Do you lift your bikes onto the top of the car?

[lavendersun]

We have got a Thule proride on top of the car but I don't use it.

I am fairly robust but not good at lifting things high up, broken neck some years ago, and still retain the memory of dropping my bob stroller and gauging my car when lifting it into a roof box.

I did have a tow bar mounted carrier just for me to avoid the lifting but sold it six months ago because I can fit two bikes in the car with the seats down which was easier than putting the tow bar on and then the bike carrier.

Anyway, long intro I know but now that I have got two newly painted frames and DD has moved onto a bike that is not much smaller than mine I was a bit reluctant/found it a bit of a struggle today.

I put mine in first, back wheel in, derailleur facing upwards, thick wool dog blanket and then the smaller one on the top, same way.

Wondering if I should just get on with trying to make myself use the roof top thing again.

Any tips if you use one would be great, not sure if I should think about taking a folding stool thing in the car to help me get it on/off. DH thinks it is 'easy', I have tried once or twice and didn't.

I don't like riding from home with DD that often as we have to go on a fairly busy A road so they have to go in the car if I want to avoid the hairy bit.

Oh don't they? Oh, sorry.

You might find something second hand.

I have one of those little folding stools from Dunelm Mill which stays in my car all the time. I can't manage without it. I have a Thule roof rack system and I'm 5' 3". The stool is pretty stable once unfolded properly and (after 8 months) I've not fallen off it yet! :-)

We have one of those lifty racks. They are a now unproduced German design. Really clever/ far too clever. The one and only great thing about them is the lifting. Everything else feels a bit like a poor compromise.

We have one because my wife at 5 ft not much faces the same problem.

I see these

And it looks like a better solution.

I'll check them out. It intrigues me that this real problem is not well addressed by the market. I guess most racks are currently bought by taller fit youngthings probably with lower cars.