Tech Week: New bike racks
This article originally appeared on Velo News
Kuat Piston SR
Kuat makes some of the sleekest bike racks available. Now the top tech in the brand's hitch racks is available in a roof option, the Piston SR. This durable Kashima coated all metal rack features hydro-pneumatic cradle arms that fold open with the touch of a button. And they never touch your bike frame when secured in place, just the tires, protecting expensive paint jobs. When not hauling a bike, the arms fold up neatly out of the way making this beautifully designed rack something you won't mind keeping on your car at all times.
It's rated for up to a 67-pound bike with a 55-inch wheelbase and up to 5-inch tires, so you can haul just about every bike in your stable with this rack. And to keep that bike safe, there is an integrated cable lock.
$449; kuat.com
Sender Ramps USA Van Stands
Van life is having a moment. What's better than hitting the open road with a mobile gear closet? Just one problem: you can't sleep on the side of the road with a bike strapped to the outside and expect it to still be there after months, or even a single day, on the road. Keeping it inside can also be a pain, but Sender Ramps USA Van Stands provide an easy way to keep your beloved two-wheeler close by and organized to boot with built in drawers.
The design is adjustable to fit a variety of tire widths, and doubles up as a bike stand in the parking lot while you prep for a ride. There are multiple options to fit everyone's needs. A two-bike version with drawers costs $550, while $650 gets you a three-bike version with drawers, and $1,100 gets a four-bike version with drawers. All options are available without drawers as well.
From $350; sender-rampsusa.com
North Shore Racks Road Bike Adapter
North Shore Racks makes great options for hauling mountain bikes. But if you also have a road bike, you've been out of luck for using the brand's racks. Not anymore. NSR's new road bike adapter slots into the front dropout of a road or gravel bike, both quick release and thru-axles, allowing a drop bar bike to work with the brand's whole line of mountain bike hitch racks. Each adapter is $75, and you can run multiple on each rack so long as you leave space between bikes to account for the drop bars.
$75; northshoreracks.com
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