Choosing a bike rack, or how to do without one?

When planning to transport your bike by car, a problem arises. There are various options, and choosing the right bike rack can be quite a challenge. If you're considering a purchase, it's worth considering how many bikes you'll be transporting, how often you'll use the rack, and how much you're willing to spend. Remember, a bike rack won't always be necessary!

Option one - without a bike rack

The first and cheapest solution is to transport your bike in the trunk of your car. This isn't ideal, but it's sufficient for short trips. Larger station wagons or SUVs can, of course, accommodate almost any bike . However, with a smaller vehicle, you'll be forced to fold down the seats and even remove the front wheel. Transporting your bikes this way exposes them to abrasions and scratches. It's worth remembering an additional blanket or special bike covers to protect your bike. Advantages:

• the bike is protected from the weather
• there is little chance that someone will steal our bike
• we don't spend a penny
• no additional air resistance compared to car-mounted racks

Defects:

• lack of space in the trunk
• possibility of damaging the bicycle and car upholstery
• folding seats
• disassembling the bike for transport

Option two - also without a bike rack

Another budget-friendly option is shipping your bike by courier. If you don't want to waste space in your car and are only making a one-time trip, you can transport your bike to the other end of Poland for around 100 PLN. It's worth visiting a bike shop and asking if they offer a pre-shipment packaging service. Advantages:

• budget solution
• the bike is protected from the weather
• we have plenty of space in our car

Defects:

• After taking the bike out of the box, it needs to be assembled and adjusted
• the need to send the bike back
• Shipping usually takes 48 hours
• high costs when shipping several items or when transporting equipment abroad

Or maybe you're thinking about a folding car?

Option three, choosing the right bike rack

However, if you're not looking for a budget-friendly solution but want a rack that will last for years, it's worth checking if your vehicle has a towbar or roof rails. Having these features on your vehicle makes your task easier. You can mount a bike rack on the rails; this is a very popular and convenient solution. For this option, you'll need to purchase crossbars, which are also useful for carrying snowboards or skis. A special bike rack is mounted on the crossbars, and your bike is placed on them. It's worth paying attention to the quality of the crossbars and rack, as these components are subject to significant forces during travel. Advantages:

• the purchase of a trunk lasts for several years of use
• no possibility of damaging the bike
• does not reduce visibility compared to towbar or tailgate racks
• universal beams can be used to transport other things

Defects:

• good quality handles are quite expensive
• troublesome mounting of the bike in the holder - I know of a case of a broken arm when removing the bike from the roof
• additional resistance - higher fuel consumption
• vehicle height - remember that we have additional luggage on the roof - every garage employee in any shopping mall has countless funny (only for him) stories related to this
• bicycles exposed to weather conditions

The fourth and last option, a bike rack, but not on the roof

If you have a towbar in your car, it's worth considering. This is the most expensive option, but arguably the most convenient. You mount the bike rack onto the towbar and place your bikes on it. Help is helpful when assembling the entire rack, as the rack itself is quite heavy. Securing the bikes is easy, as everything is within easy reach. With this option, you'll need to add a license plate (costing 53 PLN at the Municipal Office), so it's worth considering this in advance. Also, remember that there are different plug standards for powering additional lights. Advantages:

• ease of mounting bikes (usually 2/3 or even 4)
• less resistance compared to roof-mounted racks
• the racks are universal and can be used in other vehicles
• no possibility of damaging the bike
• tilting versions allow access to the trunk

Defects:

• this is the most expensive trunk on our list
• the need to obtain a license plate
• limits visibility to the rear of the vehicle
• bicycles exposed to weather conditions

If your car doesn't have roof rails or a towbar, consider a tailgate-mounted rack. When purchasing such a rack, make sure it fits your vehicle, as it's not universal. Remember that the entire structure with the bikes shouldn't obscure the lights and license plate. Advantages:

• simplicity of bicycle assembly
• minimal resistance

Defects:

• there is a possibility of damage to the body/windshield
• limits visibility to the rear of the vehicle
• blocks access to the trunk
• price
• bicycles exposed to weather conditions

Alternative methods for carrying bikes are not very common. If you own a pickup truck, you can install special platforms. There are also special racks that replace the spare tire on jeeps. These solutions are quite expensive and not very popular in our country. Some people transport their bikes on trailers, which is quite convenient, provided you already have one. Whenever transporting a bike, remember to follow safety rules. Make sure the bikes are securely attached and check all connections to ensure nothing is loose. It's worth adding that when transporting bikes, it's a good idea to remove the speedometer, water bottle , and lights . Any of these items can easily fall out while riding. The material was prepared by Łukasz Nogieć