Hi all. Happy New Year!

Am wanting to get a roof mount for my mountain bike, so need the roof bars and actual cycle carrier. Currently looking at Skoda roof bars and Thule 591, but Skoda bars quite pricey as dealer wants 157 quid. Anyone know of any cheaper but quality alternatives, and any recommendations over the Thule?

Thanks

Rob

Edited 4 January, 201016 yr by RobbySpurs

Hi all. Happy New Year!

Am wanting to get a roof mount for my mountain bike, so need the roof bars and actual cycle carrier. Currently looking at Skoda roof bars and Thule 591, but Skoda bars quite pricey as dealer wants 157 quid. Anyone know of any cheaper but quality alternatives, and any recommendations over the Thule?

Thanks

Rob

These folks (RoofBox Co. have a good selection at various price ranges.

I have a set of Thule Aero Bars which have moved from car to car (changing the feet / adapters as I go) for several years. I use some older Thule 530 (actually the model that preceeded the 530) cycle carriers and so long as you take care fixing the bike they are rock solid. I trust the setup with my Santa Cruz.

I also use the bars for a Kamei roofbox from time to time.

If you have a mountain bike with an unusual frame it might be worth taking some measurements and advice about what carriers will work. If you are a roadie then almost anything will work.

I would always go generic, rather than 'Skoda' so you can keep the kit for a long time.

Thanksfor the reply. I have a Stumpy FSR - my concern is that a lot of cabling runs down the down tube. Is this likely to cause anyproblems?

Well mine clamps on the sides of the downtube, I guess your cables run under the bottom and under the BB shell. So that in itself would not be a problem.

Specialized put out a new FSR with a curved downtube a year or so back which is possibly very wide, this may cause some issues....

I would head over to bikemagic.com or (possibly) Bikeradar and ask on there, let them know what model year your FSR is and someone will answer back. It's a popular bike for good reason so I am sure you will get an answer fairly quickly.

...or possibly singletrackworld

I've got a Thule bar and foot pack off a mk2 octavia estate for sale if you're interested? Trusted trips with my a la carte!

Edited 5 January, 201016 yr by neebsta

Halfords do a set of bars for the estate and they look the same as Thule ones !

Halfords do a set of bars for the estate and they look the same as Thule ones !

IIRC, they are made by Thule then re-branded.

I got a set of Mont Blanc roof bars for my hatch off fleabay for £30, which was significantly cheaper than any new sets, although I did see new roof bars starting at around the £50 mark, all the way up to the best part of £200 on Roofbox.com.

Roofbox.com are very good and have some very good deals on bike carriers. I already had a Thule Veleovise fork-mounted carrier from when I had my Renault Clio, but needed to carry the GF's bike too, so got a Cruz Bici-rack from Roofbox.com for £20, and I must say for the money it's very good.

Hi all. Happy New Year!

Am wanting to get a roof mount for my mountain bike, so need the roof bars and actual cycle carrier. Currently looking at Skoda roof bars and Thule 591, but Skoda bars quite pricey as dealer wants 157 quid. Anyone know of any cheaper but quality alternatives, and any recommendations over the Thule?

Thanks

Rob

Rob

I use the following combination;

Atera SIGNO Aluminium Carrier

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4.php?emulate=roofbar&query=5809&vptype=262521&brand=Atera&prodid=17231

Mont Blanc Barracuda Roof Mounted Cycle Carrier

http://www.skidrive.co.uk/cycle/product_detail.php?partno=729705

The Signo bars are second to none build quality - better than Thule IMHO and well worth the money. In additon mounting them isnt to laborious unlike others. The Barracuda is absolutely brilliant and has the big advantage of holding the front wheel for you while you lock the rest of the bike in - bit like an extra pair of hands! Also it fits frames up to 80mm so should eat the Stumpjumper for breakfast.

Ignore everything else - I researched long and hard before plu,ping for this combo and its works really well and most importantly, allows you to feel confident that the bikes are going to stay on the roof no matter what. I've "forgotten" the bikes are up there and gone flying down the motorway at 80+........ officer!!!

I think I'd agree with the above post. Perfect combo if you have the cash to spend (I'm a cheapskate so I went to fleabay).

Also it fits frames up to 80mm so should eat the Stumpjumper for breakfast.

Those carriers look nice, but a 2.2 inch max tyre width might be a little limiting, especially once they have another inch of mud stuck to them.

I have Thule aero bars on my TDi hatchback and put my Stumpjumper FSR on a Thule 561 Outride cycle carrier. It means taking the front wheel off to lock the bike to the rack but it looks a bit more stable than having both wheels still on. If you are carrying more than 2 bikes you have to put the 3rd/4th rack(s) on backwards. If I don't quite get the roof rack mounted perfectly then it whistles when I wash the windscreen or at 70mph (not 65mph though). It doesn't seem to hit fuel economy too much but I notice a difference in performance between when the bike is in the boot or on the roof rack. If you are only taking one bike put it in the boot on top of a tarpaulin!