the vehicle. Above all, I could fold them up and store them easily.
Cons
You need to lift the bikes higher as they can touch each other and have dents and scratches from this contact, so that’s a huge disappointment. Also, if your bikes lack a straight tube, you will need an adapter bar to use it. I also needed an anti-sway bar to prevent my babies from swaying and damaging themselves.
Now, these racks also come in different designs.
Tilt Down Hitch Racks
With these racks, you can tilt the carrier down, thus paving the way for accessing the hatch of your vehicle. These racks pivot up and down with the help of levers.
Pros
I could find them for both 1.25 and 2-inch hitches and easily access the rear end of my vehicle using this. Storage also turned out to be quite easy.
Cons
While I tilted down these racks, I found them bringing my bikes very close to the ground, which is dangerous as it could damage the bikes and put scratches and dents on them.
Swing Away Hitch Racks
As the name puts it, these racks swing away from the hitch point of your vehicle, with your bikes fully loaded, even to a full 180 degrees, allowing you unparalleled access to your car’s rear end.
Pros
These are one of the most suitable hitch racks to be used, especially the ones that swing a full 180 degrees away from your vehicle, fully loaded. Also, they come with integrated cable locksthroughout their body, making them a very safe and secure option for your precious babies.
Cons
It’s a tad difficult to install. Storage is an issue as the swing-away feature makes it a little wobbly when not in use.
Trunk Mount Bike Rack
What if your car doesn’t have a trailer hitch or a roof rack? Well, a trunk mount bike rack is all you need.
You can mount them on the back of your car, keep things secured with straps and supported on their sides by arms and cradles. Some of them also have anti-sway cradles to protect your bike.
They mount on all types of car trunks, from flat car trunks to vertical rear doors. They also have foam pads to minimize the impact of any contact between your vehicle and bikes.
Pros
It took me five minutes to install on my flat car trunk.
Their biggest advantage lies in their ability to fit with anything and everything, even in vehicles without a tow bar.
Cons
Its two biggest drawbacks lie in its accessibility and safety. I can’t access my own car trunk easily, and it’s also one of the least secure ways to attach your bike to your car as they are secured only with straps and nylon hooks without any built-in locking mechanisms.
Also, they can’t carry many bikes or a few heavy ones.
Own a full-suspension mountain bike? Don’t think of this.
Bumper Mounted Bike Rack
Have a steel bumper attached to your car? Then you can fit in these racks on the bumper of your car using a bolt-on receiver. If you are a cautious driver, then this is for you since they provide rear visibility.
They also maintain distance between the racks that prevent your babies from rubbing against and hurting each other.
Pros
They are sturdy enough to balance the overall weight of your trailer or car and the bike combined. I could also see some space between two of my bikes.
They also offer clear rear visibility that keeps you and your vehicle and bike safe and secure while driving backwards.
Cons
I found them quite difficult to install. Also, they can work with only steel bumpers, not aluminium or spot-welded bumpers, and a 4-4.5 inches square shape bumper can fit in.
I had some awful experiences on some extremely bumpy roads, owing to their not-so-great locking mechanisms.
Spare Tire Bike Rack
Own a Jeep? Well, fan your adventurous flames using these compact racks.
You can keep your spare in place and attach this rack on its back, and that’s all the setup process requires.
Just like hitch racks, they hold the bike frames up with straps and locks.
Pros
I could easily access my car’s trunk and found it to be less pricey as compared to larger bike racks which might be due to their compact size.
On top of that, you can use them without a tow-hitch.
Cons
You can only use this if you have, or rather, your vehicle has a spare tire and that too of a compatible size.
Another thing to keep in mind is that since it is mounted on a spare tire, you need to check its weight limit. As mentioned earlier, do your homework.
Truck Bed Bike Rack
I used my first pickup truck to mount my bikes, and it was a learning experience for sure.
You can use your truck to haul your bikes with these racks, of course, if you have one!
Though they can transport bikes easily, I was always anxious over their safety.
Pros
I found them to be one of the easiest racks to use and a tow bar isn’t a necessity too.
