Results 1 to 18 of 18
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09-28-2021, 04:31 PM #1
PSA: Are your rack straps UV-stable?
Just a reminder to check your PU and misc plastic bits on your racks for wear and fading periodically.
I lost a bike today off one of my Yakima Front-Loaders doing 80 on I-90, after the rear wheel strap failed. Que emergency stop, Max reverse speed, dash out into oncoming traffic and successful rescue of what was seconds away from becoming a bike-pancake and maybe worse for whoever would have hit it. The damage to bike was minimal due to sheer luck. I can't say as much for the damage to my wits...
On closer inspection of the strap it looks like a simple fatigue failure, but I wonder if UV exposure may have played a role. Definitely looking into a cable or some kind of redundancy going forward...
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09-28-2021, 04:42 PM #2
Thanks for the heads up. Glad your bike isn't destroyed.
Someone here mentioned using Voile straps for redundancy or in place of a ratchet strap.
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09-28-2021, 04:42 PM #3
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09-28-2021, 04:48 PM #4
I use a rollercam that I keep inside.
https://www.rollercam.com/Is it radix panax notoginseng? - splat
This is like hanging yourself but the rope breaks. - DTM
Dude Listen to mtm. He's a marriage counselor at burning man. - subtle plague
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09-29-2021, 09:08 AM #5
You can use a ski strap in a pinch
Originally Posted by blurred
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09-29-2021, 09:12 AM #6
I put a ski strap on every bike after having one fly off once.
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09-29-2021, 09:19 AM #7
+1 for ski strap redundancy
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09-29-2021, 10:02 AM #8
I have nightmares about yeeting my bike off the rack at highway speeds. I'ma start Voile strapping it.
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09-29-2021, 10:32 AM #9Registered User
- Join Date
- Mar 2008
- Location
- northern BC
- Posts
- 30,885
yeah I would use Voile straps for redundancy, i always carry at least 3 on a ski tour, 5 is best
I've had a bike fall off one of those racks that grips the top tube, basicly the bike strts moving and wiggles it way out, I had short pieces of 2x2 to go in the empty spots on the 3 x rack and that helped cuz the clamp couldn't flex
been doing the pickup truck since 2010 which is the way to go, with the Tacoma/ cap I can lock the tail gate, lock the bike to a bed loop and back the truck up 1 ft from the wall in the carport so the tailgate can't be openned so its pretty theft proof, take the battery out to charge insideLee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
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09-29-2021, 10:59 AM #10
If highway driving I lock the two bikes on the tray rack together with a cable lock that also goes around the rack - if a bike falls off it’s not gonna go flying and cause an accident.
I also ski strap the rear wheel down (in addition to the strap on the rack) - because on my Thule tray rack if the tire deflates the strap can just flop open and then one good bounce and your rear tire is gonna be off the back
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09-29-2021, 11:11 AM #11
A gazillion years ago my MtB was attached via buddy’s roof rack to buddy’s vehicle. My bike and his rack (Thule) left the vehicle at about 65 mph. Heard ugly noise looked in mirror to watch vehicles dodging my bouncing bike
Only damage was to a bar end and the saddle. Roof of buddy’s subie was way worse.
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10-02-2021, 10:29 PM #12
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10-02-2021, 10:37 PM #13
Somebody lost a red bike about EB mm217 on I70 today. It is, uh, no longer rideable.
Secure your shit, somebody gonna blow a tire.
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10-04-2021, 03:15 PM #14
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10-04-2021, 04:55 PM #15
rubber and plastic BREAKs down over time. Used to be worse. As for UV, it wrecks pretty much everything. I keep my wheel straps in the back when not in use.. also so they don't get stolen. But, they're very old and I'd not run with just one. My tray has room for front and back wheels.
Go that way really REALLY fast. If something gets in your way, TURN!
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10-04-2021, 05:14 PM #16
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10-05-2021, 07:43 PM #17
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10-12-2021, 10:57 AM #18
Had the strap on my Front Loader fail as well. Luckily it failed in my driveway while loading the bike onto the rack, and not at 60+ on the highway. Been rocking a ski strap ever since with no issues.
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