Thule Velospace 3 review

All in all, it’s a bomb-proof rear bike rack.

• Brand: Thule
• Product: Velospace 3
• Price: £699.00 (2 bike, as tested)
• From: Freewheel
• Tested by: Matt Letch for two months

Bikes have become bigger, longer and heavier. Add batteries into the mix, and suddenly the humble bike rack has a much tougher job to do. Capable of carrying up to 30kg per bike, the Velospace 3 is Thule’s answer to all this length and heft. The rack itself is no lightweight. It tips the scales at just under 19kg (please check your vehicle’s towball weight restrictions).

You’ll also need a reasonably sized storage space to keep the rack in. That said, if you ride ebikes, you’ve probably already accepted that heavy kit comes with the territory. For storage, the upright section of the rack folds flat, which helps keep things a bit more manageable. Fitting it to the car was pretty straightforward. Offer the hitch up to the towbar and push the arm down to lock it into place. The clamp has an adjuster to increase or decrease the clamping force.

At first, it felt like I was applying an awful lot of pressure to close the clamping arm, but it loosened up after a few uses. The towbar mount also includes a locking mechanism and key. Loading the bikes is equally simple. Two arms extend from the upright rack. Slot the first bike onto the rail, use the shorter arm to clamp the frame in place, then ratchet down the wheels using the integrated straps. The clamps can also be locked with a key. To attach the second bike you repeat the process. One small tip: pull the second support arm through the first frame before tightening everything up, as you may need to shuffle things slightly to get both bikes sitting neatly. Once everything is strapped down, the bikes are held absolutely solid. Glancing in the mirror (not too often), they barely move, and the soft jaws on the frame clamps do a good job of protecting your frame.

Possibly the most impressive bit of engineering, though, is the tilting mechanism. Even with up to 60kg hanging off the back, you can swing the whole rack away from the boot or van doors. Press the pedal below the number plate and gently pull the rack backwards — the bikes tilt clear, and you can access the boot. Handy if you’ve forgotten the dog is in there.

All in all, it’s a bomb-proof rear bike rack. My only real caveat is the weight: at nearly 19kg before you’ve even added bikes, smaller folk might find it a bit of a wrestle to mount onto the towbar.