Hi guys,

Just wondering if anyone has any furhter experiance with bike/cycle racks for rear mounting on the Fab Vrs?

I've searched the forums and got some old info, but was just wondering if anyone has any updates? I need it for 2-3 mountain bikes. I don't want to use the roof mounted system as I have been told it can cause stress fractures on the front suspension due to the high speeds and crosswinds on M'ways.

Any info would be much appreciated.

I bought a Paddy Hopkirk high-mount 3 bike rear carrier, although as with all things bought in the interests of fitness, it's never been used! It looks like it'll fit OK, and won't rip off the boot spoiler or anything. The slopy top of the rear bumper might make it a bit tricky to hold up while you're attaching the straps etc. but shouldn't be a problem once everything's set up right... I think you need to make sure you attach any side straps to the edges of the metal part of the boot lid, rather than to the glass, otherwise you could end up pulling the back window out (it's only glued in after all!!!)

you only run the risk of stress fractures with a roof mounted system when you have one where you remove the front wheel. If you use something like the thule proride 591 it holds the bike by the down tube and the wheels are just strapped in. I've just got a pair of these and the aero roof bars and it really is the easiest way to carry bikes.

For give my ignorance but I am considering buying roof bars and 511-1 veloce cycle mounts (basically because my frame wall is so thin I am concerned any clamp on it may damage) and am now concerned about this stress sfracture issue. Can you tell me a little more about how and why this happens. Basically is everybody saying forget fork mount

Hi guys' date='

I don't want to use the roof mounted system as I have been told it can cause stress fractures on the front suspension due to the high speeds and crosswinds on M'ways.

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:eek:

Has anyone experienced this, or is it just people speculating?

To me, it seems far more likely that the carrier would break first, especially with aero bars (as they are aluminium). Or the plastic fork-mounting head on Thule VeloVise.

Of course, if the

I didn't realise they did roof mounted systems that don't use the suspension forks to secure the bike :eek:

The Thule system looks good. What else would I require in the way of racking sytem onto which the Pro Ride system fits?

At least that way the boot is free and I don't have to worry about having to get another registration plate.

As above

I have the Atera Aero Aluminium roof bars (all be it for the octavia)

Plus the Thule Pro Ride 591 Bike carriers X2

These clamp the frame using a type of "c" clamp which is very long 5" either side and i cant see it causing a problem with a thin frame, as long as you use the middle of the clamp, thus spreading the load on the clamp evenely.

The clamping system to the Aero bars is as easy as it can get, and the carriers are easily removed by sliding them off the bars for storage.

They come with two locks, one for the carrier to the roofbars and the other for the clamp onto your bike?

I have just (tonight) fitted them on to the car at work and once figured out how to fit them it took about 2 minutes per carrier to fit and will be even quicker now i have the positioning right.

If you want a photo of the system, pm me your mobile number or email and i will take some pics on the phone and send them to you by txt or i will email you some tonight.

Also dont buy them from the uk. I imported mine from Germany and saved about a third of the cost including the postage.

Mike

No problems using a Thule Velovise fork mount on my Fabia. I suppose that if you drove with no allowance for what's on the roof then you probably could do some damage if you tried hard enough