How To Load Bikes On A Bike Car Rack: A step-by-step guide for roof, rear and tow racks.

Loading Bikes on Roof, Rear or Tow Rack: How-to-Guide

Attaching your bike to your bike rack is no easy feat. With the number of different straps, strings, and clips that need to be attached, securing your bike always seems more like luck than skill. As someone who has recently purchased a new bike rack, I thought I’d try and make things a little easier for you. So, how do you load a bike onto a bike car rack?

The way you load a bike onto a bike rack will depend on which type of bike rack you have. Rear-mounted bike racks are inserted inside the frame triangle of your bike, tow ball bike racks use tray-style receivers for your wheels and roof bike racks attach to either your wheels or the front fork of your bike.

So, we now know how each of the different types of bike rack attaches to your bike, but how do you actually do that? I take a look at the steps required to load your bike onto a bike car rack in the rest of the article.

If you want to learn how to attach your bike rack to your car, take a look at my article here.

Step 1: Confirm the type of bike rack you have

The way you attach your bike to the rack will depend on what type of bike rack you have. There are 3 main types of bike racks.

Rear-mounted bike rack

Rear-mounted bike racks are the most common type of bike rack. These are often the cheapest and most readily available. Rear-mounted bike racks are formed from a large frame (normally made from metal or plastic) that sits on the back of the car over the boot opening. They attach to your car using multiple straps that hook around the edge of the car and the boot.

Most rear-mounted bike racks hold onto your bike via 2 large bars that slip into the main triangle of your bike frame.

Tow ball and tow bar bike rack

At first glance, tow ball bike racks look similar to a rear-mounted bike rack, however, these attach to the tow ball rack underneath the car (part of the tow bar). These are often more stable than rear-mounted bike racks, however only work with cars that have a tow bar.

Most tow ball bike racks attach to your bike via the wheels, with 2 large tray-style receivers that hold your wheels in place. However, some tow ball bike racks use the same bar method used in rear-mounted bike racks.

Roof rack

Roof rack bike racks come in two main forms, some that require you to remove the front wheel of your bike, and some that attach to both wheels while they are on the bike. Those that attach with the front wheel removed attach themselves to the front fork of your bike and the rear wheel.

Step 2: Check that your bike is compatible with your bike rack

Frame shape

If your bike rack uses the bar method (where two hooks sit inside your bike frame triangle), you will need to make sure your bike frame is a suitable shape.

Some types of bikes (for example full suspension mountain bikes or step-through bikes) do not have a horizontal crossbar on the bike. This means that the bike will not be compatible with any bike frame that needs to sit in this space.

If this is the case for your bike, you can purchase a false crossbar that attaches to your bike (for example this one on amazon), which gives the bike rack an area to attach to.

Weight limit

Each bike rack will have its own weight limit, for example, mine has a maximum of 45kg (99lb). You need to ensure that your bike (or bikes) do not exceed this limit.

Frame material

Check the material that your bike is made from, if you have a carbon fibre frame you will want to take more care when fitting your bike (for example adding some extra cushioning around key areas), as pressure from a bike rack can cause irreparable damage to these types of frames.

Step 3: Prepare the bike

Remove any accessories from your bikes such as GPS devices or lights that may fall from the bike as you drive. Even if they are securely attached to the bike, it is worth removing these as some cyclists report their bike accessories being stolen while standing in traffic.

Step 4: Lift and attach the bike to the bike rack

The next steps will depend on exactly what type of bike rack you have. Jump to the section relevant to your type of bike rack.

How to fit a bike onto a rear-mounted bike rack?

Rear-mounted bike racks attach to your bike through the frame triangle of your bike.

1. Fit the bike securing straps to your bike rack. These are often not attached to the bike rack directly and can only be attached once the bike rack has been installed.
2. Confirm the mounting bars (the two hooks) are tilted to be just above horizontal.
3. Undo the velcro straps on the bike rack, make sure to undo all the straps before loading any bikes as this step is easier before any bikes have been loaded.
4. Starting with the heaviest bike, lift your bike so that the two large hooks that make up the main part of the frame pass through the middle of the triangle of the bike. Place this first bike into the slot further away from you (closest to the car boot). The bike should sit in place, hanging from its top tube (the horizontal bar connecting your handlebars to the seat).
5. Secure the bike in place with the included straps around the frame. Ensure that your wheel is not in front of your exhaust as these hot exhaust fumes can damage the tire.
6. Add any additional bikes (in weight order) onto the rack. Alternate the direction each bike faces to help balance out the weight and size of the bikes, and help them to stack more easily. Each bike should be in its own individual cradle
7. Tighten the securing strap around all of the bikes and the structural parts of the rack, ensuring this holds the bikes in place and does not allow them to slip off while driving. Ensure that the wheels have been included in the straps to avoid the wheels turning as you drive, which can make the bikes less stable and impact your fuel efficiency
8. Ensure your number plate is still visible while you drive. If it is not you may have to purchase an extra lightboard for your rack and attach this to the outside.

