Road trip - roof racked bike protection
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Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller | Reply |
2015-01-28 4:08 PM |
4 | Subject: Road trip - roof racked bike protection This summer we're driving the family out to visit my parents in Denver, from Oceanside, and I'm planning on doing a sprint while in town. 2 car seats, 4 people and a weeks worth of gear = no room for the bike inside the car, so it's going to make the trek on the roof. The only product I have found to protect a bike with aero bars on a long trip like this is the Skinz Protector http://www.amazon.com/Skinz-Protective-Gear-Aero-Protector/dp/B001C... Wondering if anyone has insight on this product's effectiveness and value for the price or knows of anything else out there for a tri bike or has any ideas how to keep the impact of bugs, etc minimal for the 1000 mile drive. |
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2015-01-28 8:22 PM in reply to: #5088180 |
Member 560 Utah | Subject: RE: Road trip - roof racked bike protection I had a roof rack and this exact cover, and it was great. However, I would caution anyone about a roof rack. While driving to Age Group Nationals this past summer, we forgot it was up there and drove over a low hanging partition and busted up the bike and destroying the rack. Luckily, the bike was fixable, but I will never own another one. Can you do a hitch mounted one? That's what we switched too. |
2015-01-28 10:08 PM in reply to: KatieLimb |
4 | Subject: RE: Road trip - roof racked bike protection Ouch. Thank you for the warning, I will be mindful of the extra height. Unfortunately, no hitch on our car. Considered a hatch mounted rack like the Thule Raceway Platform, but then we wouldn't be able to access the cargo space without taking the bike and rack off the back. This long of a trip with a 3 year old and a baby, we will definitely need access to all our bags of tricks at every stop. That said, Skinz is the way to go? |
2015-01-28 11:23 PM in reply to: cmdonlon |
928 | Subject: RE: Road trip - roof racked bike protection Originally posted by cmdonlon Ouch. Thank you for the warning, I will be mindful of the extra height. Unfortunately, no hitch on our car. Considered a hatch mounted rack like the Thule Raceway Platform, but then we wouldn't be able to access the cargo space without taking the bike and rack off the back. This long of a trip with a 3 year old and a baby, we will definitely need access to all our bags of tricks at every stop. We've traveled with young kids like that (they are older now, but we've done a lot of road tripping/camping with bikes for recreation since they've been babies) and I also recommend some sort of rack on the back instead of a roof rack. Roof racks are just too risky-- I've heard too many horror stories. It's too easy to forget about the bikes when you are distracted by kids, tired from driving, etc. We have a cheap roof storage box for some of the lighter stuff that's easy to access on the road. For the "bags of tricks" for the kids, you can probably put a lot of that on the floor in front of the baby's seat-- surely you won't need to access the hatch/trunk at every stop. For the times you do need to access it, it's not difficult to take the bikes on and off. |
2015-01-29 12:06 PM in reply to: jennifer_runs |
DC | Subject: RE: Road trip - roof racked bike protection Originally posted by jennifer_runs Originally posted by cmdonlon Ouch. Thank you for the warning, I will be mindful of the extra height. Unfortunately, no hitch on our car. Considered a hatch mounted rack like the Thule Raceway Platform, but then we wouldn't be able to access the cargo space without taking the bike and rack off the back. This long of a trip with a 3 year old and a baby, we will definitely need access to all our bags of tricks at every stop. We've traveled with young kids like that (they are older now, but we've done a lot of road tripping/camping with bikes for recreation since they've been babies) and I also recommend some sort of rack on the back instead of a roof rack. Roof racks are just too risky-- I've heard too many horror stories. It's too easy to forget about the bikes when you are distracted by kids, tired from driving, etc. We have a cheap roof storage box for some of the lighter stuff that's easy to access on the road. For the "bags of tricks" for the kids, you can probably put a lot of that on the floor in front of the baby's seat-- surely you won't need to access the hatch/trunk at every stop. For the times you do need to access it, it's not difficult to take the bikes on and off. Also have traveled w/family. I feel far more comfy w/a roof rack because, w/bikes in the rear, a fender bender suddenly becomes an expensive nightmare. |
2015-01-29 1:23 PM in reply to: cmdonlon |
Subject: RE: Road trip - roof racked bike protection Put the bike in the car...put the kids on the roof. |
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2015-01-29 1:32 PM in reply to: KatieLimb |
Pro 15655 | Subject: RE: Road trip - roof racked bike protection Originally posted by KatieLimb I had a roof rack and this exact cover, and it was great. However, I would caution anyone about a roof rack. While driving to Age Group Nationals this past summer, we forgot it was up there and drove over a low hanging partition and busted up the bike and destroying the rack. Luckily, the bike was fixable, but I will never own another one. Can you do a hitch mounted one? That's what we switched too. ^^^ That is REALLY good advice. I have seen a half dozen bikes destroyed like that in the three years we've been traveling to race the same events/athletes. I have seen NONE rear ended. |
2015-01-29 1:33 PM in reply to: Jason N |
DC | Subject: RE: Road trip - roof racked bike protection Originally posted by Jason N Put the bike in the car...put the kids on the roof. Hmmm, might actually be safer. (article-2142160-1306AE92000005DC-277_634x443.jpg) Attachments ---------------- article-2142160-1306AE92000005DC-277_634x443.jpg (86KB - 4 downloads) |
2015-01-29 2:46 PM in reply to: Porfirio |
