Bicycle Rack Straps on Spoiler

[Smee]

Morning All

Well i got my bike yesterday and put the Bike rack on and as every one said hangs on the spoiler.

SOOO

got my thinking cap on and im making a cradle to clear the spoiler and then the straps can rest on the cradle and not the spoiler

Ill let you know how i get on. i dunno if this is of any interest to any one else.

Smee

 

[Smee]

need my first bit of help.. lol

Ok just setting the measurments out but i dont have the size of the spoiler..

Does any one know from the size of the spoiler.. from the face of the light back to the edge of the boot panel?

Thanks

smee

 

[bertrum]

lol.... sorry mate, can't help with the size right now... but i would be interested in how this comes along as planning to take the gf biking with the bikes on a boot rack!
I did have some concerns about the spoiler fouling the straps.

 

[Smee]

it should be simple.. hoping to get one knocked up ASAP once i find some one with a welder.

ill let you know

smee

 

[Kendo]

Yep post some pics when done. Im not a big fan of using my rack as the spoiler flexes (although I dont think that it would ever break). My preferred option if I was keeping the car for a long time would be roof bars and a bike carrier.

 

[Smee]

just waiting for measurments

i need the spoiler size so i can work out clearance

and roughly how wide the bike rack is. then i cna put the rest together

Smee

 

[Smee]

just got a chance to measure it and its looking good

smee

 

[Smee]

hmm just had a thought... if the leg coming from the window isnt at 90 degrees is it likely to bend under pressure??

this may determin the size of this cradle

Smee

 

[Smee]

Forgive my crappy drawings i never claimed to be the best

does this work?

 

[bertrum]

Just thinkin about this mate...... Will you be making a bit to side "X"? Otherwise there will be little to hold the cradle at the right angle - meaing it could fall up/down, slide on the glass etc.

 

[Smee]

say what lol...

do you mean how am i going to connect X to Y??? other than the Corner point?

the end of Y that is on the window will have Foam all over it like the bike racks do.

so it hooks in to the boot at one end of X. then the other end of Y is foam and the Strap goes over the top and will hold everything down anyway. it will be like using it on a car withough a spoiler its just a device to lift the strap from teh spoiler..

my only worry is the weld or bend where X meets Y i dunno how i can make this strong enough so it doesnt buckle. as obviously there is a spoiler in the way to add support.

smee

 

[Jonesy]

nice idea, can you design one for the Leon too

 

[bertrum]

lol... right... what is the design for X?

 

[Smee]

Bertrum - what? lol . what you on about X Design?

Jonesy - get 2 rulers and make a triangle over the back of the car. and measure what looks good.

 

[bertrum]

Sorry, I assumed that there would be something that attaches corner point XY to the top of the boot other than the strap from the rack.
For instance, as you said to Jonesy.. take two rulers.. one representing Y (the cradle you have designed above) and the other representing X.
However, if all X will be is the strap from the rack, then I misunderstood. I hope this makes sense and we are finally on the same wave length. I would draw, but dont have a scanner at work !

 

[Smee]

oh right i think i know what your saying

i am guessing your bike rack is the same as mine.. you have a strap with a hook on the end that you put between the chassie of the car and the boot lid. the cradle will use the same thing. so you hook it in to place and the bit hangs int eh correct place. on to the back window..

Pole X and Y are the Cradle Z is what i was using to try and determin the angle to weld or bend the pipe where X meets Y.

to put it in simple terms think of the letter L one end is a hook the other is Foam.

once it is in place you can shut the boot and put the rack on and clip the rack to the Cradle instead of the boot (could put it in to boot to it makes no difference) the strap will go over the X Frame on the bottom side and will pull everything tight without ripping the spoiler off... lol

thats the plan trying to find me some one to weld it. i cant get hold fo anyone

smee

 

[bertrum]

Like this? But with a bit more bend in the join at XY.... the red line is the strap.

 

[Altech]

I had this same problem when I had to transport a bike a while ago.

I got some rigid foam and shaped it so that it moulded around the spoiler. The strap then ran over the foam preventing the spoiler from bending

 

[Smee]

betrum thats teh ticket

Altech.. what foam did you use.. i got some wall insulation foam lol i could do it with that lol

Smee

 

[Jonesy]

can't you just use pipe lagging