I’m looking at getting a coupe of bike carriers for my Octavia hatch (Centre parcs have stopped their flying start package :( ). As ever, the forums here are full of useful information but in this case too much information for me to get to grips with! So I’m hoping you could let me know if I’m wide of the mark with my thoughts.

General opinion seems be that Thule make the Octavia OEM parts. More specifically the aero bars, and that these fit the best (due to the locator lug?). Also of note seems to be that there is an A and B spec version, with the latter less likely to damage the car.

As best as I can tell Thule themselves no longer actually make the aero bar as it been superseded by the Wingbar. I’m not sure if this make a difference or not. I’m also not sure if there is any real advantage to the aluminium bars vs. the square steel ones (weight I guess?).

So, I’m thinking of either thiskit from Skoda, or the equivalent from roofbox.

I’ll happily take other brands (especially as the whispbar claims that the bulk of the fitment is universal), but can’t find any reviews.

For the carrier itself I’m equally lost, but (for what I assume to be the best fit) I’ve stuck with Thule and I’m thinking about the Thule FreeRide 532.

Any advice would be appreciated, and given the costs and how often I’ll use it I’ll happily go second hand.

Thanks!

Towbar and towbar mounted rack is the way forward. Easier on/off and less chance of damaging car

Mines a wagon but i have to say my experience using oem bars and thule (proride) carries has been great - top quality kit. I'd previously carried bikes on a rear mouted carrier and it was rubbish - hard to fit properly and high likelyhood of damaging the car plus once mounted you can't get in to the boot.

I don't have a towbar so a towbar mount is no good for me, and i'd not want something in the way of the rear hatch. 02p etc.

HI Have run thule roof system for 13yrs on 5 cars currently on 08 wagon never had any issues

I work for halfords and have been advicing and fitting thule products for 15+ yrs and never experienced any issues from product or customers except wear and tear issues, but we can get almost any spare part if required

3 questions

1 how many bikes do you wish to carry

2 how frequently

3 mtbs or road bikes

other issues are any of the bikes frame or fork sensitive ie carbon frames or bolt through front axles and from a practical point will it be an issue for you to reach up and over the roof to get multiple bikes on carriers ( im 6,4 i dont have an issues but some customers aren,t so fortunate )

there will only be one fixing kit for your car a or b you wont have a choice and the wing bar is just a evolution of aerobar

difference between sq or wing bar is t track an internal system of connecting carriers to bars there quicker to set up as well

theres about a £40 difference between aero and sq and if you join british cycling (bcf.org ) you get 10% of any transaction at halfords

if you want me to check which kit you need pm your reg to me and i,ll let you know

regards Mark

I use a towbar carrier and wouldn't change to any other type. Easy to load and you dont risk damage to your car or get it covered in dripping mud.

Tried both and although a rear mounted rack means less effect on aerodynamics etc, I'd go with having them on the roof. For the last 5 or 6 years I've been using square railed Thule bars and a pair of Thule Proride 591s and I wouldn't use anything else (apart from maybe changing the bars to aero ones). Read the reviews - the 591s always get the best reviews.

The problem I found with rear mounted racks was that boot access was a pain in the ass - not good when you've been riding and you want to sit on the boot edge, get access to clean clothes etc. They're in the way of road crud and in winter and road salt kills bikes a lot quicker than it does cars...

If you're thinking about roof boxes, we've just picked up a Halfords Exodus one. Got it cheap off eBay but again, reviews were good and I wasn't willing to shell out the £350+ for a decent Thule one.

I've got the oem Skoda 'Thule' aero bars - really good and can be bought on eBay if you wait long enough for not much....

Just thinking of getting one of these

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php/car-specific-accessories/inno_tyre_hold_bike_carrier_no_ina388/Qx@w,6M42VAwp3@Rb%7B~cC4ure5iWXq

As most racks are useless if your steeds are carbon :(

I got the aero bars cheap of eBay but I ended up fitting a towbar with towbar rack

Thanks for the reply and bcf.org tip. In answer to the questions:

1 how many bikes do you wish to carry

2 how frequently

3 mtbs or road bikes

1. 2 (mine and the wife's) + probably the snotmonster's darling son's wee one soon (he's only 3)
   
2. I think only 2-3 times a year, but if it's not too much faff possibly more
   
3. Mines a MTB and hers is a Dawes discovery halfway way house one
   

Cheers,

Jon

PS the A/B was something I got from this thread, so was/am a little wary of eBay.

Cheers - as ever, lots of good advice.

I did think about a tow bar, but was drawn to the roof bars as can see a camping trip on the horizon that may mean a roof box is on the cards too.

No negatives about Thule - that's what I wanted to hear!

For the bike carrier I'm easily persuaded... prorider looks nice...

Ah, I can offer 1st hand opinion on all of these (fitted to an estate):

Roofbars

I went for the Prorack Whispbars, and think they are really neat, fit well, and really quiet. I needed the S44 model and it fits between the (silver) roof rails, and blends well with the rails. I'm really pleased with them. Cost was £150 + £10 postage.

Bike rack

I have recently bought 2 x Thule 591s. They fit the Whispbars using the t-track adaptor. I've not used them in anger, but did a test drive with 2 mountain bikes on the roof and they seemed really secure. As said above get good reviews. Delivered they were £140. interestingly they had a barcode label on the boxes with a Mazda part number, but they were definately Thule 591s.

Roof box

I looked around for ages and plumped for a Hapro Zenith 8.5 (can also get a smaller 6.5 version). I've used it a couple of times to go to the Alps with skis etc in it, and it is fantastic. It is streamlined, is relatively quiet, and has clamps that open wide enough to fit on the Whispbars whereas the Thule clamps were not. I don't mean U brackets, I'm talking about the quick fit jaw-like ones that open and 'grab' the roof bar. I took a Whispbar with me when looking and at maximum opening the Thule was about 5mm too narrow. The box also has dual opening so great for access from either side. Cost was just under £300, and I collected it.

I try to buy the best I can, and think that 'buy cheap, buy twice' is a true adage. So far the bars and box are great, and I'd buy exactly the same again if I had to. Can't pass any real comment on the bike racks but am hoping my philosophy holds true this time too.

I have some pics somewhere of the Whispbars and roofbox if you're interested.

Thanks for the reply and bcf.org tip. In answer to the questions:

1. 2 (mine and the wife's) + probably the snotmonster's darling son's wee one soon (he's only 3)
   
2. I think only 2-3 times a year, but if it's not too much faff possibly more
   
3. Mines a MTB and hers is a Dawes discovery halfway way house one
   

Cheers,

Jon

PS the A/B was something I got from thisthread, so was/am a little wary of eBay.

HI

You,ll be fine with the 561 ,but for more frequent use the 591 would be a better choice as its easier to use

regards Mark