As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that spread around the world in 2020, many of us found ourselves with drastically changed lifestyles to adjust to the new situation. This fell particularly hard on outdoor enthusiasts and people bitten by the travelling bug.
However, despite the difficulty imposed on travels, principally on trips abroad, many started noticing the alluring opportunity to get some fresh air, as well as exercise, by visiting places nationwide. This gave rise to the popularity of cycling in Australia which was already one of the most common forms of physical activities in the country.
This shouldn’t come as surprise considering the benefits cycling offers for one’s health and well-being. Besides being a great way to burn some calories and take care of the waistline, it’s also the perfect activity for spending quality time with family and friends, so if you want to improve your social life and the quality of your important relationships, get a bike!
Once cycling becomes a crucial part of your life, and the bike becomes your essential bit of luggage for a range of destinations, you’d require the adequate gear to make the most of the sport, including the most convenient bike rack. When it comes to top-notch brands and their designs that amaze with quality, as much as the affordable prices, few can compare with the durable and versatile Yakima bike rack options.
Why Yakima?
As a company that started out as a small machine shop in Yakima, Washington State, USA, it grew into a success when cyclists and kayakers, Steve Cole and Don Banducci, bought it in 1979. Not long after, they became known worldwide when they started building aerodynamic fairings for the race bikes of the Summer Olympics in 1984.
Years later, they’re still dedicated to being the leaders in the niche by offering designs of racks of exceptional value at the most reasonable prices. Even though they have plenty of amazing options of truck racks, crossbars, cargo boxes, and kayak racks, they’re especially famous for the bike racks. The following are some of their most popular types.
The Yakima Frontloader
Otherwise known as the basic roof-mounted rack, this functional Yakima bike rack is one of their best-selling worldwide. Lightweight with an incredible 5.9kg, yet sturdy, it comes ready to use and you won’t have much trouble in lifting it and fitting it onto the roof rack system of your vehicle as it’s got super security locks. Whenever using one of these, you’d just have to remember your vehicle becomes taller.
Suitable for all kinds of bikes, you have the flexibility to use it with mountain bikes as much as road bikes, beneficial electric bikes, and even kids’ bikes with wheels between 20” and 29” since it causes no trouble with handling thru axles, disc brakes and suspensions. All this thanks to the ingenuity used for the creation of the clamping system so it doesn’t touch the painted surfaces of the bikes.
Though designed to fit a single bike, depending on the size of your vehicle’s roof, you might be able to carry more – the maximum weight being 18kg. In addition to all the advantages, this type of Yakima roof racks can be fitted on various vehicles which is perfect if you have more than one car you’d like to carry your bikes with since they’re suitable for use onto aerodynamic and factory fitted crossbars as much as square and round ones.
The Yakima Ridgeback, Doubledown, Full Swing and Hold Up Tray
Also known as the hitch mounted, these four are the types of racks that clip onto the hitch of the vehicles. Cleverly designed and made from sturdy steel with chip-resistant finish, these racks allows you to easily attach them to your vehicles without even requiring tools thanks to a speed-locking knob, and for your advantage the ridgeback comes with a fun feature on each arm – a bottle opener that comes in handy with post-ride drinks!
In terms of compactness, you can fold the support bars of the Yakima bike rack against the frame when not in use for space-savvy storage. When you’re using it and need to have easy access to the trunk, the top lever allows you to conveniently tilt the rack aside.
Depending on how many bikes you’d be carrying, there are designs that fit a single bike, two, or even up to four without the worry they’d be in contact during the drive as the sliding switchblade anti-sway technology for the cradles eliminates this. Though secured to the hitch, you’d need separate cable locks to secure the bikes to the racks. Should you look for the hitch mounted model that comes with built-in locks, then you could get the Yakima TwoTimer.
The Yakima BlockHead
If you own a truck, then you’re going to be needing one of these, the so-called truck bed racks. What’s amazing about this type of Yakima rack bike is the fact it’s also a bike carrier compatible with mounting on caravans, RVs as much as boats, and even your garage walls for safe-keeping of your bikes when not in use.
Made from aluminium, and coated against corrosion, it’s impressive with the small size and weight, though don’t let this fool you, it’s very durable and sturdy, fits virtually any bike and can hold it up safely and securely. Besides the direct bolting into the truck bed, you’d love the fact it’s got soft padding created to protect your vehicles’ paint job from scratches.
In case you’re looking for more securing, and are willing to pay for it, you should get the Yakima BlockHead with locking skewer and bolts. Their BikerBar that can fit two bikes is another option that’s especially great for pickups since it protects the back with the no-fuss design and quick-release levers that require no tools or drills.
The Yakima Fullback
Fit for a variety of vehicles, this type is part of the strap-style trunk-mounted racks that are secured with four straps to the tailgate or back window. As it fits the trunk, it’s designed to be used as a temporary solution, which is why it’s easily removable. If this is a problem, and you’re worried about the security of your bikes, it’s advisable to add SLS locking to secure both the racks to the vehicle and the bikes to the racks.
Available as 2 and 3 bike models, and created to be user-friendly, the adjustable zipstrips allow you to easily load and unload your bikes. Along with the handy padding added on the lower bar to protect your vehicle from damage, you can further enhance this by securing the bar with an extra strap to prevent it from swinging as you drive.
