Are you looking for bicycle racks? We explain the differences between the different types of bike racks and their main characteristics so that you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
How many times have we planned a unforgettable bike route? Generally this magical idea begins in the same way, getting together with our group, telling stories and rambling about what we have done and what we would like to do. In a while we are already planning an epic route and the next day the preparations begin. Does it sound familiar to you?
All preparations for a great cycling adventure They are long and exciting. We cannot neglect a single detail if we want everything to be perfect; The bike has to be checked, we will choose the best tires based on the terrain, we will take the appropriate clothing and we will load the backpack with everything necessary to travel any trail.
After days, weeks and even months, we have the suitcase at the door of the house, but it is not until we load our beloved companion in fatigue in the bicycle carrier that the journey does not really begin. That is why this object activates our mood and it is seeing it and knowing that something good is about to begin. In the next article we will talk about the types of bike racks, of what are their differences and what is the best bike rack depending on our type of outing or bicycle.
Why choose a ball bike rack
There are many types of bicycle racks, but in this article we will talk about the most effective one, the ball bike rack. The advantages of this type of bicycle rack are clear if we compare them with gate or roof bicycle racks, since they are easier to load (they are the ones who place the bikes closest to the ground) and they are the safer when entering tunnels or garages (it is impossible for bikes to crash into them).
When carrying the load in the back of the car, it does not generate resistance to progress and saves fuel, while making the vehicle driving is quieter. The rest of the options may be valid for some users, but if we intend to use it regularly, the ball bicycle rack is the most suitable.
The negative part of these bicycle racks is that they are usually more expensive and require the installation of a approved ball in our vehicle, something that we must communicate to our accident insurance and pass the MOT again. In any case, these disadvantages are more than offset by its ease of use and the security that this type of accessory transmits, something that means that the more times we use it, the happier we are with the purchase.
To talk about the different models that we can find on the market, we will do so through the TowCar brand, one of the largest and most reputable bicycle rack manufacturers on the market. Being also manufacturers of hitches for any vehicle, know perfectly well this complex part of our vehicle, which is why they have an extensive catalog where you can find any bike rack model that we are looking for.
Bike racks for two, three and four bicycles
To start from the beginning, when buying a bicycle rack the first thing we must take into account is the number of bicycles that we are going to transport. Normally all bicycle racks can carry two bicycles, but in the TowCar catalog we can find models of bike rack for 3 and up to 4 bicycles.
With the larger ones we can carry the entire family's bikes, the only drawback being that their size and weight is greater. In this sense, the TowCar TR2 y TowCar TR3 They are the same bike rack, with the only difference that one of them is to transport 2 bicycles and the other 3.
If we opted for an option for 4 bicycles, the TowCar T4 It would be a perfect option and with similar characteristics to the TR2 and TR3. Some bike racks also have the option of include an extra bike by purchasing an accessory, as is the case of the model Westfalia BC 60 o Bikelander. If the family grows and we do not want to buy another bicycle rack, this feature can be very interesting.
Bicycle rack for e-bikes
When choose bike rack, apart from knowing how many we are going to carry, it is also interesting to know the weight that have. Transporting a road bike is not the same as transporting an e-Bike.
In this sense, the most robust bicycle racks are those that can transport heavier bicycles (normally up to 25 kg of weight per bike), something that we can see in the models JustClick 3 y JustClick 2.
These bike racks accept bikes up to 30 kg per bike, so we can safely carry any e-bike From the market. Logically, if they are capable of carrying electric bicycles, they can also carry other types of bikes, such as mountain or road bikes. This robustness makes this bike rack the one chosen by runners like Milton Ramos, Jorge Arcas, Carlos Coloma or Carlos Verona, something that also earned him to be recently described as the best bike rack in the world in the European awards.
Bicycle rack for dual suspension bikes
Another concept to take into account is the type of bicycle fastening. In dual suspension mountain bikesWhether normal or e-bikes, the frame design may mean that some bike racks do not easily grip the bike. That is why if we have a bicycle of this type it is important to check that we can carry it on the bicycle rack that we are going to buy.
Clamp bike rack with movable arms
TowCar has different models to solve these problems, although most of them are fully compatible with most bikes on the market. The Serie Westfalia or Justclick, For example, they have movable arms that we can place where it suits us best.
These arms have a plastic clamp with silicone adhesive rubber that grips the bike tubes in practically any position, leaving the bike firmly attached to the bike rack.
Tape bike rack
If it is still difficult to attach all the bikes to the bike rack, either due to differences in sizes or shapes, TowCar has the business B3 and B4 that have a more generic anchor. These have two bars that are placed between the bikes, tying them to them with ribbons. The system is just as effective as the systems that equip the Westfalia or Justclick, but it has a certain margin that can be useful if we cannot hold the bicycles well with the clamp systems.
Folding bike racks
Another important feature in a ball bike rack is to know if it is a folding bike rack. After loading the suitcases, helmets and other utensils that we need for our big route in the trunk, we are placing the bikes on the bike rack and we realize that we need something that is in the trunk. Removing all the bikes from the rack is a hassle, so models like the JustClick 3 y JustClick 2 They would make our task easier. These bike racks are foldable even with loaded bicycles, so if we are absent-minded, these bicycle racks will save us a lot of time.
Folding bike racks, can it fit in the trunk?
When storing them at home, the size It is something important to keep in mind. The models that can carry more bicycles are more voluminous, but some are bike rack foldable and they take up much less than we can imagine.
The FoldClick 3 Foldable It is a good example of this, since when folded its dimensions are 75 x 28 x 74 cm (128 x 80 x 68,5 cm when folded). The fact that they are foldable also ensures that, if we go out to spend the day in the mountains, we can remove the bike rack and store it inside the trunk without it being visible from the outside.
Bicycle rack with anti-theft system
The models that are not foldable take up more space and, in some trunks, we may not be able to store it inside. In this case, a bicycle rack with anti-theft system it's the solution. In this sense, the model Westfalia Bikelander It has anti-theft protection for the bikes and for the bike rack itself, so we can leave it mounted in the car and pedal calmly.
What is the price of a bike rack?
Finally, the characteristic that most often determines the purchase of a bicycle rack is the price. The models we have talked about in this article have prices that range between €199 and €579, prices that can be high if the use we are going to give it is very sporadic.
In this case, minimalist options such as TowCar SC3 are the most appropriate. For €45 we will have a ball bicycle rack for 3 bicycles, which opens easily and takes up really little space (54x45x68 cm). Logically we will not be able to carry electric bicycles, but the rest of the features make up for it. In this model, as in the rest of the models, we must carry the V20 plate that indicates the load leaving the vehicle.
As we have seen, the world of the bicycle rack is “a whole world.” There are all kinds of options, for any use and for any pocket. Deciding well is very important because a bicycle rack is an accessory that will accompany us for many years on our cycling adventures. If, like us, you are constantly thinking about escaping to the mountains, surely when you see your new bike rack it will change your face. The bicycle rack, more than any other accessory, is the beginning of every cycling adventure.
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