How To Choose Bike Racks

To help you narrow down the right type of bike rack, first ask yourself a couple of questions that will help direct you to selecting the right model.

1. What is your budget?  Are you looking for lowest cost, greatest value or is cost not a factor?
2. How many bikes do you have? Most bike racks accommodate 2 bikes, however, some racks can carry as many as 4.
3. How often do you intend on using the bike rack? The more often you plan on using your bike rack the more convenient and the more durable it needs to be.
4. Security?  If you plan on traveling with your bikes or leaving them unattended at times, you will need to make sure there are adequate security devices.
5. What type of vehicle do you have?  Some bike racks will only fit on certain type of vehicles.

After answering these 5 basic questions it is time to select your bike rack. Bike racks typically fall within 3 categories: the strap-on trunk, roof mounted and rear mount. All have pros and cons depending on your needs.

• Strap-on trunk bike racks are typically the least expensive and easiest to use.  They strap onto the trunk of a vehicle with 4 to 6 nylon straps that are securely fastened to the trunk and bumper and offer shockproof padding to protect the car's paint.  These racks are excellent to use for the casual biker that occasionally needs to transport their bikes.  They lack the security of other models, and the type of vehicle you own can make it virtually impossible to use.
• Roof mounted bike racks attach to the vehicle's existing roof rack, though some models can be attached to the vehicle's door frame. These are very durable and offer locking components to keep your bike safe. They handle 4 bikes on a normal car or SUV and as many as 7 on larger vehicles.  These bike racks are also excellent for transporting other equipment such as canoes. The drawbacks are they create overhead clearance issues and can make it difficult to mount and retrieve your bike, especially for shorter people.
• The last type of bike rack is the rear mount, which mounts on the back of the vehicle on an existing trailer hitch, or a custom hitch can be added easily.  These work best on SUVs where the strap-on rack is not an option. These racks combine the best of both worlds and are easy to load and unload, and they provide security for the bike.  Many models have an arm that folds down to make it less obtrusive when driving around without any bikes.  The only real downside of this type of bike rack is you need to get used to having a protrusion out the back of your vehicle when you drive, especially backing up.

Regardless of your budget or vehicle, there is a bike rack that will meet your needs if you just do a little homework before heading out shopping.