Bike Racks & Bicycle Carriers, how to choose the right one.

Often customers ask us, with so many car bike racks to choose from how can you be certain to pick the right one.  Well after much consideration we put together this guide line for picking the bicycle carrier just right for you.  Review this simple step by step process.

1.  Consider how many bicycles you want to haul.  Bike racks generally carry one to five bikes.

2.  Study your bikes, fat tires, skinny tires, standard men's frame with bar from seat post to handle bar.  Do you have a full suspension mountain bike with a "Y" frame or extra fat tubes?  Fat tire bikes may need special large wheel trays and "Y" frame bikes may need a "cross bar" accessory.

3.  Next examine your vehicle for built in features that will work with popular bike racks.  Many bicycle carriers are designed to be attached to rooftop luggage racks.  Generally you need factory cross bars or the ability to add aftermarket cross bars.  Next look for a rear hitch receiver system.  This can be either a 2" or 1.25" square hole under the bumper for inserting a receiver or hitch mount bike racks.  Some vehicles have rear mount spare tires that bike racks can be attached to.  There are special bike racks that fit in the bed of pick up trucks.  Finally there are "trunk" or "hatchback" type bicycle carriers with lots of straps and hooks that can be attached to the back of most any vehicle including convertibles and vehicles with spoilers.

4.  Loading the bikes on the carrier.  Some bike racks require you to remove the front tire.  Are you able to lift the bike onto the roof of your car?  Rooftop bike racks are good for urban areas where you must parallel park.  Easy to load rear hitch receiver mount bikes racks are very popular.  You might consider installing a receiver on your vehicle if it doesn't have one already.  This can be done at most trailer retailers or specialty hitch shops.  Look in your Yellow Pages.  If you have a hitch mount bike rack, will you need access to the trunk or rear door?  If so, consider a fold down bike rack or swing away bicycle carrier.

5. Purchase accessories like rack locks and cross bar adaptors if you have a female or special frame bike and your carrier requires a top cross bar.  For receiver mount bike racks, use a locking hitch pin.

6.  When traveling with bikes, think about removing parts with quick release handles, like seats, or gear bags so your stuff doesn't get stolen.  If the seat doesn't come off, cover it with a plastic bag so it's dry when you're ready to ride.

When driving remember the bikes on the roof when pulling into garages or parking areas, and when backing up remember the extra space needed for rear mount bikes.  I bent an expensive mountain bike wheel backing into a short parking pole I didn't see.  Ouch.

LakelandGear.com has one of the largest selections of bike racks on the Internet.  Usually we ship products the same or next day.  Choose from one of our name brand bike racks such as Thule, Yakima, Swagman or pick from one of our specialty vendors.  Buying a bike carrier from us saves you driving all over town to find the perfect one.  You pay no sales tax (unless you live in South Carolina) and delivery is quick right to your door.