Bike rack
 

I'm hoping to go tomorrow morning to buy a bike rack for my car, the kind that "straps" onto the back of the car. Any recommendations for brands/styles?

Tim

i've heard good things about saris bones.

Yakima
 

I've got a Super Joe 3 - and it's worked great for me. I guess it depends on if you want a hitch mount, trunk mount etc.

If you want something that is fairly nimble to put on, does the job, and is not too expensive...then I would recommend something like that.

http://www.yakima.com/Product.aspx?id=108

However, if you are looking at a trunk mounted rack, I would STRONGLY suggest that you get one with a top, bottom and SIDE strap system. If you get one without the side straps...it's unstable, especially on turns etc.

i looked into all the options, and decided that I would want a trunk mount. Mainly because of loss of fuel efficiency with the top mounted kind.

Also with the top-mounted you have to be VERY careful not to go into garages, overhangs etc. Best method is to put your garage door opener in your bike's saddle.

MW - good suggestions
 

I had a buddy last year drive into his garage with his bike mounted on top....not a pretty sight for the bike afterwards!! :-D

I love my trunk mounted Yakima. Very fast to set up, take down, stable, inexpensive and does the job.

Borg makes a good point about the 3 strap system. I've got the same style, (different brand) and it is vrey stable, even at freeway speeds and on mountain highways.

A friend of mine puts a chair just inside the front of the garage as he leaves the house with the bikes of the top of the car. It usually only takes once to learn what system will work for you.

Saris makes a very nice one.

Hitch mounted are the way to go.

Top are bad ideas. All you need to do is to hit one overhang with fifteen thousand dollars of bike to avoid the rest.

I drove a top-mounted bike into a garage once. In a testament to the strength of my cannondale frame it ruined my saddle and my reaer wheel, as well as dimpled my rain gutters and bowed part of my Yakima rack, but did nothing to my frame.

Now how am I going to fit 22 of my bikes on the top of my car?;)

Shoot. When I read the title of this thread, I thought you were referring to Archaea's picture.