How to fit a bike onto a tow bike rack (hitch bike rack)?

Most tow bike racks attach to your bike using tray-style receivers. This means that the bike stands up inside the bike rack and has its weight held by its wheels. The instructions below are for this type of model. If your tow-bar rack attaches to your bike via the frame triangle method (with two large hooks that fit in the middle of the bike frame and hold it up by its top tube), then use the instructions above for “rear-mounted bike racks”

1. Fit the bike securing straps to your bike rack. These are often not attached to the bike rack directly and can only be attached once the bike rack has been installed.
2. Undo any straps on the bike rack, make sure to undo all the straps before loading any bikes as this can make it harder later on.
3. Starting with the heaviest bike, lift your bike onto the bike slot furthest away from you (closest to the car boot). Take note of the size of the tire cradles for this first bike, as the front tire’s cradle is usually bigger than the rear tire. This is because the front tire can turn and thus requires extra support. If you mount your bicycle backwards, the front tire can swing into your car repeatedly as you drive.
4. The bike rack should hold onto your bike in a similar way to when your park your bike in bike racks. Ensure the bike’s wheels are securely within the bike wheels tray and then clip the frame and wheels into place with the provided straps
5. Add any additional bikes (in weight order) onto the rack. Alternate the direction each bike faces to help balance out the weight and size of the bikes, and help them to stack more easily. Each bike should be in its own individual cradle
6. Tighten the securing strap around all of the bikes and the structural parts of the rack, ensuring this holds the bikes in place and does not allow them to slip off while driving. Ensure that the wheels have been included in the straps to avoid the wheels turning as you drive, which can make the bikes less stable and impact your fuel efficiency
7. Ensure your number plate is still visible while you drive. If it is not you may have to purchase an extra lightboard for your rack and attach this to the outside.

How to fit a bike onto a roof rack?

Roof-mounted bike racks attach to your bike via the wheels or front fork of your bike.

• Undo any straps on the bike rack, and make sure the rack fittings are clear and open to receive the bike.
• Consider covering the handlebars and saddle in protective cloth to protect them from dirt and bugs as your drive
• Using the bike fork and seat stay, lift the bike onto the rack (after the rack has been attached to the car). Make sure to use your legs for the lifting and keep the bike vertical with your arms. Use the rear wheel as an anchor, placing it into the rack first and then inserting the front fork or wheel.
• If you struggle to reach the roof of your car, you can try using a ladder, parking your car next to a deep pavement, or opening the door of the car and using the inside of the car as a ledge. If you use a ladder, remember to take it with you to remove the bike when you arrive at your destination. Friends of mine have used a small step ladder such as this one found on amazon that they keep in their car.
• Ensure the bike is straight, is not leaning to either side, and is level with the roof of the car
• Secure wheels in place using the wheel straps (either by turning the crank, pulling the adjustable buckles, or twisting the locking mechanism).
• Some roof racks have another adjustable bar that attaches to the bike’s frame as well as the wheels. Once your bike is mounted on top of the rack, lift this bar up until it is resting against the down tube of your bike and then secure it with the strap or hook at the end.
• If you plan to drive above certain speeds, you may find that using extra velcro straps, bungee cords or cable ties at this stage can be helpful. For example, when going over 60mph I notice my bikes sway more unless I use voile straps such as these on amazon.
• Ensure that the wheels have been included in the straps to avoid the wheels turning as you drive, which can make the bikes less stable and impact your fuel efficiency
• Make sure to place a visual marker inside the car to remind you that you have a roof rack with bikes attached (for example a stuffed animal on the dashboard in front of you). This can save you from driving straight into a tunnel or garage.

Step 5: Ensure the bikes are secure

Review the straps of your bike rack as the added weight of the bike can sometimes loosen the bike straps. On longer trips, you will also want to periodically check these bike straps are still tight. It is also worth tying up the loose ends of any straps to stop them from flapping about.

Check that you have locked your bike rack to your vehicle if this is an option (this helps to prevent someone from taking your rack off of your bike when you have parked up or if you are stuck in traffic). Some bike racks also allow you to lock your bikes into the rack for the same reason.

Overall

As you can see, loading a bike onto a bike rack can be easy provided you know the steps and take the time to work out what type of bike rack you are working with.