Introduction To Roof Mounted Bicycle Racks

    When choosing a bicycle carrier for your vehicle, the first thing you'll want to decide on will probably be whether you want to carry your bicycles up on your roof, behind your vehicle using a hitch or strap mounted rack, or in the bed of your pickup truck.  Each of these ways have their advantages, and many factors will affect your decision, so we've written this introduction to roof mounted bicycle carriers to help you decide if a roof mounted bicycle rack is right for you

Roof Mounted Bicycle Carriers

   You've probably seen lots of roof mounted bike trays on the road. If you already have a roof rack with crossbars (bars which run left to right) on your vehicle, this is almost certainly an option for you. We'll go over some of the more technical aspects below, but first, ask yourself if putting your bicycles on the roof is the way you want carry your bikes. It can be more convenient than a rear mounted bicycle rack, you won't have to strap the rack down or tighten it into your hitch receiver, and there won't be a big rack getting between you and your hatchback (or trunk.) If you own a pickup truck, putting your bikes on the roof keeps your bed free to carry all your other gear. If you have a tandem bicycle, roof mounted racks are really your only option. However, if you don't want to lift your heavy bike up onto your roof, your roof is too high to reach easily, or you're worried about overhead clearance (bicycle on roof + low tree limb or parking garage = really bad day), then maybe you'd prefer a rear mounted bicycle rack. Also, many smaller children's bikes don't work well with any style of bicycle rack. Otherwise, the following guidelines for using roof mounted bicycle racks should give you a good idea of what to expect from roof mounted bike racks.

Can I Carry Bikes On My Roof?
    If you have a roof rack with crossbars, chances are the answer is yes. There are a few roof racks that we don't recommend using bicycle trays with, mainly racks with very short (less than 18 inches) or very long (more that 46 inches) crossbar spreads. The crossbar spread is the distance between the center of one crossbar to the center of the other. Please bear in mind that the 18-46" bar spread is just a guideline. Some bike trays work fine a few inches outside this range. Split trays like the Yakima 2065 Boa Bicycle Carrier for Car Roof Racks are limited by the length of your bicycle itself, because the bike is attached at the bars, instead of sitting in a long bike tray.

    After crossbar spread, you'll need to consider your roof rack's cargo capacity. Can it hold the weight of all your bikes? Is there enough space fit all your bikes? If you have a Thule or Yakima roof rack, weight capacity shouldn't be a problem. These racks almost never have a weight rating under 100 pounds, so you should be fine with at least 2 or 3 bicycles. Some factory racks do have lower weight ratings, so when in doubt check your owner's manual first. Whether or not you have enough space to carry your bikes is a little more complicated, depending on what else you want to carry on your roof rack at the same time. If you are only carrying bicycles, and you alternate the direction of the bikes so that their handlebars don't interfere with one another, you can usually carry at least three bicycles on top of even the smallest factory roof racks. If you're also carrying a cargo box or kayak, you may only be able to put 1 or 2 bikes on your roof rack at the same time (unless you have a Thule or Yakima car roof rack with longer bars.) Another factor that will determine how many bicycles you can carry at once will be whether you choose fork mount bike trays or trays that grab the bicycle's tires or frame. Fork mount trays use somewhat less bar space on your roof rack than other trays, though factory crossbars won't always accept fork mount trays without special adapters (which take up more bar space.)
    Now that you've determined how many bikes you'll be carrying on your roof rack, you'll want to choose your bike trays. Many people like the security and stability that a fork mount bicycle tray offers. By removing the front wheel and clamping down on the front fork with an adjustable skewer, your tray gets the most rugged grip possible on your bicycle. This also eliminates all contact with your bicycle's frame, as the rear tire is strapped into place. Most fork mount trays can be locked, as well, giving you complete locking security for your bike. You can even get wheel carriers for your roof rack, so you don't have to give up valuable cargo space inside to stow your front wheels. Fork adapters will now allow you to carry bicycles non-standard forks on fork mount trays, too. If you have a tandem bicycle, fork mount trays are really the only way to go. The Yakima 2071 SideWinder Tandem Bike Carrier for Car Roof Racks and the Thule 558p Tandem Bicycle - Bike Carrier for Roof Racks both feature a swiveling fork mount. This allows you to attach the front fork to the bike tray while the rear wheel is resting on the ground. Then you can lift the back of the bike up and swing it into the tray with ease.

    If you'd rather not bother removing the front wheel, there are plenty of roof rack mounted bike racks which grip the front tire or frame. Some of these trays are compatible with factory installed roof racks right out of the box, most others can be mounted to factory bars with special adapters. The simplest models of these trays grab the bike's downtube and use ratcheting straps to hold both wheels in place. Others clamp around the front tire, eliminating any contact with your bicycle's frame (this is a big bonus if you've got a light, aluminum frame bike!) and protecting its finish. Whether gripping the frame or front tire, these trays can be adjusted to fit almost any size or style bicycle. Also, many models, like the Thule 598 Criterium Upright Bicycle - Bike Carrier for Roof Racks feature attachment hardware that is all accessible at vehicle roof height, eliminating the need to get on tip-toe just to get your bicycle on or off your vehicle. These trays also offer full locking security, most requiring only a single lock to secure both the bike and the tray.

    We hope that this introduction to roof mounted bike carriers has helped give you some ideas about how you'd like to carry your bikes. Check back later for information on other ways to carry your bikes, or pick up the phone and give us a call at 1-800-272-5362. Our friendly staff would be happy to take a few minutes and discuss all of the available options with you.