June 23, 2008

Bike Racks - An Easy Way to Carry Bikes Along

Bike Racks at AutoAnything

$54.95 - $395.95

Now it’s easier than ever to carry your bikes while you travel. You can carry your bikes along with you whether you are going trekking or on a trip with your family.

It might happen that wherever you go for a trip you get a bike there. But generally those bikes are not of good quality and if you are used to your own bike you will not be able to enjoy drive some other bike.

You might be thinking that you don’t have space for your bike in your car. No need to worry about that now. This is not a problem. Just put the bike on the top of your car in the rack. It might look odd to you to drive around with the bike on top of your car, but it’s sleek and the bikes are safer on the top than they were in a rack at the back of your car.

Another reason to bring your bikes with you on any trip is you will save the cost of renting bikes at your destination. Not only will these rental bikes be very good, but you will be charged a daily fee, which you could better use to spend on food.

To enjoy biking, one has to think of transporting the bicycle on the vehicle using some sort of bike rack. Bike racks come in many varieties and many prices, depending on the application. It depends on the vehicle to be used, the number of bikes one wants to transport, the requirement of quick-release front wheels, and the consistency of bike types - whether all bikes are of same shape and size.

Other features to consider are the loading of bikes onto racks, the potency for racks to lift all bikes, any extra security of a lockable bike rack. The decision to use racks is also for sports equipment.

Roof racks are attached on the top of a vehicle. Roof racks can be a bit noisy, from wind resistance. Lifting the bicycles to the roof requires a lot of power.

Roof Bike Racks are appropriate for Trips either near or far.

Even if you don't plan of taking bikes for the trips to distant places, a roof bike rack is still the way to go. No more having to take off the wheels to get the bike to fit in your trunk. No more worrying whether grease or dirt will stain the car's interior. Just put the bike on the roof and you can go anywhere.

There are several brands of roof bike racks. Each one does require the installation of a multi-purpose roof rack "base system" which remains on top of your car even when you take the bikes off. The rack base system is multi-purpose, you can also carry skis, snowboards, canoes, and even cargo boxes not only bikes.

Every bike rack system has issues that you need to be aware of. For the roof rack, the important thing is to remember that you actually have something tall strapped to the top of your car. You'll have no problem going through tunnels, but if you have access to a garage, make sure the garage door is fully open before you try to drive in! . One has to be careful not to forget that the bicycles are up there while drive in to a garage.

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June 19, 2008

Getting the Best Price On Your Car Bicycle Rack

Bike Racks at AutoAnything

$54.95 - $395.95

A car bicycle rack that is discounted or on sale can be a great treasure to find. New bikers may think that a car bicycle rack is not needed, but they will quickly find that this one piece of equipment can be as important as the bicycle itself. If you cannot get your bike to different locations to ride, then you may find that you will not bike as often. By purchasing a car bicycle rack, you will be able to ride anywhere you choose.

Boredom is the most common reason that people give up a particular type of exercise. If you are riding the same path every day, then you may find that this routine becomes humdrum and boring. By purchasing a car bicycle carrier, you will have the option of riding any number of bike paths in your area and in surrounding areas to help decrease the boredom quotient.

The great thing is that this equipment doesn’t have to be very expensive. By checking the sales ads in local papers and on the Internet, you may be able to find a car bicycle rack that easily fits your budget. All you need to do is bide your time until you find one that will work for you and your billfold.

When you are starting a new sport, buying equipment can sometimes be very costly. By watching sales and ads in the paper, you will find that you can find a very good price on equipment. You only have to be willing to wait until you can find equipment that you need.

Finding a car bicycle rack on sale may take a few weeks, especially if you want one that is high quality. A high quality car bicycle rack will save you money in the long run, however, because it will be more durable than an inferior one that may cost a few dollars less.

It is quite irritating when you buy an item and they see it on sale or discounted at another store the next day. You can return it to the first store, if you haven’t put it on your automobile yet, but if you had simply looked around before making your purchase, then you could have save yourself time, money, and irritation. That is why it is so important to do your research first before shelling out any money.

