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Secure the front wheel on a hitch mounted bike rack
forgive this question as i am new to triathlons and just purchased a
hitch mounted bike rack that looks something like this..... www.lickbike.com/lickimages/3829.gif I can secure my bike to the rack very easily. But what is the best way to secure the front tire and the handle bars so they don't go flopping around in the wind??? is there a better solution than just a bungee cord? Thanks for your suggestions... jon |
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#2
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Secure the front wheel on a hitch mounted bike rack
I can secure my bike to the rack very easily. But what is the best way to secure the front tire and the handle bars so they don't go flopping around in the wind??? is there a better solution than just a bungee cord? Jon, I have a Thule rack that supports three bikes. The rack came with a number of small (maybe 0.5" wide, 8" long) velcro strips that have hooks on one side and loops on the other. In particular, these things are excellent for keeping the f/r brakes on permanently during transport. This prevents the wheels from spinning. The 'straps' are quick, easy, weather resistant, durable, and as it turns out, cheap. I recently took a trip to Home Depot looking for some velcro to strap a battery onto my bike rack...and stumbled across these two-sided velcro strips. A pack of 50 for less than $5 (CDN). They're called ONE-WRAP straps, and are made by Velcro. You can even get a version that stretches (which would provide some additional tension). There's another version that comes as a continuous roll, and you can cut to length as desired. As for the bars swinging....you can use a longer version of the strap to tie the rim/tire to the downtube. I personally don't bother with this, as I haven't noticed any bar movement that is of concern. Most of my trips are within 20 miles, and I usually have at least two bikes onboard...I'm more concerned about the bikes interfering/contacting each other, or with wet weather, or with the bikes being stolen, or the bikes swinging to/fro when driving. I would only use a bungee cord as a last resort...when attaching/releasing them, they've got a nasty tendency to hurt the bike or the owner (particularly when it's wet and the end slips from your hand at the wrong time). A nice alternative to bungee straps are simple nylon 'belts'. Some have metal buckles, others have plastic...the buckles have teeth to prevent undesired slippage. In fact, the Thule rack I have uses these types of straps to attach to the vehicle. Again, quick, easy, cheap, and they'll last a lifetime. They're probably marketed under different names. The ones I've seen are about 3/4" wide, made of blue fabric, and cost about $5 for a pair. Automotive stores (or even Wal-Mart) are a good place to look...the beefier versions have ratcheting mechanisms, which are overkill for this application. You might want to look into mechanisms to lock your bikes as well. Getting your bike(s) stolen while grabbing a bite to eat on the highway is NOT a good feeling. Cheers, Dave |
#4
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Secure the front wheel on a hitch mounted bike rack
wrote:
forgive this question as i am new to triathlons and just purchased a hitch mounted bike rack that looks something like this..... www.lickbike.com/lickimages/3829.gif I can secure my bike to the rack very easily. But what is the best way to secure the front tire and the handle bars so they don't go flopping around in the wind??? is there a better solution than just a bungee cord? Thanks for your suggestions... jon I use a cable with a lock through both wheels, the frame, and the rack. It keeps the wheels from spinning and also tends to prevent someone popping the quick-releases and walking off with my wheels. ------------------------------------------------------- "Every day is Saturday when you're retired." Bob Burns Mill Hall PA (email is a spamtrap) |
#5
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Secure the front wheel on a hitch mounted bike rack
wrote:
forgive this question as i am new to triathlons and just purchased a hitch mounted bike rack that looks something like this..... www.lickbike.com/lickimages/3829.gif I can secure my bike to the rack very easily. But what is the best way to secure the front tire and the handle bars so they don't go flopping around in the wind??? is there a better solution than just a bungee cord? Thanks for your suggestions... jon I use 1/16th " elastic cord instead of a heavy duty bungee. You can buy the cord by the foot at camping stores like REI. Tie loops on the ends, thread it through the front and rear wheels, and hook the loops wherever you find it handy. It keeps the wheels from spinning, the handlebars straight, won't mar the finish on either your bike or your car, and it's cheap. Regards, Bob Hunt |
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