The Stupidest Cycling Tech Of All Time + Our Funniest Crashes 😂 - The Wild Ones Podcast Ep59

[@datacurmudgeon]

Rear hitch mounted rack. Can be removed when you aren't using it.

[@zzhughesd]

Yeh. Agreed

[@NotDeadYetThanksForAsking]

Specifically one that can fold up when you don’t have bikes on it, IIRC the latest Thule one doesn’t. I’ve been using the Thule T2 Pro for 5+ years now and don’t have any complaints.

[@danieldelgado2066]

Id add getting a Kuat bike rack. They are foldable. When not in use

[@capt_darling9454]

Was just about to say this! Agreed... unless you have a VW transporter/combi/van... then you can just roll it inside

[@joshpearson2529]

Too add to this, you can also install a removable Tow Bar rather than a fixed one. When you’re not using a bike rack, you can remove both the rack and towbar so the car doesn’t look like it has one fitted at all. Also helps prevent smacking your shin on it when using the boot.

[@SlickWillyTFCF]

Hitch mounted racks are the best. They're secure, hold multiple bikes safely, don't harm the car in any way, and are easily removed when not in use.

[@jeffer9499]

I have a truck and thought tray style hitch racks where stupid when I first got into bikes. I mean.. Just throw them in the truck bed. I know have a 3 tray wheel clamp rack that goes on the back of my truck or car. basically my bike hauling devices had to get nicer as the bikes got nicer.

[@paulthomas9877]

yes i agree, there are also some which are foldable and easy to store when you don`t use it

[@izi941]

They can harm the carbon wheels tho. Had happened to 2 (separate) customers that the hot exhausts have “melted” the wheels. Manufacturers also warn about it.

[@SlickWillyTFCF]

@@izi941 if that's a worry, it's easy enough to take the wheels off and pack them inside the car.

[@SaintDudeGaming]

I absolutely love my Kuat Sherpa rack. You need to get a hitch for your vehicle but you can take it on and off very easily. It's also very friendly when it comes to load and unload your bikes.

[@tylerschettler511]

Can we get a James Hoffmann/Cade Media crossover?? Surely, James can make a cup of coffee good enough to satisfy Jimmi & Emily!

[@jurcsi]

yes please

[@simonlynch4204]

Heck yes!!!!!!!

[@Gixer750pilot]

Since that backpack 🎒 launched. The Jumbo Visma helmet just breathed a sigh of relief 😮‍💨

[@PaulTheCyclist.]

🤣

[@dcv9460]

@Jimmy - the coffee that tastes like ash is: bad beans + bad barista + bad preparation. 💯 You should try a cafe that "cares" more about how they source, make and prepare their coffee. You will be pleasantly surprised at how good and delicate and enjoyable it will taste. 👍😎

[@Jonbsp]

Middle of the night here watching in hospital after getting cleaned up by a car on a roundabout. Crashing sucks, but it’s worse when you weren’t at fault. New bike is totaled and my knee is banged up. But came of it without any busted bones. Thanks for the entertainment. You guys are great.

[@travelersimports6915]

I am sorry. I feel for you, It sucks. Wish you quick recovery. I hope the driver will be able to compensate for the damages. Sometimes it just happens, but try to never give a driver an opportunity to hurt you. Never trust them and report when you see :)

[@Jonbsp]

@@travelersimports6915 yep that’s it. Driver has been charged by police

[@billincolumbia]

heal well, bruv.

[@AwwSweet]

Get well soon! Bikes are just things. Happy, that You haven't broken any bone.

[@Jonbsp]

@@AwwSweet thank you. Crazy lucky.

[@nightfox9]

I’ll throw my vote in for the 1up Quick Rack. It’s rear mounted so you’ll need a hitch on your car, and it’s definitely not cheap, but it is by far the most durable and easy to use bike rack you can get. All aluminum so it doesn’t rust, no plastic bits to brake, and modular so you can add up to four bikes to it. For me the downside of keeping the rear rack on all the time is totally negated by being able to throw any bike I own on it in about 20 seconds flat. As a bonus, 1up is a pretty cool company that does almost no marketing, they’re successful purely because their racks are the best in the biz. Cheers from Pennsylvania, love the podcast!

[@ish474]

Love my 1up rack. I only need a single most of the time but I have the add on for when I need it. I'm also in Pa

[@jonkepko9217]

I just got that for my mountain bikes and have been using Seasucker for my road bikes.

[@L0ck5m1th]

Have you seen european hitches? On passenger cars it's always just the ball, not the tube style.

[@stevemendlik2033]

I love my 1up too. I bought the wall mount which conveniently stores the rack when it's not on your car so it's out of the way. Expensive but the modularity and quality make it a sound investment.

[@simiewimie]

I use a SeaSucker on my BMW coupe and have done a few 1000 mile round trips to France with no problems at all. I think the key is to make sure the roof is clean, free of dirt and dust before attaching the suckers. Can’t fault it. I even had the cheaper copy (Rockbros) before it and never had a problem with that either. 👍🏼

[@ZenEndurance]

Only problem is you can't lock it without a wholly separate cable and locking point. I have a SeaSucker as well and use my rear rack way more often.

[@gregor9921]

For storing bikes, bike racks for the trailer mount can usually fold downwards so you can still access the back while the bikes are mounted. Otherwise there's loads of tutorials on KZbin how to store bikes properly in cars, usually just taking off the front wheela and using blankets to cover it, quick and easy

[@willfitzpatrick6922]

Jimmy - get a little van. 2½ seater and Transit Connect/Berlingo etc. size if you have parking issues. If not, a Full 3 seater like Transit Custom/Transporter. There's an in between like Expert/Scudo etc. But where the twin seat are "full" size but overall the cab is more cramped than Custom/Transporter. Anyway all the room you need for bikes and gear/recording equipment and you can still carry someone. Way better than a car!

