|   To Rack or Not To Rack.... | MtbIrv
Apr 22, 2002 10:58 AM | | That is the question. I picked this thing up on my way back from a conference in Orlando on Friday. It gets really good gas mileage and I'm wondering if I should rack it to carry bikes so that I can use it on long trips instead of my trusty truck (which only gets 20 mpg). But I don't want to spoil the look. Would racks detract from the smooth styling? Or maybe a couple of bike tights on the spoiler would be the way to go. What do you think? Should I get a Titus Locomoto to go with it? I'm trying to learn to coordinate my ensembles in order to be more fashionable.
Also, do you think having this thing will ruin my reputation as a truck drivin' woman? My friends already can't believe I didn't get another truck. I tried to explain that it's only a second vehicle and that my truck is still my baby. I really considered getting a motorcycle instead but I couldn't figure out how to get my mtb on one.
;-) |
| re: To Rack or Not To Rack.... | FtHoodMtBkr
Apr 22, 2002 11:10 AM | | Are you sure you are going to get more than 20 MPH with the auto.
My sunfire and even my outback now don't get over 22 mpg--maybe.
Whatever--rack it either way! |
| really? | Nonny
Apr 22, 2002 2:58 PM | | 
...picked up this Oldsmobile a few months ago (traded in the rather battered old F-150) and have been getting a pretty consistent 25 mpg from it ever since (mixed in-town and hwy driving). Can't see why something smaller and lighter like a Sunfire should be getting worse mileage (expecially considering that i'm not exactly the slowest driver around).
btw, my vote is also to "rack it".
Non. (racked) |
| Chip says you have a great rack, so I say, by all means. . . | Stick
Apr 22, 2002 11:11 AM | | Oh! you're talking about roof racks?
Rack it anyway. Save gas. Just make sure you get a fairing for the roof rack or your mileage might not be all that much better than the truck.
BTW, all racks are sexy and never detract from anything.
;) |
| Why thank you!! How sweet! | MtbIrv
Apr 22, 2002 11:15 AM | | That Chip is such a honey! *sigh*
Fairing... check! I was wondering how much of the gas mileage a couple of bikes up there would suck up. I figured it might be a few.
Thanks! |
| I'll mount your rack when I visit in August | -Chip.
Apr 22, 2002 11:28 AM | | Should I bring "tools"?
-C |
| He's really good at mounting racks. | Pete.
Apr 22, 2002 11:47 AM | | An old pic gets recycled yet again.
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| Oh Bay-bee..... | MtbIrv
Apr 22, 2002 5:46 PM | | (*chanting*) hurry up august... hurry up august... hurry up august... |
| Rack it up! | kristian
Apr 22, 2002 11:13 AM | | I think racks actually ADD to the appearance of a car, plus you can cover your fairing with stickers! Seriously, it's great to be able to throw 4 bikes on the top and take three friends to the trailhead. Both Yakima and Thule are great racks--buy whichever style the majority of your riding buddies have so you can share mounts.
K (tripled the value of his Contour this weekend when we put two Stiffies, a DMR and a Bullit on his rack) |
| Same problem re: motorcycle... | wm
Apr 22, 2002 11:23 AM | | I've tried to think of a good way to rack the mtb onto the motorbike, but barring custom welding to the frame of the bmw, I don't see any easy solution. I think I'm going to look into a motorcycle trailer. That'll come in handy for touring duties too.
Go ahead and rack it - those lines are way too smooth.
wm |
| one word... | Stick
Apr 22, 2002 11:31 AM | | sidecar!
Have bike, WWII German motorcycle infantry helmet, goggles, trenchcoat, scarf. Will travel. |
| Same problem re: motorcycle... | ALJ
Apr 22, 2002 11:45 AM | | Here is a solution |
| Not sure I see the problem... | Pup
Apr 22, 2002 12:20 PM | | 
Sure looks like you have plenty of room for a hitch-receiver-mount rack to me.
P
(reconsider the purple, though) |
| I have the same problem! | JRinCA
Apr 22, 2002 11:39 AM | | Here goes a SUV flame, I can feel it!
Traded in my Jimmy for this beauty. Racked the back with a hitch rack, works out pretty well, but should the roof also be racked? |
| dude, what is that truck? cool! | namaSSte
Apr 22, 2002 12:54 PM | | nm |
| Isuzu Axiom, I'll get some pics up soon. nm | JRinCA
Apr 22, 2002 1:23 PM | | |
| What will it be when it grows up? | moneyman
Apr 22, 2002 11:48 AM | | I keep thinking that can't possibly be the whole car. It looks like you could rack THAT on your pickup.
If my truck got 20mpg I would be ecstatic. Gas mileage was not an issue when we bought it.
Can't help you with the rack thing. I've never owned, much less driven, anything that small.
And why do you have a tent pitched in your yard? Family coming for a visit? Or is it to provide shade for the snakes?
$$ |
| Fast Eddy does something... | Pup
Apr 22, 2002 12:05 PM | | ...unspeakable to his big GMC to get crazy mileage out of it.. Something to do with propane; possibly also vile incantations and chicken feathers.
