How To Carry Your Bike On (Or In) Your Car
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- Опубліковано 28 чер 2024
- It's a pain trying to force your bike into the car. Wheels off, bike chain grease making a mess on the seats, it's less than ideal. There are alternative transportation options but which are the best? The GCN gang are here to talk you through the different bike transport solutions, discussing the pros and cons of the bike car racks available.
00:00 Intro
00:32 Bike roof rack
02:38 Bike boot rack
04:17 Suction-mounted bike rack
05:54 Bigger car
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How have you transported your bike by car? 🚗
Hitch mount bike rack
Team bus
Because I'm in a snowy area, I prefer the trunk mount. That way when temperatures drop below freezing or it snows and I'm not transporting my bike, I can take it off my car. Hank makes a great point as well about height. I'm 5'6" and putting it on the roof would be a pain.
Got a Dodge Grand Caravan, dropped the third row and threw my bike in by the passenger side sliding door. You can even strap the bike down with the seat belt.
I have a tow bar mounted rack and roof racks so can carry 5 bikes safely. I’m often the ‘team’ car when we go to events!
In my opinions the best choice is a tow bar mounted boot rack . This offers the advantages of multi bike loading / locking secure of both rack and bikes , quick fitting and removal as well as leaving the tailgate free for vision and easy opening / access as well as having a doubled up set of tail lights , indicators and brake lights , number plate visible . The only disadvantage is needing to install a tow bar either fixed or removable and also not being able to rely on reversing cameras etc .
However having a fixed tow bar also has the advantage without rack of keeping tailgaters at bay …
Have you tried lots of different set up? So much of it is personal preference it's always great if you can try find a solution that works for you.
Having tried roof racks and towbar carrier, i agree that tow bar rack is the safest and most versatile option. Of course you must have a tow bar fitted, which is costly, and the fitting is rather time consuming. But it's clearly the top choice.
Keep your wheels away from the exhaust though!😢
I still manage to use reverse camera fine with one bike. Two or more and it’s a problem.
Me too. Even my gen 2 prius could take a small hitch mounting. Rack on the hitch tilts for hatch access. One tip...if you only have one bike to haul place it outboard if you are worried about exhaust heat. I did melt an old Simplex mech years ago....
Opted for a tow bar rack, this being versatile, secure and simple to use. Carries up to 4 bikes and doesn’t obscure your rear vision, lights or number plate.
Lots of love for the tow bar rack 🙌 We'll have to check them out!
3 bike rack on the towbar. Nothing beats it. Dead simple and quick to load up, absolutely secure and you don't smash your bike up driving into a carpark 😅
Easy, except for the preparation phase. In some countries you need a towbar to be licensed, lights and number plates should be duplicated for towbar bike rack, plus special sign should be mounted. I still don't understand what towbar license is in my current country, but as I understood it is important.
Still there is a downside - side clearance. For small cars like mini it can be a big thing to remember
Love how you got the tallest presenter to demonstrate how to put a bike on the roof. 🤣🤣
This is definitely one downside to the roof mounts. I have to use a small set of steps 😂
The method I use to haul my bicycle is a hitch rack. This allows me to use a wheel mounted rack. This is safer than a roof rack and won't make any contact with the frame. Good video.
Do you worry about paint chipping?
Hitch rack is best: you can still access your trunk and no clearance issues.
Yep, the safest and sturdiest external mounting option for your bike.
I opted for a 1UP hitch bar rack. Have a trailer hitch installed to your car, so easy to use and great for almost any bike and many rack options available.
I’ve had the first two options in the past. I decided to stop messing around and bought a Vw transporter. Easiest method yet!
Downside of the rear rack from Hank - visibility through rear view mirror is blocked (more bikes worse it gets). Also, on some cars your numberplate and lights could be obscured which is a traffic offence in the UK, so you may need an additional light/plate rig.
That's very true, you always have to make sure that your plates and lights are visible 👀
I had this issue - used the manufacturers online tool (as suggested by the retailer) to get the right rack for my car but it then covered the plates and lights... The retailer wouldn't accept the return of the rack and there weren't light or plate accessories to go with it.
