How to Strap a Bike To a Roof Rack

The big, empty space on your vehicle's rooftop is perfect for hauling your bikes to the trails, especially if you don't have a hitch, if you want to use your hitch to haul something else, or if you simply don't want to block off the rear of your vehicle with bicycles. Fortunately, securing your bike to your roof rack is pretty easy!

Below, we'll show you how to properly secure your bike to your crossbars, so you can make it to your destination with all your gear intact.

*Note: Consult your vehicle's owner manual to confirm the weight carrying capacity of your roof prior to loading.

Watch Now: Best Roof Bike Rack Options

Step 1: Choose a Bike Rack

A bike rack is essential for hauling bikes around on your roof. I've personally seen people ask if they can just tie their bike directly to their crossbars or even their naked roof. Perhaps you could get away with this with a small kids' bike driving just down the road, but it's really not recommended. Not only is the bike likely to scratch your vehicle's roof, but it also presents a danger to other cars on the road.

For these reasons, we always recommend using a bike rack to transport your bike. Various bike rack styles are available, including fork-mounted, frame-mounted, and wheel-mounted racks. I suggest doing a quick lift test to make sure you can lift your bike high enough to place it on a roof rack. (Also, don't try this with e-bikes—there are currently no roof racks that support the weight of an e-bike, anyway.) If you have a particularly heavy bike, you'll want to consider a hitch bike rack instead.

As far as security goes, some bike racks come with locks, but you can also purchase cable locks separately.

Most bike racks will simply clamp around your crossbars, though other mounting styles are available as well.

Step 2: Mount the Bike

You generally don't need any special straps or tie-down methods to secure your bike on a bike rack. Simply lift the bike onto the rack, secure it according to the manufacturer's instructions (this will differ depending on which type of bike rack you have), and you're good to go.

If you have trouble reaching the top of your roof to load/unload your gear, you can try opening your car door and standing inside. A wheel step or hitch step may also help. One of our favorites is the Rightline Gear Moki Door Step.

Another tip—many cyclists with roof racks use a visual cue to remind themselves that they're carrying bikes up there (more than one poor rider has forgotten about the rack, driven into their garage, and decapitated their bikes). Some popular options include placing your garage door opener in the glove box or even putting up a barrier in your garage spot so you can't drive straight in.

How to Choose a Roof-Mounted Bike Rack

How to Install a Roof Rack (Hint: It Depends On Your Roof)

Written by: Amber S.

Updated on: 3/7/21

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