Standard Bike Rack For Carbon?

[Dom_Gleza]

Hi Guys,

I am limited with options for bike transport and have been using a boot strap bike carrier for my carbon road bike.

I realise the rise involved and wondered if anyone does the same or has any tips or tricks on making it "safer" and avoid any damage to my frame. Being a boot strap carrier it does have abit more bounce than a tow bar carrier, hoping that might absorb some of the bumps.

[Duck!]

The main concern is how the bike is held in the carrier, rather than how the carrier is mounted to the car. Platform racks which hold the bike mainly by the wheels are the best option, but that obvioulsy doesn't suit your current setup.... For hanging from the bike's frame, carriers with velcro straps are preferable because unless you're The Incredible Hulk it's impossible to pull them tight enough to exert damaging compression force on the tube. Mechanical clamps, which are generally more secure than straps, can easily be overtightened, which can crush a carbon tube. You can use them, but be very careful when tightening.

When using a top-mount carrier, it's wise to use additional strapping around wheels or bottom bracket area to stop the bike swinging in the carrier, which can wear into the tube surface.

[Andy01]

Hi Guys,

I am limited with options for bike transport and have been using a boot strap bike carrier for my carbon road bike.

I realise the rise involved and wondered if anyone does the same or has any tips or tricks on making it "safer" and avoid any damage to my frame. Being a boot strap carrier it does have abit more bounce than a tow bar carrier, hoping that might absorb some of the bumps.

What type of carrier is it ?

My current carrier (BnB Supporter BC-6313-2S) is a boot strap-on type but it has channels for the wheels to sit in, so it would be perfectly OK for carbon frames.

Most seem to be the top-mount type where the bikes hang from a support bar. From what I have read it is wise to use a metal dummy top tube on carbon bikes and hang the bike from this.

[RonK]

I used a Thule clip on 3 bike carrier for quite some time. It had soft rubber cups and supported the bikes very nicely. It did far more damage to the paintwork on my car than to the bikes, and THAT was the reason I stopped using it.

[bychosis]

https://www.seasucker.com.au/for-cyclis ... dZEALw_wcB

Haven’t used them, just an alternative that may suit.