How to Carry a Bicycle on a Car
You want to pedal more outside of your neighbourhood cycling tracks. You will need to transport your bicycle by means of a car to have a pleasant cycling experience on different cycling tracks in Dubai or any other emirate. Car owners can carry bikes on cars by utilising the space inside their SUVs, pickup trucks or other car body types but this requires some disassembly of parts. That said, you can avoid disassembly of parts by attaching a rack on the roof or boot of the car. Using racks will save ample space for seating and cycling gear in the car.
Here’s a guide on different types of racks to carry bikes on car and their advantages and disadvantages.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF BIKE CARRIERS FOR CARS
Modern innovations have served as a solution to transport bicycles on cars easily. Here are some of the ways to carry bikes on cars.
TRUNK RACK
It is one of the accessories you can attach to carry a bike on the car. Occasional cyclists can use the trunk rack as they can fix and take off this type of bike carrier for cars easily.
PROS
- Trunk racks are more pocket-friendly than the other racks.
- These racks are compatible for different car body types.
- You can keep an eye on the bicycles placed on the boot rack while driving.
CONS
- Bicycles can get damaged if not placed properly or if another car hits from the rear end.
- When you place a trunk rack, your access to the hatch door becomes limited.
- It can also damage your car paint if not mounted correctly.
HITCH MOUNTED RACK
The hitch rack allows you to carry your bikes on the car. A hitch rack can be connected to the towing end at the rear of your vehicle. Moreover, all the models of hitch mounted racks allow the users to carry multiple bicycles on plastic or rubber cradles or trays.
PROS
- Easy installation process.
- Compatible with different vehicle models.
- The hinges on this rack allow easy access to the boot space.
- You don’t need to remove the wheels of the bicycles.
- Preferred by users who frequently transport their bikes.
CONS
- Rear end accidents can have a negative impact on bicycles.
- Some hitch racks may weigh more because of their capability to hold more bikes.
- High end models of this bike carrier type may be expensive.
The hitch mount and trunk racks are one of the convenient options to carry bicycles. However, since they are mounted at the rear end, these options hide the number plate of cars. Therefore, you can face a fine up to AED 400 in the UAE, if you don’t fit an additional number plate which is visible. This is one of the laws for carrying bikes on cars that car owners need to comply with.
ROOF RACK
Another way to carry your bikes on the car is by installing a roof rack. Roof rack is one of the common bike holders for cars. You have a choice of transporting your bicycle either with the wheels on or off. It comes with an optional fork to attach a lock to the bicycles with wheels off. This fork grabber helps in protection of bikes from possible theft.
PROS
- It saves interior space for passengers and cycling safety gears.
- Access to the boot of the car becomes unrestricted.
- A secure way to transport bicycles as they won’t have any damage because of a hit on the rear end of the car.
- It doesn’t require an additional number plate.
CONS
- Requires effort to lift the bicycles to the roof of the vehicle.
- Increases air resistance which is one of the factors behind high fuel consumption.
- Cars won’t pass through low height areas such as the garage.
Besides, cycling enthusiasts can opt to carry bikes on the cars without installation of racks. Below are a few options on how owners can utilise their pickup trucks, SUVs or minivans to transport their bicycles.
CARRYING BIKES ON PICKUP TRUCKS
Pickup trucks have a bed which can not only serve as toolbox carriers but also provide space for hauling bicycles. You can install bike straps for cars on the side saddles of trucks and carry your bicycle with ease. Besides, straps can prevent damage to bicycles as they won’t shift around on the bed when you are driving. You can also opt to attach a rack on your pickup trucks to make it an even better carrier.
CARRYING BIKES IN THE CAR
You can carry bikes on the car by placing them inside with seats folded. If you own a car with ample cargo volume, you can utilise that space to carry bicycles. Besides, you can always look for better options in new or used cars for sale in the UAE with a sufficient cargo space to carry bikes on car. This option provides you with following advantages:
- It is a safer option.
- Placing bikes inside the car doesn’t affect the exterior body of the vehicle.
- You can access all the doors easily.
However, carrying bicycles inside the car has the following disadvantages as well.
- Takes up passenger space.
- Causes problems in carrying multiple bicycles.
- Requires special types of bicycles, for instance, foldable or carbon-fibre lightweight bicycles.
This was all about how to carry bicycles in cars. Moreover, you can find these racks from the used auto accessories in the UAE to carry bikes on car conveniently.
Stay tuned to the UAE’S leading auto blog as we bring you more tips and tricks to make transportation modes easier for you.