Rack ’em up and ride out

RIDE ALONG

Last month I gave you some weekend getaway options for the cooler weather.

I didn’t equip you with the most important part, though – getting your bike there!

Garrett Johnson of Shreveport has been riding bikes for seven years and has used a roof rack for five of them. I asked Johnson some questions about how he and his wife, Susan Fontaine, haul their bikes across Shreveport and all over the country.

What made you decide to go to the roof rack route rather than the mounted trunk rack? The first rack I had was a basic trunk rack. I found it inconvenient when I wanted to open my trunk with the bicycles attached, the constant detaching and reattaching, and it covered up my license plate. I drive a station wagon with a roof rack, so it was easier than installing a trailer hitch, which is another great way to secure bikes to your car. I found an insanely good deal online for a Yakima roof rack system, and it installed simply and securely.

Have you used both, or only roof?

Both. I have a roof rack, but my wife has a trunk rack if she needs to transport her bicycles with her car.

How many bikes does it hold? The roof rack holds two, but it can be outfitted for one more.

Would you recommend a roof rack (why/why not)? If you do not have a trailer hitch, and drive a wagon or car that already has roof rails I would certainly recommend it. After installing it five years ago, I have only had to make small adjustments, which really are because of my nervousness [of the bikes falling off] rather than any fault in the system. I’ve driven thousands of miles with our bikes on the roof, and it has never shown any sign of slipping.

Is it easy for one person to mount the bike on the roof rack, or do you need two? It really depends on the height of the person. Being 6’3”, I tower over the car, and it’s easy to lift our light road bikes to tie them down. My wife at 5’4” has a more difficult time and would struggle lifting a heavier mountain bike.

Finally, when do you use it? I usually ride to the meet-up spot for weekend rides; however, I sometimes do throw my bike on the car to go ride the Ellerbe Road loop. We love to ride bike tours in Austin, Texas, Little Rock, Ark., and even RAGBRAI (an annual ride across the state of Iowa). Our roof rack has transported our bikes to rides in Boulder, Colo., St. Louis, Mo., Madison, Wis., Chicago, Ill., and all over the southeastern region. Most recently we brought our bikes to the Seize the Road bike ride out of Benton on Oct. 1, with our son’s bike trailer fitting in the trunk for our first family bike tour.

Anything you'd want to add about a roof rack? I would say that if you already have a trailer hitch, or drive a truck or SUV, get a trailer hitch rack. If you drive a station wagon or sedan with roof rack bars already installed, then a roof rack is a great idea. If you don’t think you can get your bike on the roof or are looking for a cheaper option, then go with a trunk rack.

Be sure to do your research before you make your rack purchase, or talk to cycling enthusiasts at Bike Shreveport’s third annual Cranksgiving on Nov. 25. Find more information at Facebook.com/ BikeShreveport.

Karen E. Wissing works in Shreveport-Bossier City and loves her community.

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