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I have a carbon road bike, (incl carbon forks) that cannot be clamped by the down tube on the Thule carriers I currently have. So I am looking at the type that clamps the forks and back wheel only. I don't have disc brakes - just regular rims.
Options from Thule are Thule Outride 561:
https://www.thule.com/en-gb/gb/bike-rack/roof-bike-racks/thule-outride-_-561000
or the Thule ThruRide 565:
https://www.thule.com/en-gb/gb/bike-rack/roof-bike-racks/thule-thruride-_-565000
The latter seems to be specific for Thru Axles (but will also take QR), but it also claims compatibility with Carbon fork dropouts - the Outride says it is not compatible with carbon fork drop outs. What does this mean - that the actual drop outs are carbon, or is it just in relation to any the forks are carbon and would apply to eg ALu drop outs?
Which of these do people have experience of, or is another manufacturer recommended?
I've been using the first one for over a year now and it's been superb.
Carbon forks and carbon drop outs, Pickle, or carbon forks with Alu drop outs?
I mounted a roof on my fork and it made the trails come alive.
The 561 has some very chunky discs on the QR clamp that also have a very sharp edge. Usually carbon forks have a smaller clamping area, so the discs of the rack clamp would rest on the fork itself rather than in the inset area of the dropout (not to mention the sharp edges might dig into the carbon).
Funny enough, I think this rack is better suited for through axle forks, because by design there will be a spacer between the lower legs, replacing the hub. The 565 requires you to fully tighten the axle without a spacer, essentially deforming the legs; you can choose not to tighten it, but then the bike will probably wobble.
My vote would go towards the 561, but you will need a custom front mount (much like this one, but with a thicker OD to fit the rack).
Alternatively, on the 565 you will need a suitably sized metal cylinder to use as a hub replacement/spacer and clamp against that when using through axle forks (only possible for 12mm and 15mm, the extra thickness on a 20mm axle will exceed the clamping capabilities of the rack).
Thanks otsdr, that is useful to know. My reading of your post though is if I have standard Alu drop outs on the fork, then the supplied clamp on the 561 will work fine?
Somewhat off topic but I went through this when I bought a carbon framed MTb and ended up with the “upride”. Clamps both wheels so very easy to mount and dismount and quite happy with it. The front wheel brace adjusts for different wheel sizes.
Yes, aluminium dropouts should work just fine on the 561.
Thanks, all. Rockhopper, that looks good, but I wasn't sure how it would go with skinny tyres. Found a review which said that the little grips inside the clamp had cut slots in someone's road tyres with the rocking side to side creating a sawing type action. Think I will go for the 561 🙂
I've got the previous version of the first one sat in the shed which was fine for MTB forks. Now have the latter one for my bikes with through axles and the QR adapter for bikes with normal forks. Was worried about the latter type marking my through axle but not seen anything in the couple of times I have tried it.