Blimey. Check yer bike wrap straps!
Discussion
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-e...
What’s the odds on someone coming forward about this? You’d like to think they would, it’s a decent bike to lose, but I can see some awkward questions arising if they do.
What’s the odds on someone coming forward about this? You’d like to think they would, it’s a decent bike to lose, but I can see some awkward questions arising if they do.
I had a bike come off one of those strappy bike carriers whilst I was driving along the M42 once. Fortunately it only dragged along the ground a bit and didn't let go altogether but it's easy to do. They were tightly strapped in place when we started our journey but as the bikes moved in transit, they must have slotted-in more closely together resulting in one of the cam-lock straps no longer holding them tightly.
I was never happy with the amount of movement strappy bike carriers gave, so that was the last straw, and I bought a towbar mounted carrier the next payday.
I was never happy with the amount of movement strappy bike carriers gave, so that was the last straw, and I bought a towbar mounted carrier the next payday.
poo at Paul's said:
Yeah it’s the forks and bars. As police name the bike and frame size, they found the rest somewhere!
Presumably they have the frame number and it may also have been security marked. Good on the lady who got hit for remaining calm enough to keep the car on the black stuff and bring it to a safe stop. colin79666 said:
Presumably they have the frame number and it may also have been security marked. Good on the lady who got hit for remaining calm enough to keep the car on the black stuff and bring it to a safe stop.
lol the one time your extra seurity measures incase of theft come back to bite 
Mars said:
I had a bike come off one of those strappy bike carriers whilst I was driving along the M42 once. Fortunately it only dragged along the ground a bit and didn't let go altogether but it's easy to do. They were tightly strapped in place when we started our journey but as the bikes moved in transit, they must have slotted-in more closely together resulting in one of the cam-lock straps no longer holding them tightly.
I was never happy with the amount of movement strappy bike carriers gave, so that was the last straw, and I bought a towbar mounted carrier the next payday.
I don't often take bikes on a rack on the car, but whenever I do, my missus gets arsey about me stopping to check the straps after 10 minutes. Might have to show her this so she understands why!I was never happy with the amount of movement strappy bike carriers gave, so that was the last straw, and I bought a towbar mounted carrier the next payday.
I try to keep well clear of any vehicles with a bike rack - but, of course, they can travel a long way once becoming detached. The old phrase 'belt and braces' is relevant here - Maybe only safe if (as well as the straps supplied) additional strapping is put around the bikes/carrier and fed around the hatchback and secured to itself. Relying on flimsy L-shaped clips to hold on metal 9or glass) edge of a tailgate is a recipe for disaster.
Fastpedeller said:
I try to keep well clear of any vehicles with a bike rack - but, of course, they can travel a long way once becoming detached. The old phrase 'belt and braces' is relevant here - Maybe only safe if (as well as the straps supplied) additional strapping is put around the bikes/carrier and fed around the hatchback and secured to itself. Relying on flimsy L-shaped clips to hold on metal 9or glass) edge of a tailgate is a recipe for disaster.
Or, as I've noticed of late, hooked onto plastic roof-top spoilers or the underside of plastic bumpers. I've pointed out to my kids to watch how those carriers sway as the car moves. I wonder how frequently they actually break free.Mars said:
Fastpedeller said:
I try to keep well clear of any vehicles with a bike rack - but, of course, they can travel a long way once becoming detached. The old phrase 'belt and braces' is relevant here - Maybe only safe if (as well as the straps supplied) additional strapping is put around the bikes/carrier and fed around the hatchback and secured to itself. Relying on flimsy L-shaped clips to hold on metal 9or glass) edge of a tailgate is a recipe for disaster.
Or, as I've noticed of late, hooked onto plastic roof-top spoilers or the underside of plastic bumpers. I've pointed out to my kids to watch how those carriers sway as the car moves. I wonder how frequently they actually break free.Fastpedeller said:
I try to keep well clear of any vehicles with a bike rack - but, of course, they can travel a long way once becoming detached. The old phrase 'belt and braces' is relevant here - Maybe only safe if (as well as the straps supplied) additional strapping is put around the bikes/carrier and fed around the hatchback and secured to itself. Relying on flimsy L-shaped clips to hold on metal 9or glass) edge of a tailgate is a recipe for disaster.