The internet is a great resource for finding prices for car bicycle racks. It can be done anytime of the night or day and you do not have to leave your house to price check. Make sure that you also read the ads in the newspaper, both personal and sales ads and see if your neighborhood bike shop has a mailing list. All of these are ways to find the right price for your car bicycle rack.

If you do your research, you can save yourself money on your car bicycle rack. Then you can use that money for other equipment or for a bicycle tour. Doesn’t that sound like a plan?

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June 18, 2008

Basics To Buying Bicycle Car Racks

Bike Racks at AutoAnything

$54.95 - $395.95

 

You should have a bicycle car rack because terrific bicycling areas are always not within easy cycling distance. Carrying your bicycle on your vehicle is an excellent means to spread out your bicycling escapades. This makes it very easy to discover traffic-free streets, impressive trails or take your bicycle with you on vacations.

If you do drive regularly to bike, then you will be pleased to know about how recent bicycle car rack innovations have made transporting your bikes much easier for you.

Not all cars are can fit all kinds of bicycle car racks, which is why it is very important to buy the right bicycle car rack to fit your car as well as your needs.

Things to consider when buying a bicycle car rack:

• Your vehicle model. Generally, you can not find a bicycle car rack that will match or install two cars; therefore, if you possess two or more cars, choose the one car that you will most likely use.

• Your car load. Will you possibly be carrying 3 or 4 bicycles in the near future? How many family members are there, who are or will be joining you on your biking adventures? If you need to carry more bikes than you presently do, make certain to choose a bicycle car rack model with carry-load that is more flexible.

• Positioning of the bicycle car rack. Depending upon the model and make of your car, there are many bicycle car racks that can suit your needs several of these add more access or functionality to your vehicle.

• Durability. Spend your dollars based on primarily how long will you be using it or you require it to stay with you; good quality bicycle car racks can last up to several years, however if you need it only for a very rare trips, just buy the lower priced variety.

Familiarize yourself with your bicycle car rack choices:

1. Roof mounted bicycle racks. If positioned securely, roof mounted bike racks will carry a minimum 4 bicycles and can even accommodate more reliant on your car type.

This type of rack also can provide a utility for fastening a “roof-box” that can hold your sports equipment, luggage, and bicycles under cover, preventing bicycle damage with the clamped, upright position.

This type of bike rack is slightly expensive because of the benefits it brings and you may need to utilize a tiny ladder in order to get your bicycles on and off from it.

2. Front bumper racks. These bike car racks are normally not recommended and only are suitable for cars with a “high-front end”.

If positioned excessively high, these types of racks can get in the way with the driver’s vision. Take note that you need to confirm that these are accepted in your state, because in some locales, they are considered illegal.

3. Rear bicycle car racks. These are the most commonly used of all forms of bicycle car racks. Normally, you can carry 3 bicycles and it is attached with the use of metal hooks and straps.

As bicycles are usually carried very closely together, using “foam pipe-insulator” that this type of rack features as protective cover is recommended.

4. Tow ball bicycle mount. This type can carry up to 5 bicycles and is generally set up with a “square mounting post” placed into a “square pipe” attached to your car’s underside rear that tilt down if empty to permit for rear doors and tailgates.

5. “Rear ball-hitch” bike racks. This type of set-up usually can only accommodate a 2 bikes maximum due to limitations in weight and generally clamps against or bolt through the “hitch-ball” mounting outlet on the vehicles hitch tongue or bumper.

6. “Sports car interior”. If your car has enough room for it, this type is much safer and cheaper option as thieves have fewer chances of getting or stealing your bike or its parts.

You can buy brackets to make sure your bicycles does not move or swing around while inside your car.

Now that are well informed with the basics of buying a bicycle car rack, all you need to do next is to find a dependable dealership and ask recommendations or find the best bicycle car rack deals online.

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How to Choose a Bicycle Car Rack

Bike Racks at AutoAnything

$54.95 - $395.95

There are several types of bicycle racks for cars. Trunk mount, Roof mount, Spare Tire mount or Receiver Hitch mount. Trunk mount bicycle racks for cars are the most common.

Advantages To Trunk Mount Bicycle Car Rack

Trunk Mount are usually cheaper than other types of racks.
Simple installation. Easy to store when not in use.
Often they are great for hauling one or sometimes two bikes.

