Bike Rack with the least amount bike contact Required for Mini Countryman.

Hi
Some of you may be aware that I have just had a new bike. Also my son who was 4 last week had his first bike without stabilizers which now he can ride:)

I’m after a bike rack that basically doesn’t rub or wear away the paint or scratch your bike. I know I’m probably looking for a roof type one. I don’t want one where you have to have it on the boot and you just pile as many bikes on top of each other on it. I want a proper smart professional looking rack that stands your bike upright.

My car is a mini countryman 2.0d

Cheers

get a towbar & corresponding rack

use old carpet between the bikes to stop rubbing

There’s a specific one for the countryman

http://www.minigenuineparts.co.uk/mini-parts/MINI_R60_Countryman_Roof_Racks_and_Bike_Racks.html

What about a ‘Saris Thelma’ supposedly designed to not actually contact the frame.
No idea where stocks them in the UK though.
http://www.saris.com/en/bike-racks/vehicle-racks/hitch-racks/thelma-2-bike.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_images.tpl&product_id=72&category_id=8

Saris Thelma sounds perfect!

Just looked at official mini one. Looks a lot of effort because when you come home you have to take it all back off again and store it somewhere.plus its £500+

roof mounted solution…admittedly you bought a label car but leave the rack on and attempt to regain some manly image.

personal dislike of minis, but as I drive a suzuki swift, I keep the roof solution on and it definitely scores the points with the ladies…seriously I look more manly when the rack is on…more ladies notice me…

apparently!

Thule 9403/9503 towbar mounted your wheels sit in channels with 1 arm supporting upright.

Carries 3 bikes no problem, it’s easy to get them on/off and it’s relatively cheap.

Can’t find that Thelma 2 anywhere in UK!

Fantastic thou. It don’t touch the frame only wheels and good for 29ers

Have not got a towbar. Company car and charge the earth for a towbar to be fitted.

Thule 561… No contact is made with the frame, clamps to fork where the QR would go

Won’t the bikes go inside the car? It’s like an estate, no?

http://www.pendle-bike.co.uk/shopping/Fork-Mount-Roof-Rack-supplied-with-Standard-Adaptor.php

I use this for my road and mountain bikes…great bit of kit

ap no your thinking of clubman.

Ok, but why can’t the bikes go inside? It’s not like its a small car.

Have not got a towbar. Company car and charge the earth for a towbar to be fitted.

But that Thelma needs a towbar too. If it doesn’t need a bumper cut, get a towbar fitted privately, just remove it before the car goes back and sell it on ebay.

Have you seen the cheaper official rack that goes on the ‘luggage prep mounts’? Cheaper and it avoids the towbar issue, downside is a small market for resale.

Thule clipon 9105/9106 great rack and doesn’t mark the car or bikes.

sorry, didn’t read that right…Pendle do a nice fork-mount rack, downside is the front wheel has to go inside but bike is clamped by fork and a strap round rear wheel. thule do one as well, think called the Outrider…
something like that only touches the bike at its usually touch point I.e. fork dropouts.
cant think of a roof rack that doesn’t clamp on the frame if the wheels are to remain in-situ.

As long as you use pipe insulator, you’ll get no/few rub marks from using any kinda rack. And if its an MTB, marks happen, unless you never intend riding/crashing.

A tow bar mounted one would be a preferred option as your less likely to scratch the car putting your bike on/off. There is a cost though, but with previous company cars I’ve had one fitted before it was delivered – if you have to pay, then you use to be able to get the balance off the BIK, as you’ve ‘contributed’.

tbh I’ve never worried about marks on the car, as most of mine have done in excess of 30k pa (some with 160k on from 4 years), so wear/tear is to be expected.

i’ e got a couple of thule 591’s and where they contact the bike i wrap the frame in this black rubber webbed cloth from B & Q looks like THIS and it’s been perfectly fine.

personally, when i’m doing 70 mph down the M6 i want there to be contact between the bike and rack 😆

Another variation on the minimum contact area bike rack,you must watch the video.
http://www.seasucker.com/shop/mini-bomber/

Problem with bikes inside the car is that no matter how hard you try you can’t avoid sh1tting up the interior and causing some damage in the form of scuffs and scratches. Also you’re limited to how many bikes you can get in there as well as all your gear. After rides my mate has mounted his bike on the roof of his car onto his Thule 591 in seconds then helps me out putting my bike carefully in the back of my SMax. I’m going to get a tow bar and tow bar mounted rack. Expensive option, but ultimately the best for a high sided car like an SMax – unless you’re about 6’5″. If I had a conventional car I’d have roof bars and Thule 591. I’ve put helitape on the frame contact points to prevent rubbing of the frame and paint for times my mate drives and my bike goes on his rack.

Fit a removable tow bar and fit a Pendle bike rack to it.

Job done

Yes I know it’s too much over the passenger side, but it was my first loading up attempt. I’m much better at it now

SMax? Fold all seats in rear, throw a tarp done and bike goes in complete on its side…any extra stuff in rear can easily get placed around the bike underneath the tarp…that would be even quicker than putting on the roof.

Putting bikes inside is my preferred option but it is a faff as I need to remove both wheels however, all 4 cars I’ve owned, I’ve never marked the inside…not overly careful, but the tarp saves everything…so bikes go on roof unless I’m driving over an hour (if so, it tends to be just me in car).