Last summer while traveling through Utah, a sudden gust of wind turned a carefree road trip into a moment of horror. My girlfriend, Evie, and I were driving her Mazda 3, our bikes secured on a rear rack. Confident in their placement, I was engrossed in work on my laptop. Then Evie calmly stated, “They’re gone.” To our disbelief, our two road bikes were indeed bouncing down the highway in the rearview mirror, thankfully with no other cars around.
The culprit? Unexpectedly strong winds had lifted the rack hooks, despite being weighed down by our bikes. This incident highlighted the critical need for reliable bike transportation and steered us towards a significant upgrade.
To address the immediate aftermath and get our bikes road-ready again, we utilized the resources of The Bicycle Works, a bike co-op in San Anselmo, California. We managed to get our bikes functional, albeit with some scratches and dings. Remarkably, my carbon fiber frame survived unscathed. Shortly after, we celebrated personal milestones – my first century ride and Evie’s first half-century, along the scenic California coast.
This close call underscored the limitations of our previous, off-brand rear rack. It was always a struggle to secure properly, with the bottom hook prone to detaching. Furthermore, rear racks leave bikes vulnerable to damage in rear-end collisions or when driving on rough terrain. Our other car had a fork-mount Rocky Mounts rack, which we were accustomed to, but it wasn’t available for this trip.
Driven by the Utah incident, we invested in a significant upgrade: Yakima roof racks. We opted for the upright Yakima High Roller and a Yakima Front Loader. The High Roller, considered the deluxe model, boasts enhanced retention, adjustment, and release mechanisms. We paired these racks with Yakima Control Tower crossbars and landing pads, professionally installed at Rack ‘N Road in San Rafael, California. The installation process was quick and efficient, taking only about half an hour to mount the entire system onto Evie’s Mazda 3.
Yakima bike rack at night
One of the standout features of the Yakima system is its sliding wheel tray. This ingenious design securely accommodates bikes of virtually any size without frame contact, eliminating worries about damage. As Yakima states, it’s compatible “round, square and most factory crossbars out of the box,” offering broad vehicle compatibility.
Upright roof racks like the Yakima offer an additional safety benefit: they act as a bumper for forgetful drivers. If someone accidentally pulls into a garage with bikes on top, the front tire takes the impact, hopefully preventing damage to the bike frame itself. Another advantage is the improved ease of parallel parking compared to rear-mounted racks.
Unlike our fork-mount Rocky Mounts, the Yakima racks eliminate the need to remove the front wheel, streamlining the bike loading process. They are also designed to accommodate bikes with hollow axles without requiring additional adaptors, a common issue with fork-mount systems. From 20″ tire bikes to 29ers, and 700 CC road bikes to 26” mountain bikes, the Yakima rack system handles a wide range of bike types (excluding tandems and recumbents) with its easily adjustable hardware.
For added security during road trips, especially when transporting valuable bikes (like on our recent trip to Fruita with bikes worth up to $6,000), we opted for Yakima cable locks. While these thin cables are more of a deterrent than a heavy-duty lock, they provide valuable peace of mind.
Another improvement over my Rocky Mounts is that the Yakima rack avoids contact with disc brakes, preventing the gouging issues I experienced with my Kona mountain bike. The Yakima design keeps contact away from the fork and frame, simplifying bike mounting and preventing potential damage.
Over the past year, our Yakima roof rack system has proven its durability and versatility. It has journeyed across the country multiple times, seen weekly use, and reliably carried bikes of all sizes (even kids’ bikes, although not its primary design).
However, there are a couple of drawbacks to consider. Upright roof racks do slightly reduce gas mileage compared to fork-mount options due to increased wind resistance. Additionally, lifting bikes onto roof racks requires more physical effort. The integrated cable locks also need to be properly secured when not in use to prevent them from rattling and potentially scratching the car’s paint.
Despite these minor downsides, Yakima stands behind its products with a lifetime guarantee, reflecting their confidence in the quality and durability of their racks.
In conclusion, based on personal experience and practical features, the Yakima Bike Roof Rack system, particularly the High Roller and Front Loader models, represents a significant upgrade for anyone serious about safely and conveniently transporting their bikes. While there are considerations regarding fuel efficiency and lifting effort, the enhanced security, ease of use, and versatility make Yakima a top choice for bike enthusiasts.