You don’t have to worry about size and specifications as they are really adjustable with different truck bed sizes and let you transport bikes as they are.
Cons
The space crunch in your truck bed will be real.
Contrary to theory,you can only carry a limited number, mostly 2-3 bikes safely.Some of them also lack proper locking mechanisms to prevent your babies from being a victim of theft.
Tailgate Pad For Bikes
As the name gives it all away, you can use your truck’s tailgate to transport your bikes.
These are rectangular-shaped pads that attach to the tailgate of your truck. They fold over and cover all of it to give your bike a supportive padding to rest on.
You can carry any bike using this pad, ranging from your standard road bike to your favourite mountain bike.
Pros
It’s a decent rack and can save you even if you are on a tight budget. It’s pretty easy to install and uninstall.
You can carry different types of bikes and even transport other sporting items like surfboards, ladders, etc.
Cons
Though safer than truck bed racks, they aren’t secure for bumpy, long-distance journeys. Also, mine lost its interior softness overtime. Space crunch is again a problem.
Also, most of them will need you to unload your bike before opening your tailgate.
Fork Mount Bike Block
As the name puts it, these are bike blocks mounted on the front profile rail and attached to the fork, allowing you to adjust your bikes accordingly. This gives your bike a compact positioning. You can install them on small trucks or trailers to transport your bikes.
Pros
You can install them easily without any hassle and use them with much less space. Furthermore, they provide excellent value for their money.
On top of that, you can usethem as storage space in your garage or shed.
Cons
Except in blocks using aluminium alloy, they lack durability. Many of them collect rust overtime and lose their effectiveness.
Suction Cup Bike Racks
One of the most innovative inventions in the world of bicycles, they are small cups that attach firmly to your car’s rooftop or trunk using suction cups and use air pressure to hold onto the car.
They provide enough grip to hold onto your bike without any straps or bolts, thus increasing its convenience of use.
Pros
I found suction cup rack to be compact and really easy to install. Storage is definitely not a problem, and you can mount all your different types of bikes.
You can do your research and find many affordable options that work great for you.
Cons
Safety still remains a concern since vacuum cups are still not the most reliable solution to hold onto your bike as it can be damaged easily. Most of these cups have non-integrated cablelocks.
It’s not for the careless user as you have to take good care to ensure an undamaged suction surface.
Some of them also don’t work on cars with rear spoilers.
Recumbent Bike Racks
Do you own a recumbent bike? Then you can buy racks that are specially designed for bikes that have a laid-back reclining position. They have support for both short and long wheelbase systems.
Pros
They come with solid steel construction, which certifies their durability.
Your babies will remain undamaged, avoiding collision, owing to the distance between them. Most of them have platforms placed sufficiently above the ground, offering good ground clearance.
Cons
They might block your access to the rear of your car, so make sure to seek clearance on both sides of the vehicle to avoid smashing your baby on any side.
In many cases, the vehicle is buckled down with straps that aren’t really safe and secure for your bike, and this also doesn’t save it from the extra sway it experiences as a result of this.
Trike Carrier
So,you own a tricycle, and you are confused about the type of bike rack needed for your baby. Well, Atrike carrier will do your job.
These can carry different types of trikes like the tadpole trikes, delta trikes, etc. Some of them even avoid contact between the carriers and the frame of your beloved trike.
Pros
They are designed ergonomically to hold all three of the wheels firmly in place.
They can fit with both 1 ¼ and2-inch receiver hitches. Some of them hold your trike in such a way so as tomaintain zero contact between the trike frame and rack, thus avoiding any damage to the body of the trike.
Cons
Most of them block access to the rear of your car though there are some that can move with the trike to gain rear access. However, as you go deeper into this rabbit hole of different designs, the cost rises up, and it no longer remains as cost-effective as we would like this to be.
Also, some of them only come with straps, which can pose a security concern for your trike.
