This will be my first bike carrier so know very little abut them.

In the past I have either thrown the bike in the boot or rode to my destination but now need to carry the bikes outside the car.

Can someone recommend me a thule roof carrier for mountain bikes.
If it makes any difference it will be going on a MK6 golf with square roof bars.

Thule proride 591:)

Thule proride 591

This.

Outride 561 and a wheelbag, your downtube will thank you for it.

Just don’t leave it unattended!

591 works for us with mountain bikes made of varying substances, and flimsy carbon road bikes.

A mate wraps a piece of chamois (leather, not an old pad from his shorts!) around his downtube when he is worried about his precious bike. Usually on the ride afterwards he misjudges a bend and hits a drystone wall…. 🙄

Another vote for 591.

thule 591 again.

Thule 561.
Front wheel in wheel bag. Seat post through wheel bag handle to keep front wheel outside the car, confident driving without wobble bike on roof paranoia.

Thule 591

For the additional cost get aero or whisper bars much quieter and you’ll not regret it.

I went with a 561 for a (slightly) lower profile, easier mounting of bike onto rack, and the bike feels more secure. (ive known of clamping arms shift and the bike falling over while still tied on by the wheels)

Disadvantage being if its a 20mm bolt there is no security as far as leaving the bike unattended, but i wouldnt leave any rack unattended myself.

my bike faces backwards, so the bottom of the steerer tube (under the fork crown) whistles from time to time on the motorway, which can get a shade irritating, but its by no means all the time. I reckon a 591 would still do it.

TBH if i was going to go again, i would consider a rear mounted rack i think to keep the bikes out the wind (slows the car down a surprising amount), but i had the roof bars already, have no tow hitch, and the upper lip of my boot is plastic trim, so it would have cost loads more for what is occasional use.

Ikea bags for front wheels in the boot.

For the additional cost get aero or whisper bars much quieter and you’ll not regret it.

Also agree. After 30 years of square (oh, alright, rectangular) bars i treated myself to Thule Aeros. So much quieter & minimal impact on fuel economy (without a bike atop).

TBH if i was going to go again, i would consider a rear mounted rack i think to keep the bikes out the wind (slows the car down a surprising amount),

A friend has a Thule tow bar mounted rack for his SUV as the roof’s so bloody high.
It’s a lovely bit of kit, obviously easier to load bikes on. Minor drawback of increased vehicle length & remembering it’s there when reversing but it still impacts on fuel economy. Probably because it messes up the air-flow at the back of the vehicle.

591

Not sure what damage you could do to the downtube other than rubbing the paint but I just use a bit of helitape.

561. I’d never clamp the downtube of a bicycle, they’re quite thin and not designed to take a clamping force there.

Another one for 591. Just got back from a 1000 mile round trip with 4 bikes on top and no problems

Errrm… I’ll very shortly have some (3) 591s for sale, along with a set of VW roof bars for a mk6 Golf…

Email in profile if interested, OP…

PS
MPG 561 not so good.

Thule outride 561 & wheel holder.
Awesome bit of kit. Can leave the bike unattended (after putting wheel inside car)

Don’t bother with the other ones, scratch he’ll out of your downtube.

561 very secure.

Also worth considering any carbon you might have (or likely to own)

I’m very unconvinced that torque through the fork dropout is safer than at the downtube. The moment around the dropout must be far higher. As such I’ve bought a 591 and I’m very happy with it.

Actually, a big factor for not getting the 561 was that it needs different adaptors for QR/15mm/20mm and it’s apparently not easy to switch. I have bikes with all three dropout sizes so the adaptors sounded faffy, as does removing a wheel unnecessarily.

Don’t bother with the other ones, scratch he’ll out of your downtube.

You’re doing it wrong.

The down tube wall may be thin but very little clamping force is used & apart from that it is a very strong area. Has to be otherwise you’d tear the frame apart pedalling.

I bought 4 x 532s as they are a bit cheaper. Carried too All-mountain MTBs and 2 x light carbon road bikes all around Scotland over the last few weeks and worked perfectly.