Rack ? For XCARTELX

**/\G** · 04-27-2008 08:21 PM

Cartel...

I was looking at a pic of your V2 bike racks on the 450r bars. I have the same set up and i bought a fit kit for the new bars. The back attachment is like a big plate with a clamp and looks kind of out of place. I was looking at yours and it seems one side has the old attachment for the square bars and the other is mounted flush to the bar.

Can you fill me in on your set up? I like the looks of the flush mount on the drivers side rear.

thanks!

**lookaught** · 04-27-2008 08:24 PM

he drilled the aluminum frame and put the "t" bolt right through and capped with a normal nut iirc from a post long ago.

Much better looking than those stupid and huge adapters, I plan to do this as well once I order the new bike rack next month.

**CARTEL** · 04-27-2008 11:51 PM

Yup, that's completely correct.

You know the type of bolts that slide into the bars to attach the head of the rack? Well, just get another one of those, slide it into the rear bar and mark where the bolt will go through the tray. Drill a hole roughly the size of that bolt and use the same type of bolt that you use for the front head (inside the clamp) to hold it in place.

It's perfectly secure (so far!) and it is hands down the cleanest setup you can get.

This is the most recent picture I have of the racks, and they are both that way now. I'll do a short writeup one of these days and take some better pictures.

Good luck... lets see that rack when you're done.

-Tony

**lookaught** · 04-28-2008 06:46 AM

Does your hatch bump the rear tires of the bikes when they are loaded on the rack? Seems like it would be pretty close...

Also did the Echelon bike mounts become available? I had spoken with you a while back about ordering some stuff and was waiting for them to be released before I placed the order.

Im going to send you a PM...

**dougyfresh** · 04-28-2008 08:46 AM

Fabio,
Can you still get (or have) the old SportWorks bike trays? I want to build a 3 bike carrier for the hitch of my Jeep and the newer Thule models only come in 2 bikes (stupid).

Like the Freeride/DH model:

**CARTEL** · 04-28-2008 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by dougyfresh

Fabio,
Can you still get (or have) the old SportWorks bike trays? I want to build a 3 bike carrier for the hitch of my Jeep and the newer Thule models only come in 2 bikes (stupid).

Like the Freeride/DH model:

I actually have no part in the shop anymore. I sold my portion to Specialized and it is now a concept store, which I am not too fond of. Thus, I can get some items, but its a little harder and takes longer.

As far as I know, the SportWorks stuff is gone and sold to another rack shop in the area. We use the Thule T2 on a buddies car with the 2 bike attachment (expensive, and its 4 not 3), and it works extremely well. If you are interested in those Doug, let me know and I can still get you a deal on that stuff.

Does your hatch bump the rear tires of the bikes when they are loaded on the rack? Seems like it would be pretty close...

Also did the Echelon bike mounts become available? I had spoken with you a while back about ordering some stuff and was waiting for them to be released before I placed the order.

Im going to send you a PM...

Jon, it does not hit. It comes close, but that's just the way I set up the width of the bars... pretty easy and I can take some measurements if you like.

Again, read the post above. No longer in the business, but if you really
need some stuff let me know. I don't keep up too much on Thule's offerings so your guess is as good as mine on the availability of the Echelon.

If you don't want to deal with getting stuff on the opposite coast, I'd suggest you look at REI and pay attention to their sales. Once a year, at the least, they will put all Thule stuff on 20% off which is a pretty decent discount.

Cheers!

Tony

**ewytt** · 04-28-2008 10:41 AM

looking forward to write up!

**lookaught** · 04-28-2008 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by XCARTELX

I actually have no part in the shop anymore. I sold my portion to Specialized and it is now a concept store, which I am not too fond of. Thus, I can get some items, but its a little harder and takes longer.

Again, read the post above. No longer in the business, but if you really
need some stuff let me know. I don't keep up too much on Thule's offerings so your guess is as good as mine on the availability of the Echelon.

If you don't want to deal with getting stuff on the opposite coast, I'd suggest you look at REI and pay attention to their sales. Once a year, at the least, they will put all Thule stuff on 20% off which is a pretty decent discount.

Cheers!

Tony

I didnt realize you sold your stake. I'll just get the stuff from a local shop, its not a big deal at all. Thanks for the offer though!

**dougyfresh** · 04-28-2008 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by XCARTELX

I actually have no part in the shop anymore. I sold my portion to Specialized and it is now a concept store, which I am not too fond of. Thus, I can get some items, but its a little harder and takes longer.

As far as I know, the SportWorks stuff is gone and sold to another rack shop in the area. We use the Thule T2 on a buddies car with the 2 bike attachment (expensive, and its 4 not 3), and it works extremely well. If you are interested in those Doug, let me know and I can still get you a deal on that stuff.

Yeah. The T2 is the newer version. Guess I'll have to settle for that. Let me do some digging around. I might be able to get away with just picking up some 594-Sidearms or equivalent (used) and weld up a base to put 'em on. If the price winds up coming out alright, since the base will double as a cargo rack (I'll be able to remove the bike trays). We'll see. Gotta finish the AVant before I start buying more stuff so I might just make my own base and install my fork-mounts onto it.

**CARTEL** · 04-28-2008 02:15 PM

Yeah, you need some tracksports before a rack!

**lookaught** · 04-28-2008 02:45 PM

Are you saying you know someone with a T2 on their A4? I was curious if a hitch could handle the torque of such a wide setup. as the hitch on the B6 bolts into the sheet metal of the spare tire well and not a "frame" per say.

I mountain bike and it rains a lot here, so a roof mount has always left the cars a bit muddy and little pebbles roll down it when we pull away, since I have to install a hitch anyway, I wonder if the T2 will work... Its be much cleaner (in terms of mud on my car) than a roof mount and is easily removeable and costs the same as a roof setup.

hmmmmmm

**CARTEL** · 04-28-2008 03:01 PM

no...this setup is on an Element

**CARTEL** · 04-28-2008 03:03 PM

but I figure if this thing can handle it than an Avant surely could.

**/\G** · 04-29-2008 12:54 PM

Thanks Cartel and Look, I guess if I thought about it, it makes sense. Those adapters are ridiculous. I would think they would have made something smaller and easier to use. They are ugly and huge.

I second Cartel with REI. You can also keep an eye out on EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports). I got mine there for the same 20% off