As a bike lover, you might, of course, want to transport your bike to new and more challenging biking grounds. A secure way to do this is to use your car, but you need to look for a bike rack suited for your vehicle make and model.

Bike racks are metallic devices or fabric pads used to hold your bicycle firm, secure and in place during transit. They are available in many designs to cater to different types of bikes and vehicles. That is why you might find that some vehicles might not support the installation of particular bike racks, maybe due to weight, lack of space, vehicle stability, road safety, etc.

See the different bike rack options below, but consider these questions:

1. How easy is it for me to load and off load your bike?
2.  Is transporting the bikes in this manner safe (What can go wrong)?
3. How might this particular bike rack interfere with how I use my car?
4. How many bikes do I need to carry?
5. Will my car get damaged?

Watch this clip to get an idea of what to expect:

TRUCK OR PICKUP OWNERS

For those with trucks/pickups that aren’t carrying any large load on the cargo area/truck bed, you can easily fit your bike(s) in it and fasten them to prevent movement during transit or theft. You have two options:

OPTION 1: Truck Bed Bike Rack

To purchase or DIY a truck bed bike rack, which is designed to firmly hold your bike down, especially on uneven road surfaces (truck bed bike racks are available in many designs to cater to different types of bikes and preference. Therefore, before purchasing one, ensure you look at more than ten designs to find out their differences).

Here’s a short clip to give you an idea of what this looks like. You can also see some images below:

DIY will depend on your skills and creativity. Here are a few images to give you an idea:

If you need luggage space, but still want to utilise a truck bed bike rack, consider options like these:

OPTION 2: Tailgate Pad Bike Rack

This is the cheapest, most convenient, easiest and most hustle-free option you can ever choose if you own a truck.

Watch this clip to get an idea of how a tailgate pad can be used. You can also see some images below:

BIKE RACK OPTIONS FOR SEDANS, SUVs, VANS, SALOONS & OTHER BODY TYPES

• Roof Mount Bike Racks
• Hitch Mount Bike Racks
• Strap-On Trunk Mount Bike Carrier

Roof Mount Bike Racks

These are exactly what they sound like; carrying your bike(s) on the roof of your car.

Before considering roof mount bike racks, ask yourself:

1. Where do I park my car? If it is in a garage, will I remember I have bikes on top of my car or is this an accident waiting to happen?
2. Will the extra height of my car cause any problems on the road?
3. How tall or strong am I? Will it be easy for me to load and off load my bikes from the roof of my car?

If you are not careful or are forgetful, this can happen:

Here’s a clip to show you how roof mount bike racks work:

Here’s another clip to show you how you can assemble a roof mount bike rack at home:

Hitch Mount Bike Racks

These are the most preferred types of bike racks, maybe because of their ease of installation and use, but it all depends on your preferences, the make and model of your vehicle and your unique needs.

You should know that you need to get a hitch installed on your car to make using a hitch mount bike rack possible (this is an additional cost).

Before considering hitch mount bile racks, ask yourself:

• Is it possible to access your trunk with the bikes mounted?
• Which hitch mount bike rack designs make it safer or easier to use or access my trunk?
• Is the hitch mount bike rack firm or is it wobbly?

Here’s a clip to show you how hitch mount bike racks work:

Strap-On Trunk Mount Bike Rack/Carrier

Although this type of rack is used by various people, some find that the cons outweigh the pros. However, and mostly depending on the make and model of your vehicle and unique needs, this might be your only option.

If you plan on using strap-on trunk mount bike racks, know that you might not be able to comfortably or easily use your trunk.

Here are videos to give you an idea of what you can expect: