By Kiru Kirubel
If you’re an avid cyclist or just have a love for the great outdoors, going on a cycling holiday is a great idea. There are so many exciting cycling routes in the UK but transporting your bikes might become a problem if you don’t have a bike carrier. But which one do you go for? Rear or roof mounted? This guide will help you decide which option is right for you.
Roof-Mounted Bike Racks
Roof-mounted cycle carriers are sleek in appearance and aerodynamic. Featuring a pivoting arm that runs laterally across the vehicle’s roof, you can fit as many as you need, depending on the size of your car. You have unrestricted access to the rear of your vehicle.
The height increase is the biggest challenge with roof-mounted racks. There is a chance that you could forget about the bikes when encountering low-clearance obstacles. You also may encounter difficulty mounting and dismounting bicycles.
Rear-Mounted Bike Racks
Rear-mounted bike racks are most cyclists’ choice thanks to the ease of loading and unloading bicycles that it offers. These racks often follow a basic design, made up of a metal frame that sits against the hooks into the boot and two arms where you can slot the bikes. They are ideal for transporting multiple cycles and maintaining your vehicle’s original height.
While the risk of overhead collisions is reduced, bikes can increase your vehicle width, and this can cause problems when accessing the rear of the car.
Safety Considerations
Installing a bike rack to your car means you and your family can enjoy a cycling holiday to its fullest. The biggest threat to bike rack safety is improper installation so you need to know how to safely install one. Whichever option you go for, thelast thing you need is for your rack to come off in traffic or for your vehicle to become damaged.
In regards to roof-mounted bike racks, you always need to be mindful of bridge and tunnel height restrictions. The same goes for garage clearance as this can cause serious damage to both your vehicle and bike in the unfortunate case of a collision.
Insurance Implications
Driving with a bike rack attached to your car, whether at the rear or on the roof, increases the risk for your insurer so you may see your insurance rates go up. Considering the increased risk of accidents that involve height clearance, you need to alert your insurance company to see whether your policy is affected.
Considering the increased risk of an accident, it’s important to consider GAP insurance. You might be thinking, what is GAP insurance exactly? Standing for Guaranteed Asset Protection, this protection covers you for loss in value if your vehicle gets written off after an accident. The insurance will help bridge the gap between any settlement amount and the original price of your car.
LATEST CYCLING EUROPE POSTS:
- New Developments in Turkey: Advantages and Risks
- The Ultimate Guide To The Best Cycling Routes In Europe
- Reviewing The Reviews: 100 Episodes Of The Cycling Europe Podcast
- 100 Episodes (Nearly…) Of The Cycling Europe Podcast: A Journey Across A Continent (And Beyond)
- The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 099 – Gerald Huber – The North Cape 4000
Subscribe to the Cycling Europe YouTube Channel
Since 2009, CyclingEurope.org has established itself as a valued, FREE cycle touring resource. There’s now even a podcast, The Cycling Europe Podcast. If you enjoy the website and the podcast, please consider supporting the work of CyclingEurope.org with a donation. More information here.
Catch up with The Cycling Europe Podcast:
Discover more from CyclingEurope.org
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categories: Travel
I have a rear hitch-mount rack. It’s super easy to use, you can see the bike, and it tilts to give access to the rear hatch. On the downside it does make the car longer and blocks a little bit of rear vision. I’m not a fan of roof mounted bike racks as I find it a pain getting bikes up there (especially if it’s a heavier mountain bike), plus of course there’s the chance I forget it’s up there.
Mostly though if it’s just me, I put the rear seats down and pop the bike inside the car!
Rear mounted for me
Thanks Andrew, I never realised about checking the insurance. We have a rear mounted one but rarely use it.