Roof rack for Optima Baron?

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

My current vehicle is a Honda Element.

Quoted message said:

Any advice offered would be greatly appreciated.

I would think that a Baron would fit inside of a Honda Element. After all, the vehicle is pictured
with two MTBs inside.

Personally, I would rather my expensive recumbent in the Element than outside in the elements.

--
Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -

"I would think that a Baron would fit inside of a Honda Element. After all, the vehicle is pictured
with two MTBs inside."

The bike doesnt fit.

I would love to keep the Baron inside the vehicle. However, it doesn't fit. The bike is about a foot
too long. The bike barely fits with the rear wheel removed which of course leaves the chain on the
floor. Chain oil all over the interior.... I'll pass. That's why I am seeking a roof rack.

"Personally, I would rather my expensive recumbent in the Element than outside in the elements."

I live in mostly sunny California so the weather is not a concern. I don't consider theft an issue
either. The bike would go on the car and to the trail and back. It would not be left unattended.

Thanks for the thoughts :-)

"Cletus D. Lee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

My current vehicle is a Honda Element.

Quoted message said:

Any advice offered would be greatly appreciated.

I would think that a Baron would fit inside of a Honda Element. After all, the vehicle is pictured
with two MTBs inside.

Personally, I would rather my expensive recumbent in the Element than outside in the elements.

--
Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -

In article said:

Does anyone out there know of a make/model roof bicycle rack out there that will transport an
Optima Baron?

You might look into the Sportworks roof rack. It uses the same "hoop & hook" technique as their
hitch racks so there's no wheel removal. The tandem/recumbent roof rack is at the bottom of this
page. bicycleracks.comstbob.aspOpen ↗

The hitch racks are available with different wheel hoop sizes. This web page doesn't show anything
about hoop size, but I would expect you could order one with the right size for your bike.

I've seen other similar racks on cars around here, but haven't paid attention so I don't know if
they were SportWorks or another brand.

-Carl

Thule makes trays to fit their roof racks. Why not use one of those? If it's too short, simply cut
it in half and bolt in a short section of aluminum angle. All the weight is at each end of the tray.
The add in section just holds the two ends together.

"T3kH0r" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi Folks,

Does anyone out there know of a make/model roof bicycle rack out there

that

Quoted message said:

will transport an Optima Baron?

The bike is a standard Baron Discus.

I know there's one out there. I saw one on the Yellowbike "Punchbuggy".

Too

Quoted message said:

bad that they are still not around or this search would be a phone call away.

Mainly I'm looking for a roof rack with a frame clamp so the bike need not be dismanted when
transported.

My current vehicle is a Honda Element. I already have the main support

bars

Quoted message said:

for a rack installed. The are OEM'ed Thule bars. The have the slot on top and are also rectangular
in construction so they should accept most major brands.

Any advice offered would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

~t

Wow.

That just might work!

There's a dealer a few miles from my house. I will have to check them out.

Thanks!

"Carl" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, "T3kH0r"

Quoted message said:

Does anyone out there know of a make/model roof bicycle rack out there

that

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

will transport an Optima Baron?

You might look into the Sportworks roof rack. It uses the same "hoop & hook" technique as their
hitch racks so there's no wheel removal. The tandem/recumbent roof rack is at the bottom of this
page. bicycleracks.comstbob.aspOpen ↗

The hitch racks are available with different wheel hoop sizes. This web page doesn't show anything
about hoop size, but I would expect you could order one with the right size for your bike.

I've seen other similar racks on cars around here, but haven't paid attention so I don't know if
they were SportWorks or another brand.

-Carl

T3kH0r <[email hidden]> wrote:
: I would love to keep the Baron inside the vehicle. However, it doesn't fit. The bike is about a
: foot too long. The bike barely fits with the rear wheel removed which of course leaves the chain
: on the floor. Chain oil all over the interior.... I'll pass. That's why I am seeking a roof rack.

You could put some old newspapers there, it should work but maybe you don't like it.

Did you try all configurations... like sliding in the boom... letting the pedals reach all the way
beside the driver? Works for a Challenge Jester and a small station wagon, no need to take it apart.

--
Risto Varanka | helsinki.fihpv.htmlOpen ↗ varis at no spam please iki fi

Thanks but that won't exactly work.

There is a small center console between the driver and passenger seats. The vehicle is also a stick
shift. Putting either end of the bike between the two front seats would make it difficutl if not
impossible to shift. The stick shift is on the dash. It's a new Honda thing.

I would image newspaper would somewhat work all be it messy.

The boom on my Baron will go no further in without cutting it. I've had to cut it twice and don't
plan on doing it again any time soon. I would also be concerned with the bolts that secure the boom
considering they screw into the frame. I don't think Optima designed them for frequent use. I'd be
afraid of eventually stripping them out.

These things all point me solely in the direction of a roof rack. I already have 50% of the
hardware. I just need the section that holds the bike and bolts/clamps to the two cross beams
already attached to my Element.

If anyone knows what rack would do it please let me know.

