After buying a bike, you should think about transporting it. It’s lucky if it’s a compact folding bike or a children's three-wheeled monster, but what about big mountain two-suspensions or road specimens? The solution to this problem will be Thule Freeride 532.
What it is?
The bicycle rack is specifically designed to carry any type of bicycle on the roof of a car. Perfect for those who do not want to part with their two-wheeled pet, even on long trips, while not bothering with the installation of a two-wheeled vehicle.
The Thule Freeride 532 roof rack has a nice design and curved lever arches for greater streamlining. The design is made in a neutral silver color with black caps and moving parts. Such a coloring is suitable for cars of even the most interesting color and will not attract too much attention.
Characteristics
The trunk itself weighs a little, made of aluminum, steel mounts and plastic. The maximum bike weight is 17 kg. If you are the owner of a large two-suspension, be prepared for strange sounds on the roof during the trip. The size of the tires does not matter - the length of the strap is enough for road wheels and powerful fetbike tires.
Cycling Thule Freeride 532 has a built-in lock that closes on the lower tube of the bicycle frame, and a lock in the place where the trunk itself is attached to the car. Both locations use the same key. The bike will be reliably protected during the trip, in the local area and even during stops. But leave the bike on the roof of the car at night is still not worth it. Moreover, left on the street, it is not protected from rain and fog, and excess moisture inside the spare parts greatly damages the bike.
In case of losing the key, you can order the same at the Thule representative office using a unique serial number.
Compatibility
The mount is suitable for all vehicles that have roof rails and pre-installed transverse arches. If they are not included in the factory equipment, you can purchase this accessory separately. Although almost all family cars are immediately equipped with roof rails. The Thule Freeride 532 kit includes T-Track adapters (20x20 mm) for mounting the trunk on the transverse arches if their diameter exceeds the diameter of the mounting bracket for the trunk. The adapters are compatible with all arcs that support this standard, as well as all Thule products.
The installation of the trunk does not depend on the make of the car. You can attach it to even the old VW Polo, even to modern electric cars.
Assembly and installation process
The trunk is very easy to assemble and can be installed independently. To do this, you do not need to have serious knowledge of technology or bicycle mechanics. In the kit there is an instruction with detailed steps, and if this is not your first trunk at all, then there will be no problems with assembly. In some stores you can buy an already assembled model.
Thule Freeride 532 has one movable platform that can be set aside for any width for installation on transverse arches. It is fastened with a metal bracket with a lock and a latch in such a way that it is not able to break off or turn over under the weight of the bike.
The bicycle is held by one movable lever, which abuts against the lower tube of the frame and plastic straps clinging to the wheels. Do not worry about the integrity of the frame. The contact area is rubberized and is not able to harm either the paint, or the cables, or the hydraulic lines.
Opinions of people about the trunk Thule
Reviews about the Thule Freeride 532 bike carrier are almost completely positive. But there are those who are concerned about some things. The maximum permissible speed with a mounted bike is only 120 km / h. In the city this is not felt, but if you want to accelerate on a straight smooth road, do not forget about the bicycle on the roof. However, at this speed, the bike does not carry over the entire roof and is not blown away by the wind.
Throwing a bicycle on a car seems to be not quite an easy task, but over time you can get used to this. It will be easier if you bring the bike up with both wheels and, resting it in the trunk, lift it to the end. A more acute problem with lifting a bicycle can be felt by girls. Remember, most of the time about the car, you can get dirty or dirty with dirty tires. In any case, try not to lean on the machine while installing the bike.
Pros and cons of mounting
Like any thing, the Thule Freeride 523 bike carrier has both positive and negative qualities. The first include the following:
- High installation speed. No additional cables, ties, locks are required.
- Light weight of the trunk itself.
- Easy to use.
- It does not require preliminary dismantling of bicycles (removing wheels, turning the steering wheel).
- Easily dismantled without tools and can be removed even on the go.
A roof mount may not always be exactly what you need. It will definitely be inappropriate for SUVs and vans. The height of the roof mounted bike will become prohibitive. In this case, some arches of apartment buildings, low trees or wires can become a serious problem. Especially if the yard of your house has similar problems.
If your car has extremely strong roof rails, transverse arches and a roof, you can install as many bicycle racks as the width of the car allows. Usually these are just two mounts. For these situations, the Thule Freeride 532 Twin Pack is available. Two luggage carriers are included in the kit at a slightly lower price than buying separately. Sometimes you can find 3-5 bicycles in one passenger car.