Simbars bike rack with mountain bikes

jack554 · Jan 18, 2014

I've just picked up a second hand simbars bike rack for my freelander. Got it fitted on the car no problem by a good friend but just tried to put my mountain bike on it and it won't fit! I'm a small female and so only have a 16" frame mountain bike with the classic A frame. When I put one end of the top tube on the simbars rack there is not enough top tube to go over the other end of the simbars rack. Am I being a bit stupid and doing it wrong? Should I be able to get this type and size of bike on it. Before buying I read many posts about this being the best bike rack for freelander users, even from people who were using it to transport kids bikes which must be smaller than mine. Can someone please help?

Nodge68 · Jan 18, 2014

Welcome to the forum, it's worth popping into the new members section to say high

I have a similar problem fitting the kids bikes on my rack. I hook the bike through the rear wheel instead, it works but isn't ideal. It's only a kids bike so not a problem with damage to it.

Epicuser · Jan 18, 2014

I would have the same problem with my large size full suspension mtb, I'm saving for an Altera Strada DL2, which mounts to my towbar.

Bizzie · Jan 18, 2014

jack554 said:
I've just picked up a second hand simbars bike rack for my freelander. Got it fitted on the car no problem by a good friend but just tried to put my mountain bike on it and it won't fit! I'm a small female and so only have a 16" frame mountain bike with the classic A frame. When I put one end of the top tube on the simbars rack there is not enough top tube to go over the other end of the simbars rack. Am I being a bit stupid and doing it wrong? Should I be able to get this type and size of bike on it. Before buying I read many posts about this being the best bike rack for freelander users, even from people who were using it to transport kids bikes which must be smaller than mine. Can someone please help?

You could try one of these it gives you a temporary crossbar

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ladies-Ki..._Cycling_Bags_Panniers_SR&hash=item43bd979dec

jack554 · Jan 18, 2014

Thanks for the responses, particulary to Bizzie, interesting I didn't know false top tubes existed! I've had another a few attempts and think I may have found a solution. I can place one end of the bike's top tube in the holder of the simbars rack and on the other arm of the simbars rack I can position the back of each bike seat in the holder. So far they seem quite stable, probably even more stable than my old bike rack. Still to secure them fully with straps but its started raining here and so have come in! Patience already a bit thin this morning after missing my bike outing earlier today.

thequeenscheese · Jan 18, 2014

Hi i usually put top tube on one arm , and between forks and frame on the other with the front wheel on the drivers side and the wheel secured to the roof bars..
Mine is the type that fits on the spare wheels tyre.

baptista · Jan 19, 2014

I made mine and put my 2 kids bikes like this (big one is 20'' wheel)

maybe if you take yours to the local metal shop they could modify it to fit

Simbars bike rack with mountain bikes

jack554

New Member

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

Epicuser

Ex Freelander Owner

Bizzie

Active Member

jack554

New Member

thequeenscheese

Well-Known Member

baptista

Active Member

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