Different Types of Bike Storage Rack
How many bikes should you own? Well, as Velominati formulated, it’s n+1. So, every timethere’s something new in the market, you have it already. Okay, maybe not in reality, butit’s there, and before you know, you have collected a road bike, two mountain bikes, a hybrid bike, and ofcourse a full-suspension mountain bike, this time in reality!
When you surrender to your temptations and end up with a stockpile of bikes, finding a storage space becomes a hassle.
Now, it’s again time to put your hands up and surrender. Let me take over and share with you all that I know.
Wall Mount Bike Storage Rack
This is one of the most basic and easiest storage options for your bike rack. You can simply mount your bikes on the wall and hang them vertically. With this option, you can store a good number of bikes while taking up limited storage space.
Before zeroing in on this option, make sure that there is enough space between the floor and ceiling to hang your bikes. It’s also necessary to ensure enough space on the wall and its adjoining room so that those racks, if jut out, won’t be a hindrance for you.
Pros
I could store all my bikes in my small apartment. So, it’s perfect for small spaces. You can store any type of bike with this storage option, be it your mountain bike or your kid’s bike.
Since it’s such a common storage option, you will also have a multitude of alternatives to choose from, which adds to its appeal.
Cons
Their obvious disadvantage is how they stick out of the wall. I had accidentally bumped into one of my bikes on a wall mount, and I can tell you it wasn’t such a pretty experience.
Also,it’s difficult for kids to use this option without help. You would want something that’s convenient for every member of the family, which is not the case here.
Vertical Stand
These are frameworks of steel tubing that lean up against the wall. Contrary to their flimsy look, they are rock solid, and the more weight you put on them, the more stable they get.
When you hang your bike on the stand, the weight pulls the centre of gravity of the bike and rack downwards and sideways towards the wall. The downward pull secures the bike vertically, while the sideways pull secures it horizontally. The bike is thus securely anchored on both sides.
Pros
When you get the stand, assembling it is just a matter of minutes.
You don’t need to attach it to the wall though most of them come with straps, just in case you need to use them. Attaching and removing are easy even when the grip of the frame is solid.
Cons
Since they are unattached, they occupy some space in your house. Also, in some of them, the screws that attach the stand come off with time, damaging the entire setup.
Ceiling Mount Bike Storage Rack
Imagine storing your bike rack without making any contact with the floor. Yes! You can, and that’s where ceiling-mounted bike storage options come into play. They are the best type of mounting to be used in small apartments or condos.
When it comes to designs, they mainly come in two different types depending on the mounting mechanism. Let’s have a look.
Ceiling Mounted Hooks
In this case, the bicycles are attached to the ceiling with closed looped hooks. They come in different designs and have different types of locking mechanisms in place to keep your bike safe.
Pros
The obvious advantage is the freed-up floor space due to the utilization of the unused ceiling space. You can also hang bikes of different frames and sizes from the ceiling without any inconvenience.
They are also very sturdy to support the weight of your bike, guiding the rear tire, holding the bike up.
Cons
While going for ceiling hooks, make sure to avoid going after plastic hooks and opt for aluminium hands coming down from the hooks. Furthermore, look for rubber padding as chances are that the screws holding the hooks to the ceiling might wear down with time.
You might need to secure them to the ceiling with additional screws.
Hoist
With these, the bikes are hauled up with a pulley system that helps to raise up and pull down the gear easily. Your baby is fastened with additional non-elastic cord ropes, and its weight is uniformly supported throughout the system.
Pros
The system can attach to the ceiling joist, and I could easily handle my bike as the pulley system makes the task much easier. Also, your bike is anchored with tight non-elastic ropes to hold its weight without stretching it.
Most of them come with auto-lock mechanisms that prevent accidental release of your vehicle.
Cons
Bikes lacking kickstands can be a little tricky to get up and pull down. In most of them, the ropes come in a fairly cheap quality, making it stretchable and pulling the bike down.
If you hang more bikes, then chances are that the bikes might hit against each other, damaging themselves. In that case, it’s important to measure distances before setting this up.
Final Words
That’s it for today. I hope this discussion helps you to know about different types of bike racks and unload your worries, and together we can organize and transport and store your bikes to a safe haven.
