Bicycle Hitch Rack – Let’em Hang Or Support’em
Not too long ago when you’d be considering a bicycle hitch rack the only option would leave your bikes hanging by their proverbial top tubes. That worked for a lot of riders, but it left another group looking to roof racks for bike transporting satisfaction.
Imagine that, people searching for satisfaction in the form of bicycle racks.
I bought a rather primitive hanger hitch rack at a swap meet. It didn’t swing to the side like the nice ones do. It didn’t do much besides hang my bike behind the 4runner.
Worst of all, it said HOLLYWOOD on it, in big bright letters. My disdain for Tinseltown necessitated immediate removal of the decal. I am left with a utilitarian hitch rack.
Cycling Gear?
It’s sturdy, rattle-free, and semi-convenient (less so than a swing away model like the Yakima FullSwing). The swing away feature is tremendous since it keeps getting yakima hitch mountinto the trunk or back of the SUV from being the sole domain of contortionists.
My Hollywood version hinges down near the hitch and it bends out away from the hitch.
It makes getting into the back of the vehicle a bit easier, except that the bikes are swinging half off of the rack. Plus the rack is still where you want to be standing when you’re getting into the trunk.
The down side is common to all the hanger bicycle racks- it contacts the revered carbon frame. This is what kept cycling connoisseurs away from hanger hitch racks.
On the other hand, some people like these racks so much that they load them up with more bike mass than would fit in a two car garage. I’m sure you’ve seen them popping a wheely down the highway.
Hollywood, Allen, Saris, Swagman, Yakima, and Thule are all prominent in the bicycle hitch rack world. Of course good ole Nashbar has all different types and most of them are discounted to some extent.
Not long ago the support’em style was developed. Both the Saris Thelma and the Saris Cycle-On support the wheels, keeping the frame pristine.
Now some racers are shunning the roof racks and showing up to races with this style of bicycle hitch rack. It’s a good option, but it too has got a downside…
It precludes that group of riders now known as the elite bikegearist. Come on, use your noodle. Why would an elite bikegearist buy a bike way beyond his financial means if he isn’t going to put it up high on his roof for all of us to see?
Have you ever seen a Colnago humbly following along on a hitch rack?
What do you know about the other four types of bike racks?
