Cycle carriers for people with limited ability (& heavy bikes)

[katymac]

I think I need 2

I have one for the motorhome but it's at chest height & DH tries to avoid it as much as possible and there is no way I can - can you get ones that go on towbar and can the bike be wheeled up somehow?

And one for the back of the car same problem

& DH won't tow a trailer

You can get tow bar ones. We have one and it's great but it's still heavy to lift the tow bar onto the car and then to lift the bikes onto the rack (although the rack is obviously much lower).

I think this is the sort of thing you mean where you can literally wheel the bike into the carrier - www.thule.com/en-gb/gb/bike-rack/towbar-bike-racks/thule-euroclassic-g6-928-_-928021 and then scroll right down to optional accessories and look at the loading ramp.

Thule are expensive - we bought one recently after a lot of consideration and have been really pleased with it.

OK so that would fit the motor home - thanks Nigel - my brother is a fan of thule too

I wonder if it would be cheaper to get a tow bar on the car or buy a different carrier (baring in mind that might be the only sort low enough for me to wheel it on)

I do worry about the weight of the carrier but hopefully that would be moved less often

DH has just informed me that the carriers have weight limits so you'd need to check the weight of your bikes (particularly if electric bikes). He thinks the rack itself is quite heavy but he can manage it on its own. He reckons that I'd struggle to attach it on my own.

Can I ask why the bikes are heavy? Are they electric bikes?

The weight limit on that one is fine - mine is electric at 23kgs & DH's is 19kgs and not electric

But I can lift & help at lower heights so should be able to help get the towbar on

DH is getting on a bit now and wants an easier life even if he can just manage he'd rather not

KM, can I just give you my experience of a towbar carrier with a removable towbar.

I find lifting bikes on top of the car too hard (broke my neck some years ago and struggle to lift weight above my head) and so bought a towbar mounted rack just for me to use. A basic Thule model. Because my towbar is always a removable one I found that the thing stuck out much further than it would have done otherwise and sort of 'swam' a bit when I was driving at speed (well as at speed as a Volvo with me behind the wheel does).

I just did not like the way it moved and sold it after about a year - took to putting my bike in the car with the seats down and the front wheel off, I can get two bikes in if there are only two of us. DH uses the roof top one easily enough but I have always struggled with the lift.

So, I think the towbar ones are great, but not with a towbar that sticks out more than a normal one, mine are always factory fitted by Volvo so whatever the standard one is is too long distance wise from the car.

We have got another towbar one from our defender and that is fine, close to the car towbar.

I don't think the motorhome towbar is removeable (if that is what you meant - I didn't know they could be, or have I misunderstood ?) I'll go & photo it now!!

& if I put a towbar on the skoda I imagine it would be fixed

Fixed will be perfect and who knows, other removable tow bars might be different. I keep my towbar in with the spare wheel and only attach it when I am using it.

I am sure it was safe enough but I found watching them swim around disconcerting.

That's strange Barchester, ours is a removable towbar (no idea why as we never remove it) and we have no problem with movement. We have an atera strada with an extra bike holder. We have had an electric bike and adult bike and 2 kids bikes on it at once with no issues.
I think you will also need to check the permitted weight allowed on your tow bar for your car. Sorry this has a name but I can't remember it. The info should be in your manual. You need to factor in bikes and towbar, I think mine is 100kg but I drive a tank big car.

I think it looks fixed (but possibly not man enough for the job!!)

Nose weight, I think, is the term you are looking for.

have I mentioned how much I love my bike?

But DH hasn't taken it off the van since Sat 8th & I really really miss it, he's tired & I don't want to add to his work but I really want to ride it

Thinking about it, I am not sure how you find out the noseweight if you didn't have it fitted and don't have a manual - I bet someone else knows.

I was surprised to learn that the factory fitted option for my car carried 30kg less than another towbar manufacturer's recommended nose weight when I looked into it.

I think that nose weight might come from the tow bar manufacturers.

I think it's from the car? I read in my car manual. There might also be a weight limit on the towbar.

The limits on mine were v different 3boys.

90kgs on the Volvo factory fitted model but I found another one that had a 120kgs nose weight - same car different tow bar. I found it so confusing!

that's not great is it, you would think there would be a standard.