New Style Bike Rack from Saris
 

for those of you using hitch mount bike racks, I'm considering this new style rack from Saris called the Thelma. Anyone using it?
It got my attention because its one piece, weighs only 26 pounds and doesn't require the removal of the front wheel. And since its one integrated unit its price is low at $249 (not including the hitch system).

check out the video.
http://www.rackoutfitters.com/car-ra...idproduct=1609
http://www.saris.com/images/PRODUCT/large/298.jpg


It's a single receiver (1 1/4" or 2") that won't work with the willwood two receiver system but willwood says they are developing a one hitch receiver that is concealed behind the license plate.

Anyone else interested? Maybe there is a group buy oppourtunity here.
http://www.saris.com/p-298-thelma.aspx

This rack is going on your Boxster?

Franko

yes, I had the birdautomotive.com rack but some jerk off wrecked it in a stripp mall and took off before I came back to the car. I only drive on the weekends so having a second car is excessive.
I'm hoping this will be the most minimalistic approach to lugging two bikes.

:_otopic:
hey perfectlap could you post some pics of your boxster and interior....it looks amazing in your avatar

I haven't taken any new pics in ages but they are all in here

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/

When I had the Willwood hitch installed, my body shop guy (Dan Achbach, for those of you in the business) warned me in no uncertain terms about putting anything other than minimal tongue weight on the receivers. He said the bumperette reinforcements have virtually no vertical reinforcement as it isn't necessary to obtain the 2.5mph crash rating. Just a word of warning.

see that's what lead me to go with the birdautomotive system in the first place.

What would you classify as minimal tonuge weight? I have a twenty pound carbon Bianchi
and the Thelma rack is claimed to be 25 pounds.

anyhooters, I have not heard back from willwood regarding the single receiver hitch that they are working on. Need to find a solution soon, spring is officialy here.

Forty-five pounds is awfully light, although there's some torque load since it's stuck way out there.

I'll be interested to hear about your experience with the Saris rack. I ran Saris roof racks from 1996 to 2001 and I got a little tired of the build quality and lack of corrosion resistance.

yeah I've gone through countless racks, they're either too heavy but well made or light and crappy.
A light weight rack made of reinforced plastic seems like the ticket.