I'll be getting something fitted by a shop (rather than shopping online) next time 😢
I used the tool as well for mine, slapped it on my wife's Honda CRV and barely got away with it. The expensive option is a tow bar and rack combo which I have now got since buying a new family car... fortunately a neighbour had a Thule 3 bike tow bar rack thats now on permanent loan saving me £700+
@@mstrtgs
Why was the tow hitch bike rack option not reviewed. In our area this is the most popular means of transporting bikes.
Super helpful video Manon, Hank, Connor and gcn! I was surprised that you didn't cover our most common one. Maybe it's a North American thing. We use a insert bike rack into the trailer hitch. Can lock the tongue, rack itself, & bike to the rack. We can do 2 or 4 bikes, depending on the size. Folds up when not in use or you can detach it. Great gas milage, like the boot rack, but more secure and can take more weight like an ebike. Sadly North America is overrun with pickup trucks, so often the bikes go in the bed of the truck. I hadn't yet come across the suction cup option. Great idea and one to consider for vehicles we don't own and way more compact than boot racks that I have used on other's cars!
I love my pickup truck, although I live way up in Northern BC and use my truck to haul my truck bed camper in the summer.
The 4x4 is pretty handy on the forest service roads that I frequent in the Rockies.
🐙 I have a SeaSucker mount for my small car and LOVE IT.
Use a hitch mounted bike rack for 4 bikes love it and prefer it over a roof mount as that gets expensive quickly when you forget the bikes are on the roof.
A Towbar/Ball Bike rack review would be really worthwhile.
This is an utter minefield!
Great options. I used to have a roof rack. Hit the garage one time and started putting a saw horse at he front of the garage when I left with the bike on the car. That was very useful in preventing any more garage incidents. Since I got a new car a few years ago, I now use a tow hitch rack. Attachment for up to four bikes. No clearance issues. Also locks.
I have a Honda crz (small 3 door coupe 2+2 seating) and i put the "rear seats" down and took the front wheel off my bike when i was moving back home from uni. Worked really well.
In North America ( Canada for myself) the hitch or tow bar racks are also very popular and secure. Easy to install and remove and comparable to the roof rack.
I use a boot mounted rack, for local short journeys. When we go on holiday, especially abroad, the wheels come off and its packed inside the car. Surprising how much stuff you can get in with clever positioning. I take my bike, my wifes electric folding bike and 2 weeks of luggage in our Yaris.
we bought a Yakima 4-timer hitch mount carrier many years ago. It was by far the best bike-related investment I've ever made. the speed at which we can get 3 bikes on and off makes going to destinations for biking a dream. even multiple times a day on and off is no longer a chore.
Chiming in here for the hitch rack option. I have a Mazda 3 hatchback and I can even open the hatchback door with bikes on the rack. Plus I can easily take it off for the winter and it doesn't spoil the looks of the car.
I love my Saris Superclamp EX 2 hitch mount bike rack. No issues with parking garage headroom!
If you take the front wheel off you can fit them in "small" hatchbacks if the backseats are laid flat.
Sometimes you can even just turn the front wheel and it’ll fit fine in a small hatchback
I use a Thule towbar mount bike carrier. It’s lockable to the towbar & the bikes can also be locked. A carbon frame protecter will be required. I don’t have to worry about hieght restricted entries, removing wheels or heavy bikes (ebike)😊
I used to use a trunk (boot) rack, but, after seeing some people scoping out the bikes in the parking garage at an event a couple years ago, and the rise in bike thefts in general, I opted to get a compact SUV when it was time to replace my car. Now, I generally put the bike in the car instead, but I still have the trunk rack if I need the rear seats.
I know nothing is 100% secure, but being in the car is a bigger deterrent than the cable lock on the trunk rack.
I prefer dismounting the front wheel and put the bike in the boot, even with a small car. Definitly the best choise for a heavy bike like an e-bike or a hollandbike.
Hitch bike carrier is best of the options, tried boot/trunk, roof rack and eventually found it worth fitting a tow hitch and buying a rack.
I have both 2 and 4 bikes tow bars racks. 4 bike rack is too heavy, avoid unless you have a big car, 2 bike rack (scissor style) is perfect, Quick to put on and take off and quick to safely mount the bike. Much more securely attached than boot lid mounted racks.
There are at least two kinds of back hitch racks that are great - one that’s plain off the back, and another that folds upward. Both are secure, don’t involve lifting, and are good on gas.
