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Tips for choosing the right one for you:
You want to go biking out in the backwoods but it's too far from home to consider cycling there and back. What do you do? Try to stuff your bike in the back of your car and risk damaging the upholstery or getting dirt and grease everywhere? No, the answer is simple, get a bike rack for your car or truck so you can transport your bike there and back.
That's the easy decision made, the hard part comes in deciding what type of rack to buy. There's a bewildering range on offer these days. This article is going to help you make an informed decision so you choose the right bike rack for your needs. So, what are your needs with regard to bike racks? Here are some starting points to consider:
- How often will you need to use it?
- How many bikes will you want to carry?
- Will the rack need to fit different vehicles (say, for example you will need to switch one rack between two family cars)?
- Is security of the bikes and rack paramount?
- Are you able to reach a high rack to load a bike onto it?
- Is your bike pretty standard in design or something unusual such as a tandem or recumbent?
- Do you already have a towing hitch fitted to your vehicle?
- Is your vehicle an off-road type with a spare wheel mounted on the rear?
- How much money are you prepared to spend?
What categories of rack are there?
There are four basic types: Hitch-mount racks. Roof mounted racks. Strap on trunk racks and racks that mount in the bed of a pickup truck. The cheapest tends to be the strap-on. They are fine for light duties but are the worst when it comes to security. The roof rack is good as it uses wasted space and doesn't hinder access to doors or the trunk but it can be quite difficult to load up due to the working height. The hitch mount is my favorite as it is easy to load and can take a lot of weight. If you've a pickup and don't need all the space in the bed for other stuff then the bed-mounted racks are great.
A bit more on the most important pros and cons of these racks:
Strap-on trunk mounted racks usually cost between $50 and $150. The rack needs to be tightly strapped onto the vehicle and the vehicle's paintwork must be properly protected from damage if parts of the carrier rest on the body. These strap-on racks usually carry one or two bikes, sometimes three. More than that and you risk damaging the car or bikes.
Pros
- They are good if you often change your vehicle as they are universal fitting.
- They are usually a manageable height for loading bikes on to.
- When not in use, they fold down for easy storage.
- With prices starting at just $50 they are the most affordable of all bike racks.
Cons
- The usual method of fitting means the weight of your bikes and the rack is all taken on the car's panels, risking damage (I speak from first-hand experience!).
- The polyester webbing securing straps can snap or wear out in the fullness of time.
- Theft is a high risk as the straps can be easily cut with a knife.
- Care needs to be taken when reversing as the bikes project way out beyond the tailgate.
- In many cases it's not possible to open the trunk once the bikes are loaded.
- The rack position means that the driver's view to the rear is often blocked.
Roof-mounted bike racks
can be attached to your vehicle's existing rack mounts if provided, or you can install a pair of crossbars that the rack attaches to. Prices start from around $50 per bike but if you need to buy crossbars, the total will end up closer to $200 for a two bike setup.
Pros
- The bikes, once loaded, are up out of your way and don't restrict access to the trunk.
- Once you have your crossbars you are able to fit other carriers for different items such as skis or canoes.
- Most manufacturers offer lockable attachments so the rack stays on your car!
- You can carry more bikes than a strap-on setup, typically up to five bikes at once.
Cons
- This type of bike rack can be tricky to install
- Headroom is limited with bikes loaded. Many car parks etc will be 'out of bounds'
- Noisier when driving due to wind resistance. For the same reason, fuel economy can be badly affected.
- Can be a strain to lift bikes onto these racks, especially for shorter people.
Hitch-mount racks [http://www.bikeracksforcars.org/hitch-bike-racks] have been getting more popular recently. They can hold lots of weight and are easy to load and unload. Simple one bike hitch-mounts start from around $100, but can go as high as $400 for a 'top of the range' branded model with a swing-away feature.
Pros
- The easiest of all to install -just slide it onto the trailer hitch fitting.
- Bike front wheels can usually stay in place, unlike some roof mount systems âEUR¢ Easiest to lift and fix the bikes in place
Cons
- If your vehicle doesn't already have a trailer hitch you'll need to pay extra to get one fitted.
