Carbon frames and car roof carriers...

[Pupp]

Any issues with using a typical (say, Thule) roof carrier with a carbon framed bike? Just wondering whether the 'tubing' is robust enough to withstand the clamps and loadings from cornering/wind etc? Any experience?

[ewenm]

Pupp said:

Any issues with using a typical (say, Thule) roof carrier with a carbon framed bike? Just wondering whether the 'tubing' is robust enough to withstand the clamps and loadings from cornering/wind etc? Any experience?

Aren't most TdF bikes carbon nowadays? They carry loads of them for 1000s of miles on the top of support cars with no problems.

[Rob_T]

having just bought a carbon frame bike a couple of weeks ago, the shop assistance strongly advised against the use of the roof racks. in fact in the instruction booklet for the bike it also said don't do it! It says:

WARNING: Never use clamping devices on the tubes of carbon frames. This can cause serious damage to the carbon frame.

and

WARNING: Never use clamps on carbon frames. Clamps such as those found on bicycle work stands and car racks can damage teh carbon frame.

having spent the money, i don't intend to take the risk.

[ewenm]

Do they suggest an alternative method of transporting the bikes or is it arse-covering without being helpful?

[Rob_T]

rear mounted bike rack? they don't have clamps do they? or shove it in the boot?

[ewenm]

I just get frustrated with manufacturers (of any product) who are always very keen to tell you what not to do with their product without adding any value in telling you what you should do. Litigation society I guess.

Anyway, do the TdF teams have issues with frame damage on the top of support cars or are those bikes not carbon-framed?

[Pupp]

Race team racks tend to use fork clamps that require the front wheel to be removed. Some manufacturers advise against this too.

Have done some googling since starting the thread and the consensus seems to be that the Thule 591 proride system is fine in practice provided the clamp is not over-tightened and the down tube is not too easily deformed. I guess some high-density foam on the clamping area wouldn't hurt either...

[Parsnip]

Pupp said:

Race team racks tend to use fork clamps that require the front wheel to be removed. Some manufacturers advise against this too.

Not usually. The point of the spare bike on the roof is that it can be pulled down and the rider up to speed asap - having it with a front wheel off kind of slows this down. While I don't know the exact mounting system that each team uses, I do know they use one that has both wheels still on the bike, so I imagine some sort of downtube clamp.

As long as you are careful with the clamps, I would see no reason for the frame to break - carbon bikes are no weaker than their metal framed counterparts, unless you over tighten something placing a force which shouldn't be there on the frame - such as the compression from a rack mount on a downtube or a stem onto a steerer (I should know...)

[anonymous-user]

The main issue with carbon and any bike for that matter is the speed of travel, team cars loaded with bikes do not travel at 70-100mph on the motorway for hours on end, they go roughly the same speed as the peleton with maybe a short sprint here or there.

Bikes are not designed to take the force of 70mph+ winds with the only real anchoring point being the centre of the DT. The bike as a whole twists and contorts when loads are transferred through them, this just focuses all that energy in one (quite weak) point.

I've never heard of any bike being damaged on a roof rack mount (unless by impact), however i'd always put mine in the boot, if that's not an option on the back, and as a last resort on the roof.

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 8th September 15:36

[itsnotarace]

Parsnip said:

Pupp said:

Race team racks tend to use fork clamps that require the front wheel to be removed. Some manufacturers advise against this too.

Not usually. The point of the spare bike on the roof is that it can be pulled down and the rider up to speed asap - having it with a front wheel off kind of slows this down. While I don't know the exact mounting system that each team uses, I do know they use one that has both wheels still on the bike, so I imagine some sort of downtube clamp.

Bit of both actually. The majority of the bikes are held via fork clamps (also easy to damage carbon forks) whilst a couple of bikes will have wheels mounted



Excuse the crap photo, it's cropped quite a lot.

[sparkyb999]

I regually clamp on my down tube of my carbon mtb. I clamp very lighty around the frame.

The wheel straps do a gresat job, and also I use the Mont Blanc system with the deep wheel pocket on the front.

[hughjayteens]

I used a Thule roof carrier for 2 years on my carbon Planet X road bike without any problems - just claped it lightly and used some foam padding (mainly to stop scratches TBH).