First time I used a bike rack I was super paranoid about the bike falling off on the highway. Now it's locked up in the boot safe and sound, and if it falls out on the highway I have bigger problems 🤣🤣 happy new year 🥳
I went with the expense of having a removable trailer hitch installed on my car, and that setup works just perfect for me in combination with a Thule 2-bike rack. Bikes are not sitting in the airflow (much), fuel consumption is mostly unaffected, and I can secure the bikes with a cable and a padlock if needed.
I bought a Mondeo estate which fit's my bikes without taking any wheels off!
It is great also for putting bikes in, then going for a meal or drink!
I find the hitch-mounted rack is the best of all worlds. The only downsides are some over-eager police can give you a ticket for covering your plates and in winter I get some road spray on my fat bike.
You missed the Carbon frame locking issue. Most of the displayed options are not recommended for carbon frames because they can damage the frame. Thule offers one specific roof holder (Thule Upride) special for carbon frames. It holds the wheels instead the frame.
One more reason to carry your bike inside, upright.
I use a roof rack to take my mountain bike to the trail (quick and easy) and a Thule tow bar mounted rack for longer trips (I don't like leaving it on the car because it obscures the camera and sensors). In winter, I put my fatbike inside the car (a Subaru Impreza) to avoid getting it covered in road grime. My road bike always goes inside the car, I don't even need to take the front wheel off!
I'm considering a tow hitch bike rack. I would have liked to see those included.
I've got a couple of options, can fit a couple of bikes in my small van, standing upright without the need to remove any wheels. Also have a towbar mounted rack I can use on our car, which takes three bikes.I can also put the towbar rack on the van, allowing five bikes to be carried, which means the other four riders can follow in a car without the need to bother with having to use racks of any type.This makes me a very popular riding buddy.😉
Useful video :) Particularly interested to hear about the sucker mounting system, which I've always felt would be a bit sus! A couple of important things to add:
1. Roof racks are easy to use if you're as tall as a mountain like Connor, but for the average person they can be a real pain to lift the bike onto - especially on a tall car (I have two on top of a Vauxhall Zafira - good job I'm fairly tall)!
2. Towbar Mounted Bike Racks rule! I was a bit unconvinced initially, especially when you see that they rely on a single bolt screwed down onto the tow ball to hold them level. However, having used one for a few years on all kinds of trips and with heavy ebikes I am a huge advocate now - they're really reliable and strong, and so easy to load the bike onto. Can't believe you missed them off!
I think with suction cups, keeping them clean and having a clean shiny car is key. If the car is dusty or you have dull paint they don't stick so well (unsurprisingly).
Lots of love for the towbar mounted bike racks! We'll have have to check them out. What made you go for the towbar system?
Those suckers freak me out!
I've been using the same suction bike rack (SeaSucker) for 5+ years now. Its crazy reliable because it's pretty much the same suction system masons use to carry heavy stone slabs. So a bike isn't a big deal.
The biggest downside is as Manon mentioned, if you park anywhere it can easily be stolen (it would only take a few seconds).
SeaSucker is indeed great. Works well and compact so can be store in the boot when not in use. I typically use it when I'm with people in the back seat. Otherwise I just put the bike in the boot. Our Skoda Octavia is perfect for that.
From personal experience - When transporting Di2 bikes inside your car, make sure the handlebars are arranged so that nothing is pressing the Di2 buttons. I once arrived at a lovely cycling destination with a dead battery.
One of my favourite things about living in Northern BC in Canada is that I have a full-size pickup truck so I can fold the back seat up and put my gravel bike in the back without taking the front wheel off.
I can also fire it in the pan of the truck, along with four or five other bikes.
I'm on team Van all the way. Bike is stored safely locked inside, away from weather and theft potential. The van is great for races or events that start early because it also serves as a mini hotel on wheels.
I have a hitch mount that supports the wheels. Locks to the car, and I can lock the bikes (2 Madones) to the rack. If I get rear-ended, it's all over.
Or tow hitch bike racks. Easiest way to carry heavy bikes
I've hacked/bodged a combination of the 'inside big car' and roof rack options, by mounting an old Thule roof bar inside my LR Discovery using the bolt holes from the tie down points, and putting a Thule bike rack on that. It's ROCK solid, secure, and doesn't impinge on seating for 4 people.