Disadvantages to trunk mount bike racks

If your car is dirty and you put a trunk mount on, the dirt under the rack feet will act like sandpaper and ruin the paint.

Some Trunk Racks do not get the bike far enough from the car so the bike can rub on the car.
You cannot attach the upper rack straps to a glass window. If your car's back window opens and there is not an attachment point above that that is metal you cannot attach a trunk rack. Some of the older Camaros, Firebirds, Toyota 4 Runner have this problem so you either need to use a receiver hitch rack or a roof rack.

If your exhaust pipe points directly at the tires on your bike it can overheat the tire and ruin it.
Many racks do not separate the bikes well and the bikes will rub the paint off of each other.
You cannot access the back of the vehicle when you have bicycles on the rack.

Advantages to Roof Racks

The bikes are well separated so they do not rub on each other or the car.
You can pull a trailer and the bikes will not be in the way.
The roof racks protect the finish on your car really well.
Often there are a lot of other accessories to carry canoes, skis, snowboards etc. to fit the roof rack.

Disadvantages to Roof Racks

People have been known to forget the bikes are on the roof and run into the garage. This is really hard on the car, bike and sometimes the garage.
Usually Roof Racks are quite expensive. Often it will cost over $400 for a two bike roof rack.
Putting the bike on the roof can be a chore sometimes.
The extra wind drag from the bikes above the car will significantly affect your gas mileage.
Installing a roof rack can be a chore.

Putting your bike on a roof rack can be difficult.

Advantages to Spare Tire Racks

Sometimes they are the only rack that will fit the vehicle.

Disadvantages to Spare tire racks

They do not fit many cars.

Advantages to Receiver Hitch Racks

Easy to install.
Less wind drag than Roof Racks.
The bikes are kept away from the car so they do not rub on the paint of the car.
The rack only touches the car by slipping into the Receiver and either bolted or pinned to the receiver.

Receiver racks are easy to move from vehicle to vehicle as long as the vehicle has the right size receiver.

Disadvantages to Receiver Hitch Racks

If your vehicle does not have a receiver it usually costs around $200 or more to have a receiver put on.

You cannot haul a trailer when your rack is on your car.

Like the Trunk rack and the Spare Tire Rack when your bikes are on the rack it is often hard to get into the back of the car.

 

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May 28, 2008

Hitch Mounted Bicycle Racks

Hitch Mount Bike Racks at AutoAnything

$92.95 - $395.95

Hitch Mounted Bicycle Racks are the way to go when you are after a straightforward means of transporting your bikes to the trail.

Rear hitch mounted bicycle racks are the most commonly applied type. Rear hitch mounted racks, better recognized as receiver hitch racks, can hold up to 5 bicycles. To carry one or two bikes, rear ball-hitch mount racks are perfect. A vehicle with a high front end can employ a front bumper rack, and this rack can hold up to 5 bikes. Trunk racks can hold up to 3 bikes, and are more dependable than other racks. Likewise these, there are spare tire mount racks to put on a spare tire in the bikes. Wall mounted bike racks and folding bike racks are some of the bike rack choices that aid save space in a garage.

Bike racks are generally applied on vehicles such as trucks and cars. All the bike rack selections are accessible in a wide rang of budgets, styles and sizes.

Below are few things to consider when purchasing a bicycle car rack:

• Durability. Spend your dollars based on primarily how long will you be using it or you require it to stay with you; good quality bicycle car racks can last up to several years, however if you need it only for a very rare trips, just buy the lower priced variety.

• Positioning of the bicycle car rack. Depending upon the model and make of your car, there are many bicycle car racks that can suit your needs several of these add more access or functionality to your vehicle.

• Your car load. Will you possibly be carrying 3 or 4 bicycles in the near future? How many family members are there, who are or will be joining you on your biking adventures? If you need to carry more bikes than you presently do, make certain to choose a bicycle car rack model with carry-load that is more flexible.

• Your vehicle model. Generally, you can not find a bicycle car rack that will match or install two cars; therefore, if you possess two or more cars, choose the one car that you will most likely use.

 

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