Bike Racks and Road Grime?

[aShogunNamedMarcus]

I'm wondering if anyones ever had any issues with grime and various bits of road crap accumulating on either wheels or forks and brake parts? I've always had the bikes in the bed of a truck and before I spend the $$$ on a rack and hitch setup, I'd like to know if this just a potential or a real problem for cycles?

[Robot]

I've never really noticed anything that's affected the performance of my bikes. I can see what you're saying, but most of the road crap ends up on the bottom of my rack (Thule T2).

[apeshape]

I am pretty religious with cleaning my gear after road trips or just even driving from the shore to kits on a soupy day so I've avoided alot of problems but I learned that the hard way after a few mucked and rusted bits.

I know it sucks to spray your bikes but take it easy with the pressure, get one of those good pedros cleaning kits and a bucket of warm soapy water to wash up post ride.

[GeoffG]

I've never had a problem. I've driven to Whistler quite a few times with my hitch rack and rain or shine, the bike doesn't accumulate much extra dirt.

[Tom]

Let me get this straight...you're worried about dirt from the road getting on your bike...after you ride it in the mountains?

[Robot]

Let me get this straight...you're worried about dirt from the road getting on your bike...after you ride it in the mountains?

Jerk. Lol.

[aShogunNamedMarcus]

Let me get this straight...you're worried about dirt from the road getting on your bike...after you ride it in the mountains?

Well ya.. enough to make a post about it. More about the potential grime on the way to the hill... .. yaaaaaa...

[XXX_er]

My thule rack is on the car year round ,if you don't put some anti sieze compound on the threaded adjuster parts they will sieze solid ...I missed a year or 2 and now the rack is frozen to the car

I got some juicy 7's that don't grip very well and I think it was due to road grime

[ruff]

I can see the brake pads getting contaminated by the oils on the road being sprayed up on the back of the car. But I've had no issues with my bike on the back of my car.

[Tonestar]

The rear of the vehicle is the worst place to carry gear for road grime issues, especially on flat backed vehicle (vans, SUVs and wagons).

That being said, I wouldn't worry about a mtn bike, it is made to get dirty, skis and snowboards on the other hand, I wouldn't carry back there, unless you use a ski or board bag to keep them clean.

[drezy]

The rear of the vehicle is the worst place to carry gear for road grime issues, especially on flat backed vehicle (vans, SUVs and wagons).But no bugs. Those bastards are more of a pain to get off.

[Tonestar]

But no bugs. Those bastards are more of a pain to get off.

True, less bugs, but you still pick up far more road grime back there.

The roof is the best place to carry gear, period. It is safer, less likely to be hit by another car, doesn't block your brake lights/signals, doesn't impede your view, doesn't have any ground clearance issues (steep driveways, getting on/off ferries).

The only drawbacks of the roof, is it can be harder to load and garage/underground parking issues.

[XXX_er]

I can see the brake pads getting contaminated by the oils on the road being sprayed up on the back of the car. But I've had no issues with my bike on the back of my car.

ya on my golf even with good mudflaps the back tires thro shit up right at the wheel area on whatever you are carrying

come to think of it when I took one of my bikes with rim brakes up to thew yukon , dawson city & back including 200 km on the dempster hy,to and from atlin I got rock pitting on the front rim so bad it affects braking to quite a degree ... I ended up sanding the front rim