I havent had the nerve to ask.
P
2000ram1500 country
where 16mpg is a great day! |
| I can commute for months on one tank of diesel... | Fast Eddy
Apr 22, 2002 1:49 PM | | ...by riding my bike the whole way. It works great! Email me for the details. It works with gasoline-fueled vehicles as well.
Alas Ms. Pup, no special tricks on my big Chev. It has a banks exhaust kit that might be good for one extra mpg. The propane idea was from a thread awhile ago (probably could dig it out with search), but I don't have propane injection.
It costs about $500 with a tank and adds a bunch of extra power, and probably a few mpg, but you have to buy two kinds of fuel. I'm passing so on it so far. Maybe if I get a fifth-wheel... |
| It will never grow up... just like it's Mama! | MtbIrv
Apr 22, 2002 5:33 PM | | It is a little bitty thang, isn't it? It's a Dodge Neon and it fits in that compact category. I woulda never thought about a Dodge in a zillion years if it wasn't suggested (I actually said "what's a neon?"). I compared it to a Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, Mazda Protege, and Ford Focus. The Neon was the most bang for the buck. All I have to do is take good care of those squirrels under the hood and it should be fine. Supposed to get about 31 mpg. Anyway, it's a second vehicle that I can run back and forth to work in.
The tent serves as a carport until my biking buddies come over to stay. Then I move the truck out and company can sleep under it. The snakes are to make sure company doesn't get lonely. ;-)
C |
| I say "Rack It"!!! | Bikebreath
Apr 22, 2002 12:08 PM | | I was just thinking this morning that we haven't heard a peep outta Irv in quite some time. Looks like ya got yerself a little scooter, huh?
Rack it.
Bb, [ dat's right, racket. ] |
| Yeah, I've been a tad busy lately. | MtbIrv
Apr 22, 2002 5:40 PM | | Been spending lots of time down south in the sawgrass. I have probably the biggest and most controversial project in south Florida to lead plus a smaller test project. It doesn't allow me much time to visit here anymore. I finally got a laptop assigned so when I'm sitting in my hotel room down there, I can at least surf a bit.
BTW, I'll be heading up to Alexandria VA in June for a week of training ("what kind of training, soldier? ARMY TRAINING SIR!!"). You're not too far from there, are you? |
| Gal - you forgot about the stickers....attn Gregg! | M-U-M
Apr 22, 2002 12:09 PM | | Gregg - She needs some MTBr stickers for her new ride. Personally, I consider it bad luck not to have one on the vehical. |
| I need one for the kayak too! nm | MtbIrv
Apr 22, 2002 5:43 PM | | |
| rack it.... | mtbfreak9er
Apr 22, 2002 12:29 PM | | you never know when you're going to want to ride to the trailhead in relative luxury!
i've got a '91 honda CRX with a roof rack (thule) and i still get 28-32 mpg with the rack & bikes on top.
i'd show a pic but i don't seem to have one.......the ensemble looks pretty comical with the trays sticking out almost further than the little trunk.
enjoy the new ride (so to speak)
rt |
| Ditto....Chevy Cavalier does the same thing..... | TNJED®
Apr 22, 2002 1:00 PM | | It's just long enough not to have to buy the short roof adapter, so the trays stick way out the back...I post a pic but...I need a digital camera...My birthday's Saturday will someone please buy me one?! |
| Hehe.... | Yoda
Apr 22, 2002 1:02 PM | | I used to have a Pontiac Fiero with a roof rack. Couple that with the fact that I'm six and a half feet tall, and it was like going to the circus watching me show up at the trailhead. |
| Hehe.... | mtbfreak9er
Apr 22, 2002 1:34 PM | | that IS pretty comical......at least i'm only 5'1" so my car fits my size!
...i had a friend when i was in university who had a fiero.....that must have been brutal for you to get in and out of!
rt - compact....like my car ?! |
| Big roof rack fan here.... | Red Ascent
Apr 22, 2002 2:10 PM | | I've had the same set of load bars for 10 years now, they've been on 4 different cars. If you get the front spoiler, it doesn't "spoil" the look as much, in my opinion. If you do, though, be wary of fast-food and bank drive throughs, as well as automatic garage door openers - I know of a few peeps here that have seriously wounded bikes and/or racks when they tried to pull into their own garages with the bikes still parked atop the roof.
Other than that, though, roof racks are the way to go on small cars. The milage penalty is small when the bikes aren't on it (especially if you have a spoiler), and on a small car loading and unloading is pretty easy. As for the Titus Loco-Moto.....well, I heartily recommend one of those!
Phil |
| Rack It.... | Battman42
Apr 22, 2002 9:38 PM | | I got a Rack for My T-bird, and it changes the lines but the bikes make up for it. I lost about 1-2 MPG so I now get between 18 and 22.
I would say city/Hwy but I don't go to the city much so its short/long
love going to the trail head in comfort. The Truck is an ageing F-150 that still does go to work and pull the trailer duty. It gets a top of 17 MPG with or without bikes. Thats on a Run to San Diego (600+miles) 13 around the mountain. |
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