Any advice on bike carriers?

[GrimmaTheNome]

I've been trawling the net to try to find a suitable bike rack for 3 bikes (9 year old DDs plus DH and mine). Roof mounting is definitely not an option as I'm short! Our cars our both Toyota Avensis with no towbar.

So it looks like it has to be a strap-on job, but then there seem to be issues about whether the lights/numberplate are obscured, and whether the fittings scratch the car... and some look like you still have to lift the bikes quite a long way up. And also not clear if some of them work with children's bikes.

The reviews/advice I've found seem to come too much from fit young men who can easily hoist their alloy racers 6ft in the air. Not small women with sturdy (ie bloody heavy) MTBs.

I need the MN perspective on this ... any pros and cons from your experience would be most appreciated!

No-one carry bikes? Pretty please?

We have a three-bike carrier that fits on the back of our Saab estate. It's quite an effort to put it on, and then it's tricky fitting three bikes on. (I'm only 5ft - DH is 6'4 and he finds it much easier!)

We have another numberplate that we fix onto the last bike, but we probably should have a bar with lights too. We usually take 2 adult bikes and a large children's bike. The two prongs that stick out are quite far apart, so not sure if a smaller kids bike would go on.

Also, we have scratched the back of the car quite badly - mostly with the clips that attach the carrier.

Having said all this, I'm not sure what the alternative is. I have seen a rigid structure (almost like a buggy board for the car) where bikes stand upright, but it probably adds quite a bit of length to your car.

Hope this helps.

Have just noticed that your DD is 9. I'm sure the carrier would be suitable for her size of bike. Just not for a toddler-sized bike.

thanks Mrs Muddle. You don't know the make of your contraption by any chance?

Maybe it's Hollywood? It was about £40 from a local bike shop. It's very similar to this one.

DH says you'll get better advice from a bike shop than a car accessory shop, ie Halfords. A good bike shop will be able to recommend one for your car that will hold your bikes.