Thule bike rack damaging to frame?

[240Cup]

So I am off on a circa 2,000 mile road trip late July to Croatia and plan to take two bikes my Synapse and Boardman Team Carbon on the back of an Ansemms trailer which I have fitted my Thule bike rack on the top of, the one which clamps the wheels with the plastic ratchet system and then you have a robust clamp support on the downtube.

Having used this before they do seem securely fixed and I have no worries about them coming off and I protect the frame with some soft material before clamping but does the constant swaying around have implications for the long term health of the downtubes, particularly on the Canondale which seems a lot lighter?

[JEA1K]

When you use a carrier like a Thule 598 and a carbon frame, you should really use one of these so that the pressure on the frame is distributed over a larger surface area https://www.thule.com/en-gb/bike-rack/accessories/...

[240Cup]

That makes sense and looks perfect however:

I've got the 598 but can't see it listed as being useable with that frame protector - or maybe I need the torque limiting knob too, confused!

[R_von_S]

240Cup said:

That makes sense and looks perfect however:

I've got the 598 but can't see it listed as being useable with that frame protector - or maybe I need the torque limiting knob too, confused!

Thule product page recommends it directly:

https://www.thule.com/en-gb/bike-rack/roof-bike-ra...

Make sure the frame is clean before mounting (with or without the protector) and you'll be fine. I do a 2k round trip every summer with two carbon frame bikes and haven't seen any damage or marking at all.

[240Cup]

Legend,have just ordered x 2 off Amazon

[Hugo Stiglitz]

I always wrap a sock round the frame before the Clamp goes on.