Thanks! <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

T3kH0r <[email hidden]> wrote:
: I would love to keep the Baron inside the vehicle. However, it doesn't

fit.

Quoted message said:

: The bike is about a foot too long. The bike barely fits with the rear

wheel

Quoted message said:

: removed which of course leaves the chain on the floor. Chain oil all

over

Quoted message said:

: the interior.... I'll pass. That's why I am seeking a roof rack.

You could put some old newspapers there, it should work but maybe you don't like it.

Did you try all configurations... like sliding in the boom... letting the pedals reach all the
way beside the driver? Works for a Challenge Jester and a small station wagon, no need to take
it apart.

--
Risto Varanka | helsinki.fihpv.htmlOpen ↗ varis at no spam please iki fi

I use the Yakima Viper LT (long tray) with my Optima Baron and Barcroft Virginia GT. Just remove the
front wheel and put the bike on the rack. Works great, with the minimum of hassle.

David Elliott

Quoted message said:

Hi Folks,

Does anyone out there know of a make/model roof bicycle rack out there

that

Quoted message said:

will transport an Optima Baron?

~t, I use an ATOC BT-63 on Thule bars to transport my Baron. This works on both my Civic coupe and
Pontiac Vibe (though it requires different bars). ATOC ( atoc.comatoc.comOpen ↗ ) makes a number of
different long trays for car top racks. I had to remove a small bit on the top of the tray to clear
my disc brace calipers but other than that it works great. Craig

"T3kH0r" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi Folks,

Does anyone out there know of a make/model roof bicycle rack out there that will transport an
Optima Baron?

The bike is a standard Baron Discus.

I know there's one out there. I saw one on the Yellowbike "Punchbuggy". Too bad that they are
still not around or this search would be a phone call away.

Mainly I'm looking for a roof rack with a frame clamp so the bike need not be dismanted when
transported.

My current vehicle is a Honda Element. I already have the main support bars for a rack installed.
The are OEM'ed Thule bars. The have the slot on top and are also rectangular in construction so
they should accept most major brands.

Any advice offered would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

~t

T3kH0r said:

Does anyone out there know of a make/model roof bicycle rack out there that will transport an
Optima Baron?

My Stinger has a similar frame tube and fits neatly on the Mont Blanc Barracuda - the frame clamp
handles up to 80mm diameter. I use a couple of extra toestraps on the rear wheel because the inbuilt
clips are really designed for low pressure tyres, and I loop one toestrap between front wheel and
frame to keep the front wheel steady (a trick which was in the manual for my Pendle tandem carrier).

Guy
===
** WARNING ** This posting may contain traces of irony. chapmancentral.comchapmancentral.comOpen ↗ Advance
notice: ADSL service in process of transfer to a new ISP. Obviously there will be a week of downtime
between the engineer removing the BT service and the same engineer connecting the same equipment on
the same line in the same exchange and billing it to the new ISP.

On most factory roof racks the cross bars are not designed to handle real loads and they are not the
correct shape for mounting aftermarket bike trays. Your best bet is to get Yakima or Thule load bars
that fit your car (they have charts to tell you which bars you need) and then get a tray like the
ATOC to mount your bike. My Pontiac Vibe has a factory rack. The included bars are only designed as
tie downs. The Pontiac load bars designed for the Vibe would not work with the ATOC tray, which does
work with Thule and Yakima bars. I had to return the Pontiac bars and buy Thule bars. The Thule are
much easier to use and they work. Yakima bars maybe a little quieter as they are round instead of
square. Craig Optima Baron

"T3kH0r" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Thanks but that won't exactly work.

There is a small center console between the driver and passenger seats. The vehicle is also a
stick shift. Putting either end of the bike between the two front seats would make it difficutl if
not impossible to shift. The stick shift is on the dash. It's a new Honda thing.

I would image newspaper would somewhat work all be it messy.

The boom on my Baron will go no further in without cutting it. I've had to cut it twice and don't
plan on doing it again any time soon. I would also be concerned with the bolts that secure the
boom considering they screw into the frame. I don't think Optima designed them for frequent use.
I'd be afraid of eventually stripping them out.

These things all point me solely in the direction of a roof rack. I already have 50% of the
hardware. I just need the section that holds the bike and bolts/clamps to the two cross beams
already attached to my Element.

If anyone knows what rack would do it please let me know.

Thanks! <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

T3kH0r <[email hidden]> wrote:
: I would love to keep the Baron inside the vehicle. However, it doesn't

fit.

Quoted message said:

: The bike is about a foot too long. The bike barely fits with the rear

wheel

Quoted message said:

: removed which of course leaves the chain on the floor. Chain oil all

over

Quoted message said:

: the interior.... I'll pass. That's why I am seeking a roof rack.

You could put some old newspapers there, it should work but maybe you don't like it.

Did you try all configurations... like sliding in the boom... letting the pedals reach all the
way beside the driver? Works for a Challenge Jester and a small station wagon, no need to take
it apart.

--
Risto Varanka | helsinki.fihpv.htmlOpen ↗ varis at no spam please iki fi