As last year was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, we were faced with somewhat different lifestyles than the ones we were used to before. Travelling became a challenge, particularly trips abroad, so many of us started focusing on the local regions to make the most of outdoor adventures and fresh air.
Not surprisingly, this resulted in a bicycle boom as it became one of the top hobbies that took the world by storm. Those who are up for more adrenaline than the regular cycling around the cities provides could take up mountain biking. This would surely push the physical limits and present challenges with rides on rough terrains around the country.
As the bikes turned mandatory, to the point of being part of the most important bits of the road trip luggage, so did the racks they’re to be carried on. Since there’s such as vast range of practical MTB carrier rack designs to pick from, you can consider the following three aspects when shopping.
The Security and Safety
Depending on where you decide to travel with your bike on the vehicle, security is necessary. In some cases, like when the terrains are pretty rough as when you’re on off-road adventures with your 4x4, your main worry is to get the secure rack that holds the bike in place no matter the bumps that lay ahead.
In other cases, as when you’re driving around the cities, you’ve got another worry – protecting your bike from theft. In both of these instances it’s the design that would give you the peace of mind you deserve, thanks to handy features such as foam padding, hooks, anchor straps, a cradle closure system, and a securing bar to deter thieves from stealing.
As for the safety, one of the main risks from carrying the bike onboard is exposing it to all kinds of weather. This can easily be solved with an MTB bike rack that’s created for protection with a UV and weather coating.
Now in terms of the safety of your vehicle, as there’s the risk some racks might peel off the paint, you’d most benefit from a soft yet durable cover with a felt backing. Lastly, if you care about the view of your rear mirror or reverse camera, look for tuck away covers.
The Mounting
Same as the previous aspects, you also want to get an MTB carrier rack that’s going to ease the process of putting the bike on and removing it. Think of all sorts of terrain, as well as the weather – while dry weather is helping out with this since your bike is all nice and clean, rainy and muddy aren’t actually working in your favour.
This is why you require a design that’s simple to handle no matter the state of your bike or the weather you face. Anything too complex would only complicate things for you on your trips. Be sure to check the instructions and videos of a specific model you’re interested in prior to the purchase.
The Styles
This aspect basically comes down to your vehicle type as well as your taste and preferences. Those who’ve got UTEs and 4x4s and don’t mind transporting the bikes somewhat “inside” can get the tailgate MTB bike racks which can be safely added to the tailgate without obstructing the view or damaging the paint.
In case you prefer to keep the bike outside, you’ve got two options: the roof mount, and the tow mount. The first are rather more secure, as you have your bike on top of the vehicle, nicely strapped and in place, but they can be a bit of a hassle when putting bikes on and removing them.
Not to mention there’s a bit of danger when you’re driving under low bridges, and they might also affect your fuel waste as you’d end up spending more than you usually do. As for the latter, while they don’t pose the same risks as the alternative does, they tend to be on the higher end of the budget because of the tow bars you’d have to buy and install.
If by chance you’re going on cycling adventures as a family or a group of friends, there’s another point you’d have to consider: that of fitting all of the bikes on the MTB carrier rack. Depending on the number of bikes you’d be carrying, there are models created to fit up to six bikes, for instance.
They’re easy to operate thanks to the tilt mechanism with adjustable angles, which is a feature that protects both the bikes and the vehicle from hitting each other. Still, since you’d be carrying more weight, and there are bigger security risks, it’s important to carefully choose the model so you make sure it’s properly designed and tested.Also, pay attention to whether or not the chosen racks are suitable for bikes other than the suspension-fork types if yours are of another kind. The same goes for the wheelbases, and you’d be better off getting a rack with a rotating wheel cup that accommodates various wheelbases if all of you have different bikes.
