JC Cyclists.

Can anyone tell me the do's and don'ts when it comes to transporting carbon frames or even just bikes with carbon forks? Right now I have a receiver hitch rack of the type that has the bike resting on the top tube. That seems to work well and the bikes is fine as long as I keep the contact points clean. The drawback this time of year is that the bike gets road dirt and salt on it from being behind the car tires.

If my truck survives I would like to make a bed rack with a fork mount, but then I got to wondering about fork mounts and carbon in general. I see mixed commentary on the web, but no real official information on what is safe for carbon. Any input or sources would be helpful.
 
Acadia said:
Can anyone tell me the do's and don'ts when it comes to transporting carbon frames or even just bikes with carbon forks? Right now I have a receiver hitch rack of the type that has the bike resting on the top tube. That seems to work well and the bikes is fine as long as I keep the contact points clean. The drawback this time of year is that the bike gets road dirt and salt on it from being behind the car tires.

If my truck survives I would like to make a bed rack with a fork mount, but then I got to wondering about fork mounts and carbon in general. I see mixed commentary on the web, but no real official information on what is safe for carbon. Any input or sources would be helpful.
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This is the type you want. Your looking for over the wheel retention. You don't want anything touching or even rubbing the carbon. It will wear right through.
 

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I'd roll with a fork mount when you can. Carbon parts are more resilient than most of us think, but best not to chance it. I'd be more concerned with aesthetic issues than anything structural.
 
I ruined a carbon frame on the hanging type of hitch bike mount. Never again. Carbon is super strong in a certain designed function outside of that carbon has little tinsel strength and is subject to damage.
 
Must've been some rough driving Dave!

I agree though, never did like hitch racks that grab the frame. Our team almost lost some bikes one morning due to some crazy driving and that dumb hitch rack we had. Did lose some tread on the tires from the bridge we hit!
 
Interesting. I contacted Orbea about my Thule top tube hitch mounted carrier when I first got the bike, and they said it was fine. The basic sentiment was that if the top tube cradles are kept clean and if the tube is only held by rubber straps, then there was no risk to the frame. Clamp style top tube holders were frowned on because of crushing potential. Anyway, I carried the bike that way all last season, and there is not even a hint of a mark on the frame from the carrier.

That said, I can still see the concern over time. I would like to get away from a hitch mounted carrier if possible, so has anyone seen or used a Thule 501 Insta Gator? Thule claims no frame contact (fork in this case), but I picture that hitch wanting to ride up on the tire (guess you could wedge some padding in there and of course anchor the rear wheel).

501_oc_sized_618x408.jpg
 
I've seen a few of these 1Up tray racks at cx races. Very expensive, but also very well made.
What actually holds that InstaGator into the truck bed?

edit - reading comp fail - you're trying to get away from the hitch mounts.
 
XLR99 said:
edit - reading comp fail - you're trying to get away from the hitch mounts.
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Yes, I really would like to keep the bike inside the bed if possible. I get an inordinate amount of road dirt/salt on my frame and drive system on our local roads in just my 15 round trip drive to where I ride. This only seems to be an issue with racks off the read end of the car.

The 501 rack above is somehow locked down under the closed tale gate. Reviews claim that it is very secure, but I have never seen one.
 
I crushed the very thinnest part of the down tube when I placed the bike on the hitch the weight of the bike and the motion required to get it on the rack were just right. No bueno indeed. We were not even driving yet :(
 
I agree, I have a fork mount that is mounted on the side of the bed of my truck, if you can't do something like that some other kind of wheel mount is best.
 
Just ride your bike wherever you go. :)



Went on my first outdoor ride the other night. 16 miles. Pretty much bonked after about 8 or 9 miles. The first 4 I was riding like a maniac...couldn't resist, it felt so good. It was also 81 degrees which my northerner body wasn't prepared for. I also ran 3 miles a day in the previous 3 days. Make excuses much? Anyways, felt very good to get off the trainer and get some fresh air!
 
Same here, been riding the SS quite a bit. New frame is in, so time to get'er built up. Can't wait for some big rides!
 
Color me envious. I built up a cx bike, registered for a gravel race, got a better MTB for this season, then jacked up my back pretty well. No bike of any kind until April at the earliest.
It's currently 65-70 with all the salt washed off the roads, just unheard of in the rust belt.
BigWaveDave - how reparable is carbon? That would seriously suck, even if it is repairable.
 
XLR99 said:
Color me envious. I built up a cx bike, registered for a gravel race, got a better MTB for this season, then jacked up my back pretty well. No bike of any kind until April at the earliest.
It's currently 65-70 with all the salt washed off the roads, just unheard of in the rust belt.
BigWaveDave - how reparable is carbon? That would seriously suck, even if it is repairable.
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Not repairable. However a beer fueled excellent relationship with the local bike shop helped a lot. They helped me get a new frame.
 
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