Cycle Carrier

[ub7rm]

I'm vaugely thinking about taking up mountain biking.  Used to do a bit in my late teens and really enjoyed it but then I was old enough to drive and go to pubs (not at the same time obviously  ) and fell out of it.

Anyone have any recommendations for a mk5 gti friendly carrier?  Am thinking of the ones that go on the back of the car rather than the roof.  A lot of them say they are not suitable for cars with a spoiler 

[isitme]

Generally speaking i always put my bike inside for fear of it falling of during the spirited drive to the trail head. It has happened to me before  and can be an expensive (for the bike and car) experience.

I have however used several racks (rear mounted) that work well with the GTI. The Saris bones was good as the shape was easily adjustable to accommodate the spoiler and i have used the Thule clip on as well with no adverse affects though the latter had metal straps that needed to be bent to shape.  They all say 'not suitable for cars with a spoiler' but the nature of the GTI spoiler is very different than say an evo etc.

If you can stretch to it though i would suggest one mounted on a tow hitch as they are very robust and just clip on and off. And if you get a removable tow hitch then there is no unsightly hitch either.

Hope that helps

[Golfgirl]

Despite VW advertising a rear-mounted cycle carrier on the back of a Mk 5 with a spoiler on their website, my dealers said they don't recommend it.  Tow bars are expensive to fit on a Mk 5 as well apparently, so the only option left for me was either on the roof or inside the car.

I would prefer to have one on the rear so I can keep an eye on them, but I've done a lot of research into this over the past couple of weeks and even Thule don't recommend their rear-mounted carriers on cars with spoilers (again, they advertise them on the back of a car with a spoiler, as do Halfords!).

I bought a bike bag to put it inside the car for when I go out on my own, but I'm also looking at getting some roof bars and roof-mounted cycle carriers for when we go away, as two bikes plus luggage inside the car probably won't fit!

[isitme]

I was looking to get a roof rack type carrier when i bought the GTI as i had the Thule bike mounts and aero bars already from my previous car but there are no mounting points so the rack had to be clamped to the roof which i didn't like. It looked far to likely to damage the finish and kept the outer seal open all the time. I'm sure Thule have it covered but it made me wince looking at the fittings.

Tow bars are expensive to fit on a Mk 5 as well apparently

Yep totally agree the cost of a tow hitch and the ball mounted racks are much more expensive, hence why i don't have one. Still want one though maybe the price is why i do.

I would prefer to have one on the rear so I can keep an eye on them, but I've done a lot of research into this over the past couple of weeks and even Thule don't recommend their rear-mounted carriers on cars with spoilers (again, they advertise them on the back of a car with a spoiler, as do Halfords!).

I'm sure they don't recommend it for legal reasons. But as long as your careful and use a bit of common sense the Thule and Saris ones i tried were fine on the GTI. I even had two downhill bikes on the Saris with no ill effect. However, don't take my word for it. I would hate for you to damage your car because of my comments and past experience. Wow, I feel much better now I added a caveat.

I also found it a bit ridiculous to have a Mk3 or 4 with a spoiler on the box then they say the mount was not suitable for that type of car, did my nut in.

as two bikes plus luggage inside the car probably won't fit!

and when you factor in mud it can really make a mess keeping the bikes inside.

I don't think there is an ideal solution, rather you have to kind of find one that you can put up with.

[Merlinman]

Not Cheap - but if like me you use it a lot...

Tow bar is Witter Quantum detachable £375 fitted

Rack was £250

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Steelgreygti/AteraStrada3BikeRack?authkey=Gv1sRgCJTz7-iPkuX7GA

[ub7rm]

Cheers for the input.

Yeah I thought the halfords ones showed a car with the same sort of spoiler but then they say not suitable    Probably as has been said for liability reasons.

A bike bag sounds like the answer, didnt want to chuck it in the back covered with mud or have to faff about with a tarp but this sounds like a decent solution.  Will only be carrying one at a time and will be staying local to begin with anyway so shouldn't have anything else to carry.

Thanks 

[Chris MKV]

Hi,

I take two bikes in seperate bags and kit for two in the back regularly - mud and oil  stays in the bags (seperate wheel bags are worth it and make lifting in and out easier). I have taken the car on a week's holiday like this no problem and wouldn't entertain putting them on the outside unless you need the back seats.

[bobotheclown]

quick search found this little beaut. almost as much as a bike itself!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/dhb_EVA_Bike_Case/5360041096/

or a cheaper option

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/dhb_Marsden_Wheeled_Bike_Bag_And_Wheel_Bag_Set/5360031436/

[Pando]

i've had a hollywood rack for many years now, and its always worked on every car i had. It does lean on the spoiler but its never on the car for too long

[Golfgirl]

Yeah I thought the halfords ones showed a car with the same sort of spoiler but then they say not suitable    Probably as has been said for liability reasons.

Since my last post, I've been back into Halfords and bought one of their high level rear-mounted carriers.  It had a picture of a Mk 5 with a spoiler on the box so I guessed it should fit with no problems.  I checked with a member of staff before I bought it and they said if it didn't clear the spoiler then I could return it as long as it was in perfect condition and the box was also in perect condition.

I fitted it yesterday afternoon, put two adult mountain bikes on it and it DOES clear the spoiler and also leaves the number plate and lights visible.  An extra bonus was that it had a third off the price

Although it shows it on a Mk 4 on the website, the actual box has a pic of a blue Mk 5 on it:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_251011_langId_-1_categoryId_165477