Atera Giro Af - Roof mounted bike carrier - How to fit to Aero roof bars

Click here www.roofbox.co.uk/bike-carriers/ to view our full range of bike carriers.
To demonstrate the fitting process we have filmed using one of our car roof demonstration stands. Obviously there is a difference in height but it is actually easier fitting to the roof of a vehicle than to this stand, as long as you follow the instructional information provided.
Straight out of the box the wheel holders aren’t attached to the carrier. Loosen the main wing nut and restraining nut on both wheel holders and slide them onto the wheel tray making sure to follow the same orientation as the fitting instructions for both.
Now fit the end cap that comes with the fitting kit (092441). This usually takes a few short sharp taps with the palm of your hand to fit in the end of the wheel tray. Alternatively you can use a plastic mallet to gently tap the end cap into place
To fit the Atera giro AF to aero roof bars, you will need to use the three T-track bolts (093566) provided with the fitting kit as well as the three small springs (092451) and three washers (087582) instead of the steel roof bar brackets (093797).
It is easier to loosely attach the T-track fittings to the bike carrier before fitting to the roof bars. To do this, place the springs onto the T-track bolts and then place the washers on top of the springs. Insert two of these into the central hole on either side of the base plate for the A-frame. Then attach two plastic handles to each bolt, one of which will have a lock built in. Make sure to attach the handle with the lock to the outer edge of your vehicle, to make locking the carrier easier once fitted.
Then take the remaining T-track bolt, spring and washer and insert into the central hole of the sliding base plate. Attach the remaining plastic handle and remember to keep all three loose for now.
Remove or open the end cap covers of your roof bars and slide the T-track bolts into the top slot of the roof bars (T-track slot). In the video above we have demonstrated this on a demo stand but it’s actually easier to do this on a set of roof bars fitted to a car because you can see the T-track slot clearly.
Once on the roof bars, slide the carrier into position. If you are mounting just one bike its usually easier to keep the bike to the edges of the roof to make it easier for loading and unloading your bike.
Once in position, tighten the locking plastic handle and T-track bolt hand tight (5NM). Then unlock the handle and push down. The lock barrel should engage the hole in the base plate allowing the handle to sit flush to the base plate. Lock this handle and remove the keys. Now tighten the other two locking plastic handles and T-track bolts hand tight making sure the plastic handles sit flat and flush to the base plates.
Now lift the A-frame to a 45 degree angle and it should hold itself in that position. If not, use the 4mm allen key provided and make a slight tightening adjustment to both bolts at the base of the A-frame (087836). This may be required after frequent use over a long period of time.
Unlock the ratchet strap on each wheel holder and clip into each of the holding slots. Keep both wheel holders relatively central because these can be slid into place once the bike is attached.
Take the keys and unlock the A-frame. Open the A-frame clamping handle by twisting 3-4 turns and pull down all the way. Let go and the clamping handle should stay in that position.
Now lift your bike and place on the carrier. We suggest lifting with one hand on the main frame and the other on one of the front forks. Always remember to bend your knees when lifting to avoid injuring your back. When lifting onto a car roof, it can be easier to lift the bike to a horizontal position to engage both bike wheels into the wheel tray, its then just a matter of pushing the bike into the vertical position which can be easier than going straight for the vertical position, it all depends on what you are comfortable with.
Now sit the main frame of your bike into the top of the Giro’s A-frame. Keeping one hand on the bike use the other hand to close the clamping handle by twisting 3-4 turns in the opposite direction too before. Once you have checked that the clamping handle is secure around the bike frame, you can lock the handle and let go of the bike.
With the wheel holders still loose, you can now slide these into place flush against each wheel. Once in place, tighten both wheel holder wing nuts until hand tight (5NM) and attach the wheel strap around the wheel and into the ratchet clip.
The carrier is now ready to use.
Please make sure that before every journey to check all fixings are secure before setting off.
the Giro AF fits oval down tubes from 80mm to 100mm, and round tubes from 22mm to 80mm diameter.
This video is not a substitute for the manufacturers instructions included within this product.

[@spezialigor]

Thank you for the video. I only have the fixation for the square pipe and did not know how to mount it on an aluminum pipe with T-slot. Now I know it and can order the right spare parts.

[@roofboxcompany]

No problems! glad the video was of use to you. If you need to order any spare parts click this link www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4.php?query=AR2220 and it will take you straight to the Atera Giro Af product page. We have just added an exploded parts diagram to the spare parts tab.

[@nicoteen9407]

I'm a fan of Atera stuff - I have their Strada Sport towball-mounted bike carrier, and I'm used to the blocks etc., and now I have some Giro-AF+ carriers, too. Query re putting these carriers on aero bars, though: The kit includes the T-track bolts, and once I've finallised the position of the carriers on the aero bars, is it just a case of drilling holes for the top grip strip so just the thread of the T-track bolts poke through? Thanks.

[@roofboxcompany]

Hi there and thanks for commenting! There is no need for any drilling. At 1.53-2.42 of the video it shows how the T-track bolts are fitted and secured. We hope this helps!

[@nicoteen9407]

no no you misunderstand me... the fitting of the carriers is fine. What I meant was these aero bar comes with a grip strip which fit on top. Yes? If the grip strip gets put in place after the position for the t-track bolts is decided, does it (a) get cut up into bits, or (b) have holes drilled along its length for the thread of the t-track bolt popping through? Or (c) do folks just not bother with the grip strip at all? I imagine with ioption (c) you'd end up with more wind noise at speed...

[@roofboxcompany]

Agh ok, we gotcha! the rubber strip can just be cut to fit around your racks. Most people will fit the rubber strip to prevent any possible whistling noise.

[@nicoteen9407]

Brilliant! I just bought a trailer which takes my aero bars mounted 850mm apart, so the bikes are on its roof now - it feels much more stable, towing the trailer loaded up with camping stuff and bikes on the trailer roof has proved more fuel efficient than with the bikes on the roof of our MPV, is less of a height issue on ferries/Eurotunnel, and no more whistling! One more Query, though... The bike in your clip is a chunky-tyred MTB. We have some too, but mostly use a quartet of road bikes with much more skinny wheels & tyres. The straps on the wheel restraints are very long, no biggie. But at the front, pulling the strap taut to secure the front wheel leaves a lot of it poking out underneath, and it fouls against the mounting plate at the bottom of the A-frame. And these straps aren't that bendy. I don't want to trim the ends of the straps in case we use MTBs as well, but no matter how much I play with the setup I can't get the wheel restraint slightly forward of the A-frame mounting plate to allow the strap to pull through. How far forward can I safely move the A-frame in the support tray? Am wondering perhaps whether I should have bought a quartet of Yakima Front Loaders or Inno instead...

[@roofboxcompany]

Sorry to hear you are having issues with the wheel straps. Atera recommend approximately 270mm from the end of the wheel tray to the centre of the A-frame base plate