Bike rack

[higgledy]

I am going to buy a roof bike rack for my '14 VW Golf 5-door. Does anyone know how for-mounted bikes I can get on the VW-branded roof rails? Thanks

 

[20IndigoBlue02]

I am going to buy a roof bike rack for my '14 VW Golf 5-door. Does anyone know how for-mounted bikes I can get on the VW-branded roof rails? Thanks

follow the instructions for the bike rack.

it will depend on the bike rack. Some thule may require an "Xdapt" kit for VW bars (or the Thule Aerobars, Yakima, see instructions for Whispbar)

 

[MonsterTDI09]

I would go with hitch type. It's easier to use then lifting you bike on the roof.

 

[Abacus]

And there is less of a MPG hit.

 

[DerekG]

Can't go wrong with Thule or Yak. I have bits and pieces of both brands that I mix and match and they are great.

If you plan on carrying only bikes I would go hitch mount no question. I've carried bikes both ways and hitch mount is far superior IMO. Loading the bikes is much quicker/easier, there is no risk of dropping the bike on the roof, almost zero mpg loss, and the bike mount itself is quicker to put on and take off.

However, if you plan on carrying skis, kayak, cargo box...etc then just go with a roof rack from the start. Any of the top brands will have something to fit the golf.

Good luck!

 

[S2000_guy]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the possibility of forgetting that the bike is on the roof and pulling into the garage, with unpleasant results. Hey, it happens. Work a long day, go for a ride after work, run a couple of errands on the way home, and forget the bike is up there. Been there, done that.

However, a bike hanging off the back bumper of a JSW in the rain is getting rinsed with the crap that winds up on the back of the car. Hey, it happens.

I prefer my fork-mount roof rack, where nothing touches any part of the bike but the front fork dropout and the rear wheel. But to each his/her own.

 

[Abacus]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the possibility of forgetting that the bike is on the roof and pulling into the garage, with unpleasant results. Hey, it happens. Work a long day, go for a ride after work, run a couple of errands on the way home, and forget the bike is up there. Been there, done that.

However, a bike hanging off the back bumper of a JSW in the rain is getting rinsed with the crap that winds up on the back of the car. Hey, it happens.

Remembering you have a bike on the roof is important, no question.

The crap that winds up on the bike is why I use a hitch rack in the warmer months and switch to a roof rack for winter. If the bike being covered in crap is a concern, there are chain/gear covers and/or whole bike covers that are inexpensive.

 

[eb2143]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the possibility of forgetting that the bike is on the roof and pulling into the garage, with unpleasant results. Hey, it happens. Work a long day, go for a ride after work, run a couple of errands on the way home, and forget the bike is up there. Been there, done that.

x2, been there. I now use a Saris rack I picked up for $40 when transporting more than one bike, but prefer to have the bike worth nearly as much as my car stored inside my car.

 

[Abacus]

x2, been there. I now use a Saris rack I picked up for $40 when transporting more than one bike, but prefer to have the bike worth nearly as much as my car stored inside my car.

My bike is worth way more than my car, and with two of them on there it's more than double. One of my bicycle tires costs more than my car tires as well.

Pathetic, isn't it.

 

[Mike in Anchorage]

I note a lot of people with bikes on a rack, either on top or on back, with plenty of room to put the bike INSIDE the car. Particularly with JSWs, since I drive one, but also with Golfs. I know you can fit a 60 cm road bike with the front tire removed in the back of a Golf. No MPG hit, no grime on the bike, and you're not advertising that you're going on a ride & will be parking your empty car at a trailhead.

 

[higgledy]

I would go with hitch type. It's easier to use then lifting you bike on the roof.

I like the hitch rack better too. In fact, I own a really nice Thule hitch rack that I use on the minivan. I do not like the look of a hitch on the Golf. Plus, a hitch will limit ground clearance on a car that already sits low to the ground. This is important because I have a steep driveway, I don't want to scrape the road every time I come home or leave.