I often cringe as you see bikes bouncing around on the back of cars, with wheels spinning away in the breeze. Never seemed a good idea to me to hang a good few KG's of bike off the car from panels and hinges that probably are not designed for that sort of loading.If I've got bikes on the roof, the roof bars are bolted directly to the car (using the captive nuts designed for the load), I use a couple of extra cargo straps per bike to secure them to the bike carrier, and put a steel cable lock through the frame and roof bars so even if the carrier and the straps both fail, the bike will stay with the car and won't make a mess of someone else's day.
lufbramatt said:
If I've got bikes on the roof, the roof bars are bolted directly to the car (using the captive nuts designed for the load), I use a couple of extra cargo straps per bike to secure them to the bike carrier, and put a steel cable lock through the frame and roof bars so even if the carrier and the straps both fail, the bike will stay with the car and won't make a mess of someone else's day.
I have OEM roof racks and good quality Thule carriers. I don't use extra straps of locks; as I have paid Thule because they have done all their testing for me and as they sell millions worldwide, they are battle tested.I've got a friend whose kid's bike detached from the roof of his car whilst towing his caravan on the M5 the other week.
The bike went under the caravan in lane 1 but then detached the motor mover mounted next to the caravan wheel, something the size and weight of a car alternator.
That then became a high speed projectile down the motorway, taking out the front tyre of a van in lane 3, the driver of which was very lucky to get away with a high speed blowout but managed to stop without crashing. Could have been a lot worse.
I carry bikes in a similar config but have multiple tie downs to minimise the impact of one of coming off. Some of the racks I see on cars seem to have secure fastening as a total afterthought.
The bike went under the caravan in lane 1 but then detached the motor mover mounted next to the caravan wheel, something the size and weight of a car alternator.
That then became a high speed projectile down the motorway, taking out the front tyre of a van in lane 3, the driver of which was very lucky to get away with a high speed blowout but managed to stop without crashing. Could have been a lot worse.
I carry bikes in a similar config but have multiple tie downs to minimise the impact of one of coming off. Some of the racks I see on cars seem to have secure fastening as a total afterthought.
A bike came off the roof bars of an Audi estate that was about 300m in front of me on the A1 about 20yrs ago. It carried a surprisingly long way in the air before it even hit the road, and then skidded past me in the inside lane and ended up a long way back straddling the white line between the 2 lanes.
It was about 5am so v little traffic happily. Could.have been nasty under busier conditions.
I have been wary of bike carriers ever since.
It was about 5am so v little traffic happily. Could.have been nasty under busier conditions.
I have been wary of bike carriers ever since.
hyphen said:
lufbramatt said:
If I've got bikes on the roof, the roof bars are bolted directly to the car (using the captive nuts designed for the load), I use a couple of extra cargo straps per bike to secure them to the bike carrier, and put a steel cable lock through the frame and roof bars so even if the carrier and the straps both fail, the bike will stay with the car and won't make a mess of someone else's day.
I have OEM roof racks and good quality Thule carriers. I don't use extra straps of locks; as I have paid Thule because they have done all their testing for me and as they sell millions worldwide, they are battle tested.Presumably the carrier that the bike in the OP fell off had been tested too
Ian_sUK said:
I've been carrying bikes around using various methods weekly for over 10 years now. The only failures I have seen have been human errors caused by forgetting straps or driving under low trees. Still never had a bike come completely off though.
maybe you have more 'mechanical nous' than some whose bikes fall off?I'm in the belt and braces camp when it comes to fastening bikes on roof mounted carriers.
I use webbing straps to secure the frame to the arm of the carrier and additional ones to tie the wheels down.
I also strap the bikes to each other to minimise them swaying about.
I did however once lose a folding pushchair from the roof onto the M6 when I secured it only with tie wraps.
Recovering it was interesting, luckily on a quiet stretch in Cumbria.
I use webbing straps to secure the frame to the arm of the carrier and additional ones to tie the wheels down.
I also strap the bikes to each other to minimise them swaying about.
I did however once lose a folding pushchair from the roof onto the M6 when I secured it only with tie wraps.
Recovering it was interesting, luckily on a quiet stretch in Cumbria.
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