It was solving for a specific use case where I was travelling for extended periods, leaving bike in car
Like others, a bit surprised you didn’t cover tow bar mounted racks. It’s worth noting for any rear mounted option, you have to ensure you don’t obscure the number plate or lights if you don’t want to get pulled over by the police.
I have a tow bar mounted two bike rack, which I have used for about 10 years. Unfortunately I have a few issues now that after use, taking the rack off because how awkward it is to take the car, my back does ache for a day or two. So I would like to a car I could fit my bike in for those days you are not taking more than one bike anywhere and you want to get and ride that route or a cycling event.
Sanction mounted with my GT. Very good system
Good to see the suction one! I also
Have a Renault Zoe and been struggling to find a rack for it as it has no rails and the doors sit flush with the roof.
Still miss my Renault Zoe - what a cracking car!
It’s great!! Although mine is currently In the garage because the internal fans stopped working and I can’t dentist or warm it now 😂😂. But otherwise it’s fab!! I’ve got the 50kwh version.
@@AndrewBartley we had the original 22kwh version which was fine for 90% of our household journeys. Memories of driving ours to the garage in the snow after the AC compressor failed - strapped a fan heater into the front seat pointed up at the windscreen, running off a mains powerbank in the footwell. Crazy solution but it kept the windscreen clear 😂
Should always remove loose items such as bottles and asssavers. I use straps on my roof rack to make sure the main section can’t come loose but they’re also good for securing pedals if they’re in danger of hitting parts of the car using other methods
You're so right - some kinds of mudguards need to come off too! I had Topeak Defenders on my mountain bike, mounted it on the roof, took off down the motorway, and when I reached the other end I found the air flowing past the car had torn the front part off!
Loved this video...I store my bike inside to prevent it being stolen (I have a bigger Mini Cooper), or forgetting it's on the roof and hitting low hanging objects.
I prefer the trailer hitch mount bike carrier. Easy off and on. They're on the back of the car so no wind drag. Some can hold upnto 4 bikes.
I use a roof rack because it carries multiple items - bike and kayak or two bikes. (or even all three). Downsides: it’s an overhead lift up on my SUV; energy inefficiency; bug strike on a summer day. But if I’m on my own, then I can drop the rear seat and the bike fits inside, wheel on.
In the bed of my pick-up truck, but I need that for work anyway. The tonneau cover hides the bike and keeps it dry. Not fuel efficient but it works for me. Also, the bike isn't hanging out behind the vehicle waiting to be hit. Hitch mounted racks are great until they aren't.😊😊
I have a small sedan and my bike can go in the trunk/boot with the seats down and the front wheel off. Not sure if there are downsides to it, but it works just fine.
I know it’s probably a USA thing, but hitch racks are very popular here! They are a bit bulky to store, but your bike is transported at the rear of the vehicle, and out of the aerodynamics.
Inside the car:
+ cheapest if it can fit inside
- taking car space
Boot rack:
+ 2nd cheapest option
+ can mount 3 bikes
- takes some practice to set them up quickly
- bikes get dirty just as much if they were ridden on the road (depending on the road)
Roof rack:
+ easiest and most secure outside option
- most expensive
- fuel inefficient
- extra care for height clearance
I drive an old Peugeot 207 that can fit one bike in the boot with wheels off and fork disassembled and I prefer to transport it that way when I have passengers in the car. When I cannot, I use boot rack as the cheapest option.
No discussion of bike carriers fitted to tow hooks. Expensive but effective. Also no mention of not obstructing your lights/ numberplate. Also pay a premium for increased height on ferries for roof rack mounted bikes
What about the towball mounted carrier like MINE?
Hands down after having them.all,.the.best rack is a hitch mount kuat!
No mention of tow bar mountes rack. That is the best (but pricey) option. Safe, secure, no problem with heights and no increase in fuel.
Manon got the nicest car. Nice little electric Zoe ❤
Hi guys, two issues; 1. Manon, the suction caps are really good, however they should not be used on a glass panel such as a modern day pan roof as the suction can collapse the glass.
2. There is an excellent fourth option of a towbar mounted rack. They are really robust and secure and can carry up to 4 bikes. Disadvantage is a bit like roof mounted, you have remember when you reverse that your vehicle is now longer!
