> I can secure my bike to the rack very easily. But what is the best way
> to secure the front tire and the handle bars so they don't go flopping
> around in the wind???
>
> is there a better solution than just a bungee cord?
>
Jon,
I have a Thule rack that supports three bikes. The rack came with a
number of small (maybe 0.5" wide, 8" long) velcro strips that have
hooks on one side and loops on the other. In particular, these things
are excellent for keeping the f/r brakes on permanently during
transport. This prevents the wheels from spinning. The 'straps' are
quick, easy, weather resistant, durable, and as it turns out, cheap.
I recently took a trip to Home Depot looking for some velcro to strap a
battery onto my bike rack...and stumbled across these two-sided velcro
strips. A pack of 50 for less than $5 (CDN). They're called ONE-WRAP
straps, and are made by Velcro. You can even get a version that
stretches (which would provide some additional tension). There's
another version that comes as a continuous roll, and you can cut to
length as desired.
As for the bars swinging....you can use a longer version of the strap
to tie the rim/tire to the downtube. I personally don't bother with
this, as I haven't noticed any bar movement that is of concern. Most
of my trips are within 20 miles, and I usually have at least two bikes
onboard...I'm more concerned about the bikes interfering/contacting
each other, or with wet weather, or with the bikes being stolen, or the
bikes swinging to/fro when driving.
I would only use a bungee cord as a last resort...when
attaching/releasing them, they've got a nasty tendency to hurt the bike
or the owner (particularly when it's wet and the end slips from your
hand at the wrong time).
A nice alternative to bungee straps are simple nylon 'belts'. Some
have metal buckles, others have plastic...the buckles have teeth to
prevent undesired slippage. In fact, the Thule rack I have uses these
types of straps to attach to the vehicle. Again, quick, easy, cheap,
and they'll last a lifetime. They're probably marketed under different
names. The ones I've seen are about 3/4" wide, made of blue fabric,
and cost about $5 for a pair. Automotive stores (or even Wal-Mart) are
a good place to look...the beefier versions have ratcheting mechanisms,
which are overkill for this application.
You might want to look into mechanisms to lock your bikes as well.
Getting your bike(s) stolen while grabbing a bite to eat on the highway
is NOT a good feeling.
Cheers,
Dave