 

[higgledy]

I note a lot of people with bikes on a rack, either on top or on back, with plenty of room to put the bike INSIDE the car. Particularly with JSWs, since I drive one, but also with Golfs. I know you can fit a 60 cm road bike with the front tire removed in the back of a Golf. No MPG hit, no grime on the bike, and you're not advertising that you're going on a ride & will be parking your empty car at a trailhead.

I've done that too. But I can only get one bike in my hatch without risk of scratching the bike or my interior.

 

[Abacus]

I note a lot of people with bikes on a rack, either on top or on back, with plenty of room to put the bike INSIDE the car. Particularly with JSWs, since I drive one, but also with Golfs. I know you can fit a 60 cm road bike with the front tire removed in the back of a Golf. No MPG hit, no grime on the bike, and you're not advertising that you're going on a ride & will be parking your empty car at a trailhead.

The problem I have is not grime on the bike, but getting bike grime on the inside of the car. Chain lube will never come out of an interior, not to mention black marks from the tires when/if the bike shifts in transit. With 2 bikes there is an increased risk of unintended derailleur adjustment or bike contact.

 

[20IndigoBlue02]

The problem I have is not grime on the bike, but getting bike grime on the inside of the car. Chain lube will never come out of an interior, not to mention black marks from the tires when/if the bike shifts in transit. With 2 bikes there is an increased risk of unintended derailleur adjustment or bike contact.

there's an easy solution. moving blankets used to protect furniture.

If you're getting chain tatts, clean your clean, and after lubing, wipe the chain down, since the lube works in the nooks and crannies, not the exterior.

 

[Abacus]

Moving blankets would work. But so does a bike rack.

I have 6 bikes and bike often, so you'll have to show me how to clean a chain so it doesn't have anything on the outside that can stain. Negating the mountain, fat, and cyclocross bikes of course, because mud is just a way of life for those.

 

[20IndigoBlue02]

Moving blankets would work. But so does a bike rack.

I have 6 bikes and bike often, so you'll have to show me how to clean a chain so it doesn't have anything on the outside that can stain. Negating the mountain, fat, and cyclocross bikes of course, because mud is just a way of life for those.

remove chain from bike.

if you don't have a KMC missing link or equivalent... buy them.

soak chain in cleaner (I use http://www.homedepot.com/p/ZEP-128-oz-Citrus-Heavy-Duty-Degreaser-ZUCIT128/100676344 , in a old glass pasta sauce jar), agitate to work the dirt out.

rinse a few times.

relube each link/roller with lube of your choice.

let it soak for an hour.

wipe clean.

reinstall.

wipe clean.

after a ride (assuming you're using a wet lube), relube, let it soak, then wipe the chain clean, then stow your bike.

it's not rocket science.

riding your bike in muddy conditions... other than cyclocross, the local "ORBA" (Off-Road Biking Association), usually frowns on that, as it really tears up the trails the volunteers maintains.

 

[Abacus]

Not to get too OT, but 'wipe clean' is a misnomer. Been there, done that. The chain lube comes out of the rollers and re-coats the chain. The only chain lube that doesn't get everywhere is a chain wax, which dries, but it doesn't work for crap up here because it's a dry lube.

I also use an ultrasonic cleaner to get my chains clean. Really clean. On some I'll ultrasonic the lube into them, then hang for a few days and keep wiping off the excess, but it's only for the road bikes with tight tolerance (and expensive) chains.

Riding and living with mud in Maine is a way of life. It is impossible NOT to get muddy in the woods. We even have a season for it, called "Mud season". We avoid riding the trails in mud season due to damage but there is mud all year due to the topography. many of the trails have just opened this week and more are still closed pending dryer conditions.

I am a trail volunteer and have my own bike shop, so I'm all set on the rocket science.

 

[20IndigoBlue02]

Not to get too OT, but 'wipe clean' is a misnomer. Been there, done that. The chain lube comes out of the rollers and re-coats the chain. The only chain lube that doesn't get everywhere is a chain wax, which dries, but it doesn't work for crap up here because it's a dry lube.
.