Thank you for all your hard work. Live GCN
When are we getting some videos on how to travel with a bike by train, rather than car and plane?
One things for sure , you’ll have a whole bunch of bike packers bikes leaning on your bike and scratching the hell out of your paintwork . Fact .
That’s very frustrating all those people pretending to be cyclists, but using the car 99% of the year. It looks like that’s what GCN is promoting in their videos.
Good call! I've done it a good few times and every time it's been a massive challenge - booking ahead, finding enough space, getting the bike from platform to platform. It's almost as if the rail companies don't want to promote cycling :(
Because it’s not really an option in the U.K. because the trains are a mess…
I take my bike on the train in UK and mainland Europe and it's a complicated business but it is absolutely doable. I suspect the team would have to do some time consuming research to do the subject justice.
Living in Oakland, my philosophy is "Out of Sight, Out of Mind", hence my bike goes into the trunk of my car. With both wheels off and careful use of shock absorbing pads, the whole kit & kaboodle snuggles in just fine, no need to lower down any seats.
Hitch racks, spare tire racks. In the states tuck bed racks and gate pads. There really is a ton of choices. 👍👍👍
I have a Volvo V70 and with the back seats folded I manage to fit 1x Canyon Aeroad L, 1x Argon 18 e119 tri L, 1x S-works Shiv S and 1x Ghost Nivolet S with the front wheels secured in fork mounts and all the gear needed for a 4 week vacation. 😄
I use towball mount on my car as the easiest and seems to be the most fuel efficient (I have tailgate and roofbar mount also) I do take the inboard pedal off as this can get a bit close to the bodywork. I use the tailgate mount on my camper as the towball mount gets far too close to the back window. I also designed one of my own to mount under the towball bolts. The roof bar mounting ones are just too much of a struggle at 69 years of age with an 18kg hybrid bike (I know get a lighter bike - I wish)
Many years ago, I used a roof rack with my rather small Honda CRXsi. Being rather short, myself (5'4" / 163cm), I could just reach the roof. When driving an hour to reach the country roads, fuel mileage dropped at least 15%. Lots of wind noise and I could really feel it up there. Then there's the fear of pulling into my garage and forgetting about the bike on top. I rigged a sign to drop down when I opened my garage door to remind me "BIKE!!". After I sold that car, I just put the bike in the back of the car (hatchback). Could easily fit 2 bikes back there with front wheels removed. Secure and efficient.
Kuat Sherpa for the W! Love that thing.
As long as it's quick release wheels, most bikes will fit in any standard car trunk.
I do have the option of a boot rack that my step brother left with me when he emigrated, never actually used it though. I've found it easier with my bike just to take the front wheel off (QR wheels) and put it in the boot on an old sheet.
I have quite a small car (Ford Fiesta) and with the rear seat backs down I can easily pop my bike in the back (front wheel removed). I also have 2 bike roof racks, so in total I can carry 3 bikes plus a passenger. Not bad for a 1litre Fiesta 😊
Boot mounted for the win. Doubles as a maintenance stand when you get where your going
I prefer a hitch mounted rack. Much more secure than any of the options presented.
That's a Grad C4 Picasso. Fold the seats down and throw the bike in. Job done.
Nice!
I had these tailgate strapon things on a rental car twice for a couple of weeks. The are the worst, coming loose, sagging down and moving around so we had to use additional ratchet straps. I guess they gave us the cheapest ones from walmart so your mileage may vary. And they left marks on one of the the cars back window because dirt will find its way under the foam pads when they move around all the time.
At home I have roof and trailer hitch racks but when ever possible i squeeze the bike(s) in the car. Fits even in a VW up if you take the wheels out.
One more tip - install the tow "hook" on the back of your car if you need a solid point to lock your bikes to.
Yeah, the things that strap on to the tailgate can be pretty poor - I had exactly the same experience as you - especially once it had a couple of bikes or more on it. Constantly worried it was going to fall off, and it left a nice big scrape in the middle of the boot door!
I use my pick up truck. Bikes are dry and secure inside a Truckman cover. I’ve had two gravel bikes and two 24 inch kids bikes upright with the wheels on and an adult mountain bike with the front wheel off. Still room to seat five as well, plus lots of extra room for luggage. On the downside, the fuel economy isn’t wonderful (32mpg) and I’m still scuppered by height restrictions.
