Transporting your bike is serious business. You do not want a cheap rack that won’t hold up while you’re driving with the bike attached to it. You also want something that is easy to use so that there are no errors in attaching the bike. For bikes with fenders, you need to choose a bike rack slightly carefully so that you don’t damage the fenders.
Overall, the best bike rack for bikes with fenders is Thule EasyFold XT. It is a hitch bike rack that fits two bikes (even large e-bikes), costs $999 and does not clamp down on the bike fenders, unlike many other racks on the market. Most importantly- it’s got 3 locks, so is highly secured against theft and is very sturdy as well. For most people, Thule bike racks last at least 5-6 years.
While I found this to be the best option for a bike rack, it still might not be the best fit for YOU. Thule is one of the best brands when it comes to bike racks but they are expensive.
Which is why there are a few other things that you need to know regarding the different types of bike racks before making a purchase.
Another big issue is that of theft while backs are stacked on to these racks.
I’ll cover all these in detail below, so I suggest you read on.
The Three Major Types of Bike Racks (And How To Adjust Them For Bikes With Fenders)
So, you basically have three types of bike racks:
#1 Rear Trunk Racks. The rear trunk racks are one of the cheapest and most portable racks. They can be easily secured to the trunk of your car and the bike can be simply attached to the rack. These types of racks afford the lowest grade of security however, as there are usually no in-built locks.
#2 Hitch Mounted Racks. Hitch mounted racks are the best option for MOST people. They are much more securely mounted than rear trunk racks, and can carry multiple bikes in one go.
# 3 Roof Mounted Racks. Not really the best option for most people. As the name suggests, you attach your bikes on these racks on top of your car in standing up position. This is quite troublesome to do repeatedly.
When it comes to bikes with fenders, you can find options among all three of these types of bike racks that will work for you. The only thing to check is how the bike gets attached to the rack, i.e: how does the clamp work.
For some racks, the clamp is positioned in the same general area where the fenders are placed, which is not desirable. You simply need to choose a model that clamps the bottom of the wheel, or some other part of the bike- and don’t worry, there are plenty such fender friendly models.
Let me give you my recommendations first:
Rear Trunk Rack That Works With Bikes With Fenders: Allen S102
Hitch Rack That Works With Bikes With Fenders: Thule EasyFold XT
Roof Mounted Rack That Works With Bikes With Fenders: Thule 599001
Now, I do have one final suggestion for you in case you still aren’t sure what to get.
You can remove the bike fenders while transporting your bike and THEN use whichever bike rack you like the most.
Except for the fenders that are attached with bolts to the bike, the other types are quite easy to remove and attach. Hardly takes a minute to do so.
Are Bike Racks Legal?
This is a very important thing to keep in mind, as the rules vary across countries, and at times, across states in a single country as well.
The rear trunk or hitch racks, while convenient, have a big drawback in that they obscure the vehicle number plate on the rear side. This is illegal in a lot of places and can attract fines if you’re caught by the traffic police.
In other areas, you’re required to obtain special permissions to attach a bike rack that will obscure your vehicle’s number plate.
That’s why roof racks, though inconvenient, are perfectly acceptable everywhere, legally.
So do yourself a favor and check the local rules before you buy a bike rack.
How To Save Your Bike From Theft While Attached To A Rack
Theft is a BIG issue. I’ve heard stories where the owner left their bikes attached to the racks on a parked vehicle for around 20-30 mins, and returned to see the bikes stolen.
Having the bikes attached so visibly to your vehicle, you can always assume it is going to attract thieves.
Regardless of the brand, price or how sturdy your rack may be, one of the biggest issues is that of theft. There is no brand that is completely immune to that.
Having visible deterrents helps though. Here’s what I suggest you do:
Get a hitch rack since those are quite securely attached to a vehicle. After you secure the bike on the rack, also get a cable lock or a simple metal link chain and lock and attach use it to secure the BODY of the bike to the rack.
In most cases, having a highly visible chain link like this will be enough of a deterrent for thieves.
If you REALLY wanted to go for it, perhaps you could even get a rear camera for your car, like this one on Amazon.
Do You Really Need Fenders On A Bike?
For most cyclists on road bikes and hybrid bikes, fenders are not required. Only mountain bikers, given the rough and at times muddy terrain that they cover, require fenders for regular use.
Many mountain bikers do not even consider attaching fenders because they like getting the bike (and themselves) dirty. That’s where the fun of mountain biking lies.
If you’re on a road or hybrid bike, you’re mostly riding on smooth, paved surfaces, so the bike doesn’t get that dirty anyway.
From a maintenance aspect too, fenders don’t really make a huge difference. If you’re on a MTB, chances are your bike will be super muddy after the end of a ride and will require a thorough wash- regardless of whether you have a fender or not. A fender will only protect a small section of the bike from mud.
So, if you have to wash the bike after every ride anyway, why keep fenders at all?
Anyway, that’s just one man’s opinion.