Member 1748 Exton, PA | Subject: RE: Road trip - roof racked bike protection Originally posted by Porfirio Originally posted by jennifer_runs Originally posted by cmdonlon Ouch. Thank you for the warning, I will be mindful of the extra height. Unfortunately, no hitch on our car. Considered a hatch mounted rack like the Thule Raceway Platform, but then we wouldn't be able to access the cargo space without taking the bike and rack off the back. This long of a trip with a 3 year old and a baby, we will definitely need access to all our bags of tricks at every stop. We've traveled with young kids like that (they are older now, but we've done a lot of road tripping/camping with bikes for recreation since they've been babies) and I also recommend some sort of rack on the back instead of a roof rack. Roof racks are just too risky-- I've heard too many horror stories. It's too easy to forget about the bikes when you are distracted by kids, tired from driving, etc. We have a cheap roof storage box for some of the lighter stuff that's easy to access on the road. For the "bags of tricks" for the kids, you can probably put a lot of that on the floor in front of the baby's seat-- surely you won't need to access the hatch/trunk at every stop. For the times you do need to access it, it's not difficult to take the bikes on and off. Also have traveled w/family. I feel far more comfy w/a roof rack because, w/bikes in the rear, a fender bender suddenly becomes an expensive nightmare. If your rear ended it would be 100% the other persons fault and covered 100% by insurance with no hassle. You drive under a 12 ft overpass(very common) and hit the bike you have at minimum the deductible to pay and probably a fight with the insurance company. I've never heard a single story about someone being rear ended with bikes on the back. Unless you drive a truck for a living there's a good chance you will forget its up there. Way too many stories about people ripping their bike rook rack and parts of their car apart. |
2015-01-29 2:54 PM in reply to: mike761 |
Pro 6191 | Subject: RE: Road trip - roof racked bike protection Originally posted by mike761 Originally posted by Porfirio If your rear ended it would be 100% the other persons fault and covered 100% by insurance with no hassle. You drive under a 12 ft overpass(very common) and hit the bike you have at minimum the deductible to pay and probably a fight with the insurance company. I've never heard a single story about someone being rear ended with bikes on the back. Unless you drive a truck for a living there's a good chance you will forget its up there. Way too many stories about people ripping their bike rook rack and parts of their car apart. Originally posted by jennifer_runs Also have traveled w/family. I feel far more comfy w/a roof rack because, w/bikes in the rear, a fender bender suddenly becomes an expensive nightmare. Originally posted by cmdonlon Ouch. Thank you for the warning, I will be mindful of the extra height. Unfortunately, no hitch on our car. Considered a hatch mounted rack like the Thule Raceway Platform, but then we wouldn't be able to access the cargo space without taking the bike and rack off the back. This long of a trip with a 3 year old and a baby, we will definitely need access to all our bags of tricks at every stop. We've traveled with young kids like that (they are older now, but we've done a lot of road tripping/camping with bikes for recreation since they've been babies) and I also recommend some sort of rack on the back instead of a roof rack. Roof racks are just too risky-- I've heard too many horror stories. It's too easy to forget about the bikes when you are distracted by kids, tired from driving, etc. We have a cheap roof storage box for some of the lighter stuff that's easy to access on the road. For the "bags of tricks" for the kids, you can probably put a lot of that on the floor in front of the baby's seat-- surely you won't need to access the hatch/trunk at every stop. For the times you do need to access it, it's not difficult to take the bikes on and off. Whose bike and car are so tall that they can't fit under a 12' overpass? |
2015-01-29 3:04 PM in reply to: ratherbeswimming |
Extreme Veteran 1018 | Subject: RE: Road trip - roof racked bike protection Originally posted by ratherbeswimming Originally posted by mike761 Originally posted by Porfirio If your rear ended it would be 100% the other persons fault and covered 100% by insurance with no hassle. You drive under a 12 ft overpass(very common) and hit the bike you have at minimum the deductible to pay and probably a fight with the insurance company. I've never heard a single story about someone being rear ended with bikes on the back. Unless you drive a truck for a living there's a good chance you will forget its up there. Way too many stories about people ripping their bike rook rack and parts of their car apart. Originally posted by jennifer_runs Also have traveled w/family. I feel far more comfy w/a roof rack because, w/bikes in the rear, a fender bender suddenly becomes an expensive nightmare. Originally posted by cmdonlon Ouch. Thank you for the warning, I will be mindful of the extra height. Unfortunately, no hitch on our car. Considered a hatch mounted rack like the Thule Raceway Platform, but then we wouldn't be able to access the cargo space without taking the bike and rack off the back. This long of a trip with a 3 year old and a baby, we will definitely need access to all our bags of tricks at every stop. We've traveled with young kids like that (they are older now, but we've done a lot of road tripping/camping with bikes for recreation since they've been babies) and I also recommend some sort of rack on the back instead of a roof rack. Roof racks are just too risky-- I've heard too many horror stories. It's too easy to forget about the bikes when you are distracted by kids, tired from driving, etc. We have a cheap roof storage box for some of the lighter stuff that's easy to access on the road. For the "bags of tricks" for the kids, you can probably put a lot of that on the floor in front of the baby's seat-- surely you won't need to access the hatch/trunk at every stop. For the times you do need to access it, it's not difficult to take the bikes on and off. Whose bike and car are so tall that they can't fit under a 12' overpass? My thought exactly. I bet it was through a parking deck or a stop at McDonalds drive thru. We always get out and stretch when we hit drive thrus on road trips. I have a roof rack. When I leave my garage, I put the trash can in front so I have to get out and move it before driving in the garage. Then I see the bike on the roof. |
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