You must of missed the part about chain maintenance after the ride..

when you're driving with the bike in the car, there isn't enough centrifugal force to force the lube out, like you would when pedaling.

 

[pgoes]

Here in California some folks with hitch racks have gotten tickets because the rack obscures the rear license plate, even tho there were no bike on the rack.
Just sayin'....

 

[20IndigoBlue02]

Here in California some folks with hitch racks have gotten tickets because the rack obscures the rear license plate, even tho there were no bike on the rack.
Just sayin'....

I got tailed by police for that reason before with bikes mounted on the hitch rack, but.... Never got pulled over.


Sent from my iPhone. There may be horrible grammar and misspelling involved

 

[vanbcguy]

You'd have to have a pretty weird hitch rack for it to obscure the plate on either my mk3 or our Mk4. My strap on rack on the other hand rested directly on the plate.

 

[20IndigoBlue02]

You'd have to have a pretty weird hitch rack for it to obscure the plate on either my mk3 or our Mk4. My strap on rack on the other hand rested directly on the plate.

It's normal for a hitch rack to block the license plate.

A 1upusa single rack will not.


Sent from my iPhone. There may be horrible grammar and misspelling involved

Here's my cheap Yakima rack

 

[vanbcguy]

I have a platform style rack myself, I guess that is what I was thinking of.

 

[20IndigoBlue02]

1up before someone did a hit and run in it



I don't have a pic of my old Yakima Holdup


Sent from my iPhone. There may be horrible grammar and misspelling involved

 

[higgledy]

@Abacus When is Mud Season in Maine? Do you get many tourist?

Not to get too OT, but 'wipe clean' is a misnomer. Been there, done that. The chain lube comes out of the rollers and re-coats the chain. The only chain lube that doesn't get everywhere is a chain wax, which dries, but it doesn't work for crap up here because it's a dry lube.

I also use an ultrasonic cleaner to get my chains clean. Really clean. On some I'll ultrasonic the lube into them, then hang for a few days and keep wiping off the excess, but it's only for the road bikes with tight tolerance (and expensive) chains.

Riding and living with mud in Maine is a way of life. It is impossible NOT to get muddy in the woods. We even have a season for it, called "Mud season". We avoid riding the trails in mud season due to damage but there is mud all year due to the topography. many of the trails have just opened this week and more are still closed pending dryer conditions.

I am a trail volunteer and have my own bike shop, so I'm all set on the rocket science.

 

[Abacus]

@Abacus When is Mud Season in Maine? Do you get many tourist?

Right after winter. We don't get many tourists during mud season and it's tough enough for the locals to get around.

 

[Rustydog]

I use the a Whispbar S53 system on my JSW 2014. Its is quiet and a very good looking system. With a slight mod was able to get it to work with my pano roof.
Racks are noisy at highway speeds. So pay attention to the shape.
Oh yes, the dreaded garage crunch. Did that once years ago with my GTI. Now I take the remote and pack it in my gear bag when I load the bike. Buddies have different solutions: one has a large mirror in the garage (home gym) and another puts a beach chair in the middle of the garage.

 

[Ghostrider]

I like the hitch rack better too. In fact, I own a really nice Thule hitch rack that I use on the minivan. I do not like the look of a hitch on the Golf. Plus, a hitch will limit ground clearance on a car that already sits low to the ground. This is important because I have a steep driveway, I don't want to scrape the road every time I come home or leave.

The Westfalia hitch loses NO ground clearance. PF Jones also has suitable bike racks.

Link to detailed hitch install with pics:
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=290710

 

[jjblbi]

I use a Saris Bones carrier, trunk mounted on my Passat.

 

[sprinks]

The saris bones are nice, but i quickly had to switch when i saw what the rubber feet did to the paint. Now i'm with a thule 4-bike setup on a curt hitch. works nice enough.