Travelling to the Noosa Classic by car? There’s a fair chance you’ll be transporting your bike on top, on the rear or inside your vehicle.
With around 3-months before the event now’s a good time to consider the best way to carry your precious cargo to Noosa – not just for this Gran Fondo but future cycling trips as well.
Noosa Classic supporters Thule are the world leaders in on-car carrying solutions. Established in Sweden in 1942, they manufacture a huge range of products that include more than 50 different bike carriers.
Searching for the perfect bike carrying solution? Thule have created this downloadable diagram to see which carrier best suit your needs. Which_carrier_suits_my_bike.pdf
Although there are so many quality Thule products to chose from, here we take a look at the three most popular options for road cyclists.
Model: Thule FreeRide
Specifications
Weight capacity: 17kg
Clamp style: Frame
RRP: $189
This is very good value for money. It’s a frame clamping unit that will transport your bike without complaint. It has a couple of design features worth noting. The clamping arm pivots freely, so it does not stay up while loading your bike so you need to hold the arm up, and hold the bike at the same time.
It is sturdy and will fit most bikes and will clamp frame tubes 22-70mm round or 65-80mm. If you plan on using your rack frequently it may be worth paying a little more but regardless this is a functional rack that will go the distance.
Model: Thule OutRide
Specifications
Weight capacity: 17kg
Clamp style: Fork
RRP: $269
One of the enduring models, some eight to nine years now, which is testament to its elegant design. A little more money than the FreeRide but still a very cost-effective, easy to use fork mount rack. Thule’s one lock key system is very good with over 200 keys to minimise matches with other key holders.
The mounting kit with this rack will suit virtually all roof bars, aero or square. The rear wheel tray is quite long so will suit large bikes, but if you have a hot hatch for example, it is also easily cut to size. Overall a good looking and very effective fork mount rack.
Model: Thule ThruRide
Specifications
Weight capacity: 17kg
Clamp style: Fork
RRP: $399
The ThruRide has streamlined bullet-like good looks. It’s a fork mount unit so you will need to have a plan for your front wheel – Thule’s Wheel Rack or the Thule Wheel Bags will fit the bill. Its jaws clamp down securely on the axles—it will accommodate axles from 12 to 20mm in diameter without extra adaptors, and keep your bike wobble free and secure.
It delivers the fork mount benefit of not clamping onto your frame, as well as being a very quick loading, minimalist design rack. It’s rated for bikes up to 17kg which doesn’t include your front wheel. This one only suits roof racks with a T-slot design. Included clamp locks make the ThruRide extremely good value.
Model: Thule ProRide
Specifications
Weight capacity: 20kg
Clamp style: Frame
RRP: $329
Thule’s top line rack, their best looking model and one that will compliment your Euro-styled vehicle. Featuring Thule’s excellent build and component quality the ProRide is made to last. Beyond adding a touch of style the ‘S’ shaped wheel tray has a functional purpose. When loading the front wheel into the tray the bike will tend to roll forward into the rack which will hold it in place while you lock it down.
Unlike the Freeride, the clamping arm pivot is tensioned to stay in place. Previous models of the ProRide in a left / right pair would sit slightly offset on the bars, but the new model has been updated to be symmetrical when paired. The frame clamping jaws also have a softer padding to protect your frame, and the new model’s jaw is hooked for better security and it will also help hold the bike while loading. The clamp locking knob is located down at roof level so easily accessible. The ProRide is design is appealing, and it has been thoughtfully designed to function very well.
For further details about the Thule range of bike carrying solutions visit www.thule.com.au
