The beauty of owning a car bike rack is that it gives you the freedom to exploit biking trails away from your locality. Such an accessory allows you to safely transport your bike(s) to the area you intend to spend your day biking.
However, if you don’t know how to lock your bike onto the rack, the fixture would be useless since your bike would be at risk of being stolen or falling off along the highway.
We want your bike to be safe, and that is why we will give you simple ways on how you can secure your two-wheeled vehicle onto the rack with car bike rack lock.
Importance of Locking Your Bike
The main reason we emphasize that you always lock your bike while on the rack is to give you some peace of mind. A trunk-mounted rack will expose your bike to theft more than a roof-mounted one since it is reachable and out of your sight.
So, locking your bike will act as a deterrent to theft, and by the time the thief has figured out how to unlock your bicycle, you will have left the vicinity.
Now that you know the importance of always locking your bike let’s go to the main agenda of securing your two-wheeled vehicle onto the rack.
Different Ways of Locking a Bike to a Car Rack
Now that you have shopped for and landed the best car rack in the market, the next important step is understanding how to lock it securely onto the rack. Below are two simple ways of doing so:
I) The Trunk Lock Method
This method is also known as the passive strap method and is an affordable way of securing your bike to the car rack. It is also one of the simplest ways of locking your bike and involves using a long cable with a rounded puck at one end.
Your job will be to form a loop that you will use to fasten the bike’s frame before tightening the loop to ensure your bike is not moving at all.
You will find this method especially useful for roof-mounted racks, and you will have peace of mind that your property is well-secured.
II) The Tow Hitch Method
Next up is a technique that is also referred to as the tow loop method and is more complicated than the first one. In addition to that, it will also cost more due to the materials involved, mainly the external tow hitch mechanism for securing your bike onto the unit.
However, you could always loop the cable under your vehicle’s removable parts, such as the bumper or cover. After that, use a sturdy cord to loop around the bicycle, while a tow loop would help you lock it.
Note that you will use a strong cord to tie it onto your car’s hitch and secure it with a padlock in this method. And if you decide to use any part below your vehicle, always tie it to an immovable part so that your car doesn’t have broken pieces.
Closing Remark
As you can see, locking your bike onto a car bike rack is not as complicated as you may have initially thought. You do not need any professional help, and you should be done within a few minutes.
And with all the security knowledge at your fingertips, you can have a stress-free drive knowing that your bike is safe on the rack. Not only during driving but during stop-overs where thieves are likely to strike and make away with your prized possession.
