|
|
Trusted
CPU: AMD 5900x | RAM: GSKILL Trident Z Neo RGB F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC-32-GB | MB: Asus X570-E | GFX: EVGA FTW3 Ultra RTX 3080Ti| Monitor: LG 27GL850-B 2560x1440
Quic: https://account.quic.nz/refer/473833 R473833EQKIBX
Trusted
Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5
Trusted
Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5
Trusted
CPU: AMD 5900x | RAM: GSKILL Trident Z Neo RGB F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC-32-GB | MB: Asus X570-E | GFX: EVGA FTW3 Ultra RTX 3080Ti| Monitor: LG 27GL850-B 2560x1440
Quic: https://account.quic.nz/refer/473833 R473833EQKIBX
Mike
Technofreak:
Also I like the fact the bikes are spaced apart, firmly held, and cannot rub and bang against each other. I made some "bones" out of rubber hose and velcro which I place between the bike frames to stop them swinging back and forth on our current rack. These worked well but putting the bikes on the rack was a bit fiddly. The Thule is much simpler in this regard and the bikes are easier to get onto the rack which means my wife should be able to do it if she ever needs to as the current rack is too hard for her to put the bike onto.
The locking function on the Thule is pretty good too. I read on one review that you need to ensure you get one where the same key is used for all the locks. Do you need more than one key to open the locks?
I need to look up which model mine is, I have the one with the lights and number plate holder. 925 maybe. My thoughts on it are that I like it in principle over the traditional two prong downhill rack. The bikes block less of the rear view and it's easy to lift them only a foot or two onto the rack. They are well made and as you've noted, quite heavy.
Mine must've done 30,000kms on the back of my car (I take my bike when I work) and it's not remotely come loose on the towbar. That said, there are a few things I don't like about it. Mine is for three bikes, but there is no way you would get three adult bikes on it, the only chance is if you had three traditional shaped bikes (double diamond hardtails) or a child's bike. I took the middle trays out so that mine and my partner's bike have plenty of room.
The clamps are a bit crap, you can actually slide them off whatever tube you've clamped them around if you push hard enough. And there is an element of tetris required to actually line the clamps up. It's fine if you are always using the same bike or two, you kind of get the hand of it. But if you have full suspension bikes with non traditional tube shapes it can be awkward to feed the clamps through to grab the rack. I would much prefer they replicated the roof rack where they had the clamp lift up from the bottom and grab the down tube.
I've also had the clamps let go twice, at 100kmh. The first time the wheel tethers held, but the bike still fell over and grazed the road before bouncing back up and the tethers held it off the road, result was new grip and handlebar. Second time was slower and the bike never touched the ground. In both cases it was a non traditional shaped frame, the clamps really only want to grab oval or round tubes. Since then I've run a bungy over the bikes.
If you are in Auckland I'm happy to show how they work, they have multiple variations but they all seem to clamp the bikes the same way.
The same key works for the lock to the towbar, and for the clamps, so I leave it on my car key ring. I also have an extremely heavy motorcycle lock that I use on longer trips to lock the rack, and the bikes to car chassis due to the ability slip the clamps off.
As you can see in the picture, I don't have a lot of clamping options for my main bike.
Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21
ID Verified Trusted Subscriber
Technofreak:
What bike racks are people on here using?
We have an EziGrip single prong rack which has clamps for the top bar. It's worked well over the past 15 years or so but it doesn't work so well with one of the newer bikes we have.
I've been looking at one of these, Thule 925 Velocompact. https://www.thule.com/en-nz/bike-rack/towbar-bike-racks/thule-velocompact-2-13-pin-_-924021
Any comments, plusses, minuses? They're a bit spendy but seem easy to fit the bikes on and have a handy tilt function.
I have one of these: Torpedo 7 4 bike channel rack
I love it. I also have an older style 2 bike rack that is just awkward to use with full suspension MTB's with sloping/curved top tubes.
Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...
Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale
*Gladly accepting donations...
ID Verified Trusted Subscriber
Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...
Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale
*Gladly accepting donations...
Handsomedan:
I have one of these: Torpedo 7 4 bike channel rack
I love it. I also have an older style 2 bike rack that is just awkward to use with full suspension MTB's with sloping/curved top tubes.
I think that's a better design, as there is a vertical pole for each bike, so there is more flexibility with the clamp.
Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21
ID Verified Trusted Subscriber
elpenguino:
Anyone else been out and about?
I got out to Woodhill for the first time in a few weeks (also went to Fourforty a couple of weeks ago). Nice to get out.
I blew/burnt my brakes out at Fourforty, so have just spent $400 on getting some new brakes fitted and new Ice Tech rotors.
Woodhill has changed a little - they seem to be spending a bit more time on grooming and improving trails these days. Some of the more rutted trails have been nicely updates and berms put in - plust they've added a bunch of new trails, too.
One new trail is only 100m long, but is super popular: Chicken Run. It's a jump trail for all levels - all tables and rollable jumps. Easy to get to and easy to ride. Great to learn on.
Glad we got out while the weather was still nice. It really turned on Sunday arvo.
Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...
Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale
*Gladly accepting donations...
Trusted
elpenguino:
Technofreak:
What bike racks are people on here using?
https://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/T7CATN9M3/title/4-bike-rack-mk3
These were on special last year for not much over $100. Actually pretty solid steel construction and at that price = a good deal.
My workmate told me he uses square rubbery floor tiles between each bike to avoid rubbing etc. Make a round hole and push one on each prong after each bike.
This is what we have now but am looking for something better.
. 
Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5
|
|
|