- Only the swing-away models are guaranteed to allow access to the car's tailgate. These cost more though so check before buying if this might be an issue for you.
- Like the strap-on racks, extra care needs to be taken when reversing. Rear vision might also be impaired depending on the height of the vehicle.
Robert Heathyard is a keen mountain biker and a lecturer in motor vehicle technology.
A full range of discounted bike racks for cars and trucks can be found at [http://www.bikeracksforcars.org/]
Road Trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina: Banner Elk and Grandfather Mountain
One hot, sweltering day last summer in the flat lands of North Carolina, me and my biker buddy thought it was about time to plan for a weekend road trip. Not wanting to spend too much time getting there, but definitely wanting a change of scenery and to escape the stifling summer heat, we decided to check out the Grandfather Mountain area in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountain Range, just about an hour and half drive from home in Mooresville N.C.
That Friday we took off work two hours early, packed our saddlebags and hopped on our hogs heading up 77 to I 40, destination Banner Elk, North Carolina. We turned off the Interstate in the foothills at Morganton, and after some cruising through the small Mayberry like town, soon found ourselves leaning into the curves, past Table Rock and numerous mountain vistas, the summer heat already melting away. Occasionally getting trapped behind a local, never in a hurry to get anywhere, we soon encountered a passing lane and sped on our way.
We got on 105 in Linville and we knew we were almost there. Cruising the next 7 miles in the shadow of Grandfather Mountain, we arrived at the stone buildings of Tynecastle, turned left heading down the valley past Sugar Mountain and into the town of Banner Elk. We had made reservations at the Banner Elk Inn Bed & Breakfast, so we turned right at the only stoplight and were soon checking in.
Being the cocktail hour, we stretched our legs with a nice cool walk into town and visited some local bistros, then crossed the street and headed to Stonewalls were we enjoyed an excellent steak dinner.
Saturday was to be a day to cruise the area. After a hearty breakfast at the Inn, we saddled up and headed back to Linville Falls, were we caught up with the Blue Ridge Parkway. Heading north towards Blowing Rock, the Blue Ridge Parkway is chocked full of winding roads and beautiful mountain views, one of the best ways to tour the mountains of North Carolina.
Shortly after hitting the Parkway we came upon the Linn Cove Viaduct. An engineering marvel, the viaduct is an elevated bridge that wraps around Grandfather Mountain for some eight miles, and has some of the best mountain views on the Parkway. Designed to blend in, the bridge is a fine example of Mother Nature and the man made coexisting. We stopped to take a hike on the trail that goes underneath the Linn Cove Viaduct to get a better view of some truly impressive architecture.
Julian Price Park was the next stop on the Parkway, with a primitive campground and a beautiful lake that offers some excellent trout fishing. The park covers over 4000 acres and has 25 miles of hiking trails. An amphitheater, picnic grounds, and canoe rentals make Julian Price an excellent place to spend the day. We spent a couple of hours, then moved on towards Blowing Rock.
We exited the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Moses Cone Memorial Park, checked out the Crafts Center, and moved on to Blowing Rock for lunch. On the way back, we took the road to Boone, home of Appalachian State University, and turned up 105 back to Banner Elk.
Back at the Inn, there was plenty of daylight left so we took a little break, hopped back on our bikes and headed up the mountain to Valle Crucis. A really fun narrow winding mountain road with one really mean switchback at the top, the ride down the mountain had some great mountain views as we passed farm houses, retreats, horse farms, and some quant little bed and breakfasts tucked away in there own mountain nooks.
Valle Crucis is a very rural community, its hub being the Mast General Store were we stopped for a look see. The Mast family has a large presence here with two stores and the Mast Inn, one of the best of the many Bed and Breakfast Inns in the area. This is where you come when you really want to get away from it all. A mountain retreat with 2 quality horse farms for those who like to ride the live things.
