J Nick

A hard day to beat would be one where I put the top down, put my bike on the back somehow and drive to Shark Valley in the Everglades to do the bike thing and ride back in my smart new S2000. Of course, I will miss the zoomzoomzoom if I choose to drive a little more conservatively with a bike on the back - but you can not always have everything.

I want to know if any of you can recommend the best choice in bike racks for the S2000 based on experience - with thought given to road clearance, stability, and care of paint.

Thanks for any input.

Nick (one who chooses the S2000 over my SUV for this)

Woodwork

Nick:

I use a small rack (dont have the name right now, I'll get it tonight) that cost me $50.00 at a bike store. It has 4 pads, 2 on the trunk lid and 2 on the top of the bumper, 4 straps, 2 on forward edge of the trunk and 2 that can go to the bottom edge of the bumper or the bottom edge of the trunk. I hook them on the bottom of the trunk cuz the bumper has too much flex. The rack holds the bike at about a 45 degree angle above and behind the trunk. The arms that hold the bike are very adjustable. Supposedly can be used on minivans too but all the weight would be on the straps.

I use 3m scratch free cloths (p/n 06016) between the pad and the paint, always spray and wipe the trunk lid first before putting on the rack. The rack will supposedly hold 3 bikes, I would be afraid of the weight of more than 1 or 2 bikes. I have used it on White, Red and Black cars. As long as the paint is clean and you use the scratch free cloths there is no paint problem. The bike is longer than the car is wide so you need to be aware of backing up.

I use it once a week in Huntington Beach or Redondo Beach.
HTH,
Woodwork

J Nick

thank you - the key is the paint protection which had not crossed my mine yet - the reason two heads are better than one often-enough. Why do you call yourself woodwork?

J Nick

it dawns on me that I can not quite picture the angle and how this keeps it away from the car - I'll just wait for the brand or perhaps get in my car and visit bike shops until I find the solution (another excuse to take a ride)