Need input on bicycle racks
Finally got a hitch put on my Ford Escape and now can't decide on what rack to put on it.
I have seen the kind that holds two bikes by placing the wheels in a slot and then pulling down a bar from the top to hold them in place. The shop wanted $200. Then I went to Academy and they had a 3 bike dangle type for $100. I understood the dangle type is a bit loose and the bike will wobble.  What type is better and how do you secure/lock your bike?
Appreciate all insight! Thanks
Hannah
Good point about the investment view.
How do you secure your bike?
Thanks!
First you put the bike up on
First you put the bike up on the rack. The rack itself has these heavy duty plastic contraptions that cradle your bike frame in 3 different spots. Then you loop the heavy duty rubber pieces around the bike tubes. The bike doesn't move, except for the wheel, but I just use a small bungee cord for that.
- Shayla
North Intermediates
 Yeah, the bike rack came
 Yeah, the bike rack came with its own lock that you lock it to the hitch and you lock your bike to the rack and the hitch.
- Shayla
North Intermediates
I have a nice 4 bike hitch rack
If you decide you want a hanging rack, I'll give you a bargain price on my hitch mount 4 bike hanging rack. I paid over $200 for it at REI. It's either Thule or Yakima.
A word of caution: if you have a carbon fiber bike or ever intend to get a carbon fiber bike, you probably want a wheel mount bike rack.
Did you get an all carbon bike?
If you just had carbon forks would this rack harm the bike? or is that just for the all carbon bikes?
I currently have a hybrid...still to chicken to commit to a road bike.  I actually just bought some clips and pedals to practice on...in the garage. Have yet to put them on my bike. Once I get used to the clips and get over my fear, I will invest in a road bike.
I would also like to expand my volunteerism to working sag. The 4 bike would come in handy for that.
Can you contact me? hbjeanes@sbcglobal.net
Thanks
We love our wheel mount rack.
We got it from Spillar Custom Hitches in Austin years ago and it's been great. It was only about $125 then, but it holds the bikes very securely so they don't get scratched up by banging into each other aor the car. It's a great price for a great rack!Â
Spillar is where I got my hitch!
How do you secure your bikes?
Thanks
Easy!
The bikes tires sit in the wells that are adjustable front and back, so they fit any size bike.
Then there's a vertical bar with kind of elbow shaped foam thingies that come down on top of your top tube and hold the bike completely immobile.
I hear what Shayla's saying, but don't be blindly scared away by a lower price. Touch it. See if it feels cheap or it's just reasonably priced. Our rack has served us well for probably 7 or 8 years. It is solid. Also, I have a smaller bike and it doesn't fit well on those hangy-downy racks, so this works better for us. I do not own stock in this company or anything. I'm just a satisfied consumer.
I'll take a picture for you and post later.
hitch racks
I have a hitch rack that is this exact kind and I love it. (Mine says XPORT on it) I find it easy to put the bikes on and they seem so securely on there. It holds two bikes.  I also have a two bar hanging type that can hold five bikes that I have to use when I take all my kids out for a ride somewhere. I find this type harder to load the bikes on and they still seem to bounce around more. Though this could be just due to the fact that there are five :) I think either kind actually works fine, but if I only have two bikes I'd use the first type. Like this one...
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1031409_-1___
cool and that one is on sale...but...rats...
you have to us the adapter for a 2'' hitch.
from the link
The XPORT Flatbed offers a simple, convenient way to carry up to two bikes.
- The design makes it easy to mount the bikes -- no overhead lifting or front wheel removal required
- Rack folds up out of the way when not in use
- Tilting base allows easy access to the rear of your vehicle
- Powder coated steel construction
- Fits wheelbases from 17-58"
- 2-bike model fits either 2" or 1 ¼" hitches by use of an adapter sleeve
Check Receiver size compatibility
My neighbor has a hitch-mount rack. His reciever is 2 inches, the bike rack has a plastic insert to make it fit the 2" reciever. That's why he doesn't like it.  You want solid steel against solid steel. So if the adapters to go between 1.5" and 2" are not solid steel, it won't be stable and it will wear out quicker.Â
--Julie
wow...that is good to know!
Thanks...I will keep this in mind. I have class 3 hitch, which I believe is consider the 2'' variety.
Hannah
You can buy a heavy duty adapter
From hitch places they have adapters. It would probably be better than what comes with most Bike racks...
Here's one example: http://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Accessories/Brophy/HT02.html
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 I have a Yakima bike rack
 I have a Yakima bike rack that holds 4 bikes and goes into the hitch as well. It's the one that dangles as well, but my bike does NOT wobble AT ALL on it. However, the price tag is pretty hefty. Â
Go to rackoutfitters.com and look around there, and then call them up and go to their shop. They are local here in Austin. That is where I got my rack from.  Â
Personally, I wouldn't spend only $100 on something to hold a bike I spent a couple of thousand dollars on.
- Shayla
North Intermediates