Towbar-mounted racks?
Yup, big car option is the easiest. Just take a tarp or towel too. Done roofrack with 3 bikes on roof and one in the car. That was a good family ride out❤🚴♀️🚴🏻
If you've got a big car it's great 🙌But for many reasons people have to get around this issue. Sounds like a great family day out! Nothing beats those big days out!
I have a towbar carrier
big old volvo v70 estate reliable and the full bike in it. Aerodynamic, security and visibility
0:36 My brother’s BMC Time Machine just fell off on the highway at 65MPH on that same/newer Thule Upride rack. The rear ratchet pulled out. Absolutely amazes me that the rack doesn’t have a secondary ratchet strap holding the rear wheel on!
Eeeeek! How is the bike? 🚲
@@gcnI'd guess its not well!
I have a small hatchback and as long as I turn the front wheel I can fold the rear seats down and throw the bike in the car no problem. Can even do two bikes if I remove the front wheels.
Got a Dacia Sandero and a S sized bike : fits quite well in the trunk once the rear seats are down
We are using a WV Transporter. I just put the bike in, standing upringht, and that's all - so big car works for me ;) And you can sleep inside as well. But I'm missing the the towbar bike rack option which is quite good in my opinion: it has no hight limitation and you can easily open the boot sliding the rack down and away. They are also easy to rent so you dont have to store it, using it only occasionally.
Inside my CUV standing up with fork mount attached to a 2x6. Sturdy and no theft worries.
Tow-bar/Hitch mounted rack where the bikes stand on (not hang by the top-tube!!) for when on only traveling on tar/paved roads.
Check where the vehicle's exhaust is pointing, have seen many melted rack parts, bicycle tires, and carbon wheels.
Roof mounted racks used when there is any gravel travel or unpaved roads.
The rocks thrown up by the vehicle's tires destroys the tow-bar/hitch rack and the dust behind the vehicle ends up everywhere in the bicycle (brakes, chains, bearings, everywhere)
My 2 cent
I ve got the suckers, there stronger than you think but bike does flex abit. Was more secure than my bike rack
Seasucker has many different models - not all require removing the front wheel. Even for the ones that do, they have optional wheel carriers to keep them out of the car!
I'm sure Conner has no problem getting a bike on the roof as he is always easily looking down on the roof. For most mere mortals, handles the bike over heads trying to fit the bike in the latches can be sketchy. Especially if you have a larger vehicle.
I have a small hatchback and had a tow hitch installed so I could use a rear rack. Still had significant issues as my car only supports the smallest of hitches which means significant weight limitations. My goal was to bring my kids on a bike trip with me, so two bikes min. Turns out, that's the max, and I could only get away with a small selection of the racks available. Apparently I should have bought a giant vehicle.
You don't need a big car, just take off the both Wheels (some times only the front) and it will fit in the most of the cars.
i do not need to take my wheels off when putting my bike in my Prius, so a large car is not needed but rear hatch is optimal.
Installed a hitch onto a Mustang. Bike rack onto that in the rear.
Having a van based MPV (MB V) is an extremely comfortable option. Swallos four road bikes in the trunk easily. And still drives like a Merc should.
I have a custom bike rack that slots into the car's square tow bar hole with the tow ball removed - see review on my channel - fits the penny farthing or eBike securely or road bike or MTB (one at a time). Suggest to put a blutacked laminated height warning sign on the driver's side inside windscreen to remind you bikes on the roof (I do this with kayaks).
I'm a bike in the car man most of the time. But also like the convenience of a tow ball mounted bike rack for my filthy MTB at the end of a ride muddy ride.
Another downside to the trunk rack is that it scratches the crap out of your car. I used on for years drove around the country with it, my license plate was smashed and the scratches on the top and bottom of my back gate were really annoying. I installed a trailer hitch on my car and bought a hitch mounted rack, so much better and less damaging to my car.
Where is the piece on trailer hitch racks?
Got 2 Bikes in the rear sits area in a old Polo.
Good video, I personally prefer to carry mi bike inside my car or using a roof rack. Problem with roof rack is speed limit and height. I hate any type of rear racks, because once you get to your destination, your baile is going to be dirty, and if any rain sprayed your travel, then you can imagine how dirty your bike is going to be... So be prepared to clean your bike if you use any rear rack for your bikes...