Carbon mtb and roof racks

[OilyRagMan]

I'm off to Wales in a few weeks time with some mates. Normally I would put the bike in the car but this time there's no room, I don't have a tow bar so I have to go down the roofrack route. I have a santacruz nomad carbon, some people recomend fork mount and same say its fine to clamp the frame. Has anyone got any suggestions/experiance with carbon bikes on the roof?

Thanks
ORM

[ALawson]

I have two carbon road bikes and Specialized when contacted stated use a fork clamping rack, they do see damaged down tubes.

I use a Thule rack with no problems, I suppose with MTB you have more chance of a muddy wheel kicking about the boot!

[neenaw]

I've always used a fork mount carrier with my MTB's, mainly because I didn't want to scratch and mark the downtime as I did with a previous bike when it was muddy and the clamp was moving about a little.
I use a Thule 561 and before i had wheel bags I used to just chuck the wheel in a black bin bag when it was in the boot.

If you're looking for Thule bike carriers, I've got a couple of the fork mount 561's that I'm selling as I've gone back to using a van for the bikes now so they're surplus to requirements.

[sjg]

I use a Thule 591 with a carbon road bike semi-frequently. I have some helitape on the area around where the clamp sits - I don't crank it up really tight (I don't on alu or steel frames either) and wrap a bungee around so even if the clamp released it wouldn't fall over sideways.

The BB area will be much stronger anyway than if you were clamping in the middle of the tube.

[gazza285]

What sort of man are you, do you not have a van?

[Fluffsri]

Before I became a proper man and bought a van I had 2 x 591s on the roof and carried mine and my mates carbon road bikes and MTB for years without an issue. On the MTB I blade tape where the clamp went but not on the road bike. I ensured the clamps were clean and didnt grolly them up tight.

[Mr Gearchange]

I would seriously doubt that putting an AM carbon bike in a bike rack is going to compromise the integrity of the frame.
The Thule carrier isn't going to exert enough pressure on the tubes to damage them no matter how much you tighten them. CF is pretty strong stuff.

[OilyRagMan]

Thanks everyone, my boss has leant me his fork mount carrier so will give that a go. One day I will get myself a van to chuck the bike into :-)

[GG89]

Carbon giant trance with Thule 591, no problems.

I'm 13 stone and chuck the thing about mountains and trails with me on it there's no way my roof rack is going to damage it.

[Russ_H]

neenaw said:

I've always used a fork mount carrier with my MTB's, mainly because I didn't want to scratch and mark the downtime as I did with a previous bike when it was muddy and the clamp was moving about a little.
I use a Thule 561 and before i had wheel bags I used to just chuck the wheel in a black bin bag when it was in the boot.

If you're looking for Thule bike carriers, I've got a couple of the fork mount 561's that I'm selling as I've gone back to using a van for the bikes now so they're surplus to requirements.

Hmmmm......two 561's for sale you say

The cable routing and shock on my Felt Edict appear to clash with the arm on the 591 - I'm interested in the 561s if they're in good condition.

Will send you a email / PM

[GG89]

Russ_H said:

neenaw said:

I've always used a fork mount carrier with my MTB's, mainly because I didn't want to scratch and mark the downtime as I did with a previous bike when it was muddy and the clamp was moving about a little.
I use a Thule 561 and before i had wheel bags I used to just chuck the wheel in a black bin bag when it was in the boot.

If you're looking for Thule bike carriers, I've got a couple of the fork mount 561's that I'm selling as I've gone back to using a van for the bikes now so they're surplus to requirements.

Hmmmm......two 561's for sale you say

The cable routing and shock on my Felt Edict appear to clash with the arm on the 591 - I'm interested in the 561s if they're in good condition.

Will send you a email / PM

The 591 arm is adjustable you can mount it a bit further up the frame away from the cables and shock. The arm is just a stabilizer.