Instructions for Loading an Auto Bike Rack

Loading your bike should be a painless process, and most of the time it is. But before you throw your prized machine on top of the car and drive off, take a few extra minutes to make sure it's secure and protected. There is no worse way to harm a bicycle than a car rack mishap, so check and recheck before you drive off to your next criterium.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Roof Racks

Step 1

Remove any water bottles, cycling computers and saddle bags to avoid high-speed losses.

Step 2

Take off your bike's front wheel (if required) and hoist it up to the rack. Slip the fork onto the rack's skewer or, if your rack model allows, slip both wheels into the rack's wheel gutters.

Step 3

Secure the bike's frame before the wheels. If you took off your front wheel, tighten the rack skewer to secure the fork. If your rack uses a clamp, place it near the middle of the down tube and tighten appropriately. Do not over-tighten, especially on carbon fiber frames, because the clamp can warp the frame and cause damage.

Step 4

Strap the wheel or wheels down. Give the bike a small shake to make sure it is secure. If the setup wobbles, recheck your clamping system and tighten as needed.

Trunk Racks

Step 1

Carefully attach your rack to your car. Tighten all straps as appropriate, and test the rack's security with a gentle push and pull. You should not see any slack in the straps as you test the rack.

Step 2

Place your bike's top tube over the rack arms. If your rack has frame clamps on the arms, secure them now.

Step 3

Place padding wherever the bike frame comes in contact with the rack or car bumper. If you are loading more than one bike, pad any contact points between the two bikes.

Step 4

Load a second bike facing the opposite direction of the first.

Step 5

Add webbing or bungee straps to provide further security. Check to make sure there is no play to the bikes that might allow them to swing or bounce on the road.

Resources

How to Choose Car Racks

Article Written By Greg Johnson

Greg Johnson earned his Bachelor of Arts in creative writing from The Ohio University. He has been a professional writer since 2008, specializing in outdoors content and instruction. Johnson's poetry has appeared in such publications as "Sphere" and "17 1/2 Magazine."

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