On the way back to Banner Elk via 105, we were having so much fun on these tight little roads that we decided to head on up to Seven Devils, a vacation resort area with the Hawksnest Ski Resort and Golf Coarse at the top of the mountain.
After a full day of riding, back in Banner Elk we headed to happy hour at the Bayou Smokehouse and Grill and stayed all night, scarfing down brewskis, Texas style Bar-B-Que, and some great Louisiana Cajun Cuisine.
Sunday was the day to conquer the big daddy of them all, Grandfather Mountain. Having been on the road all day Saturday, today we were going to do some serious hiking.
With the tallest peak in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Grandfather Mountain sits on the eastern continental divide and is host to the annual gathering of Scottish clans, and the Highland Games. We passed McRae Meadows and paid the $14 per person to enter the privately owned mountain. We parked briefly at the nature museum and took a quick tour of the wildlife habitat, which features animals native to the region on display in their natural habitat.
As we headed up to the mile high swinging bridge, we could see the clouds racing through the gaps between the peaks. It was a cool, foggy overcast type of day as it so often is in the mountains of North Carolina, and visibility was patchy at best. But we were here for a hike, and hiking is what we did.
We started the trek towards Calloway Peak, and being in the middle of the summer, we had plenty of company. The well marked trail led us through some easy to difficult terrain with ropes and wooden ladders to aid us in climbing the rock faces, and several open vistas where we could recognize Mt. Mitchell on the horizon, and the Sugar Top condos at Sugar Mountain as we viewed the cloud cover below us.
We never made it to the very top of Calloway Peak, the higher you go the harder it gets, but we did wind up getting a good workout, and the hike down was just about as hard as going up. We got back to the swinging bridge parking lot, caught our breath, then mounted our bikes for the trip back home. It was good to have the vibration of the road under us again, and by the time we left the foothills of Morganton, the cool mountain breezes were already becoming a fond memory.
Whether by motorcycle, car, or truck, a road trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina is a great way to beat the heat. The area surrounding Banner Elk and Grandfather Mountain is peppered with vacation homes of people from all over the south east, a large proportion escaping the hot, humid summers of Florida.
Outdoor activities abound all year round with skiing and snowboarding in the winter, and hiking, fishing, kayaking, white water rafting, tennis and golf, camping, or just plain cruising the roads in the spring, summer and fall. Whatever your pleasure, Banner Elk and Grandfather Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains is a great destination for the great American road trip.
About the Author
A former resident of Banner Elk, Michael
Talbert currently resides in Jacksonville
Beach Florida and is webmaster for Biker Leather Ltd., an online retailer of leather motorcycle jackets, chaps, and accessories.
How do I get the spring inside the hand brake lever on a mountain bike back in place?
I am replacing the front brake cable on a roadmaster womens mountain bike. I unscrewed the handbrake allen keys whenever I was attaching the cable to the lever, and the spring that allows the lever to go back and depress after squeezing popped out. I cant figure out how the spring goes inside the lever? I realize now I did not have to undo the levers allen screws to attach the cable, but I am learning the hardway. I have had no problems changing the cable except for getting the spring back onto the lever assembly right. I can not find any help with this issue anywhere. Can this be fixed or do I need to buy a new lever, if I need to buy a new lever are they all universal? Thanks
Byg.gjy...YOU HAVE been REPORTED>>>>GO AWAY!!!!!
Brake levers are not always universal and yours should be repaired by a qualified Bike shop (NOT wal mart) . Your local shop may have a pair of levers that will work if they cant get it back together. Sorry but you wont find anything online for a bike like that , low end components such as what you have are not supported on the internet for the most part. A pair of levers such as these: http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1032725_-1_400021_400002_400198 may solve your problem but unfortunately the cost of them as compared to the bike may be a bit much....
Cycling News Roundup - 9 August 2010
Cycling News Roundup - 9 August 2010 T eam News: BMC, RadioShack, Drapac, Papa Cunego!, Vuelta on TV, Tour of Utah, Tandemonium, Steamboat Springs Stage Race, Levi's Gran Fondo, and more...
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