[@matthewlewis2072]

Vans in the UK are amazingly expensive for what you get. Genuinely cheaper to get a car.

[@jon65160]

On the subject of funny crashes. I was cycling in a bike lane in London and came up to the traffic lights which were red. I stopped (I’ve promised my mother that I will always stop at the lights) and rather than unclipping I leant on one of the bollards that separates the bike lane from the cars. Unfortunately the bollard was a flexible plastic jobbie and I keeled over onto the road in a very uncoordinated lump. The cabbie who was in the next lane wound down his window and through his almost hysterical laughter informed me that he hated cyclists but that I’d made his day and invited me to do a repeat performance at the next set of lights. Fyi. I was laughing too.

[@ianllewelyn]

Ive done that too.. just managed to bounce back upright

[@tonypaddler]

A taxi driver obviously not realising that he is one of most hated and arrogant drivers in the UK ... 🙄 🤣

[@agricola9171]

Taxi may hate cyclists, but he is a terrible person too because he should ask if you are ok.

[@electricmodernist]

The RAF air backpack would be perfect for the indoor trainer.

[@ToeKneeBee725]

ROTFL

[@Ronald-qj5nx]

SeaSuckers and similar, make sure that you wipe the surface properly clean before attaching the suckers, even a small bit of dust can result in it coming loose

[@bleckandbleck]

Craziest crash for me. I was in a crit coming into the final turn fifth position I put about 1400w down on the pedal and boom! I split the Time Expresso6 pedal body. Both feet came out of the pedals. Suddenly I’m sliding of both feet while straddling the top tube at 45-50kph on a bridge out of control toward the concrete rail 20 ft above a shallow river. I forced the bike to the ground and scraped the lenses of my glasses, edge of helmet and shoulder on the pavement. The worst injury was a deep bruise to my sternum from landing my chest on the top cap. For years I relived that crash in my dreams. The best fantasy was a handspring over the rail into a somersault and landing of my back. A dive finish would have resulted in hitting bottom.

[@Cloxxki]

Around the year 2000 I turned a 26" bike into a cycle-cross bike, rode it in the Dutch Nationals (Elite) against De Knegt and Groenendaal. Straight bar cut to 500mm as well. It went bad with not having a spare bike in the best pitlane and the brake boosters clogging the frame with thaw mud QUICK. The bike rode really well apart from the super high bottom bracket. With super long cranks (I have the legs for it) that could have been negated. I came 16th or 18th that year. Made 140 Guilders which was A LOT of prize money back in the day.

[@aerogut2338]

Thanks to Jimmy for mentioning the psychological trauma from crashing via a snapped chain. I had a similar (no where near as bad) incident. Bottom of a steep descent straight into a hairpin climb so I shifted quickly into my little ring and smashed the power down, only for my chain to come off. I hit my stem with such force I ended up unclipping on both pedals. Luckily I stayed upright. However, since this happened (June 2024) I haven’t been able to be explosive up climbs, or on sprints, because in the back of my mind I’m always thinking of the chain coming off. It might be interesting to see what the pros do to combat this. Or if a sports psychologist could explain methods they’d use to help someone get over the trauma.

[@thepoohdotchannel5367]

Jimmy's conundrum: I've had rear-mounted hitch racks that work quite well (Thule being the best, IMO). They are heavy, so getting one with a swingarm to clear the bike out of the way as you lift the tailgate is good. The only problem with that is that you need loads of clearance behind the car. I also want you to know that I used SeaSuckers for two weeks during an event in the Pyrenees, in all weather. They were amazing. The hardest part of it is just letting go and trusting the technology. When you don't need them, you stow them in a box and you're done. You guys might want to do an episode on them. They really work.

[@Joseph32363]

Crosswinds going to be absolutely wild with that backpack

[@barryg3128]

Recent convert to Seasucker roof rack. Absolutely fantastic and really easy to fit and removes in seconds

[@ashleypaice]

I have a rear hitch Thule bike rack that is very easy to attach/detach and folds up when not in use. This was a huge improvement over having the bikes on the roof.

[@michaelmclaughlin2361]

I love my seasucker, i use the 1 bike version with two of the suction cups on the front windscreen so i can see if it's still stuck down.

[@BenLowery]

Hitch / tow rack, all day. I love the one from 1up, but there are a bunch of great ones out there.

[@izi941]

With the rear hitch rack you need to be careful with carbon rims..it’s known for the exhaust to melt the wheels!! Choose one that elevates the bike high enough…

[@bleckandbleck]

I’ve used the Sea Sucker for 4 years. It works great and I’ve never had it loosen up. Max drive was 500km at 120kph (300mi 75mph). Key to success is very clean car and cups. Keep a damp microfiber cloth on hand. Another bonus is if you take a bike by air travel, you can bring a car rack too by just sticking it in the bike bag. BTW the cups were developed to help move large panes of glass in construction.

[@DSam-de1fr]

Dismount both wheels, add a thick towel on the trunk/boot, place the frame on it, add another towel on top of your frame and add both wheels on it. Depending on the car, everything fits without lowering the back seats. Going on vacation? add a roof rack attached with straps which can easily be remouved for additional baggage space.

[@p37er79]

Saris Bone series are great - get them on and off the car in under 5 mins

[@darrenhitchcox6345]

Car advice. Jimmy, I have a Honda Civic Tourer (estate) and can fit 3 bikes inside. 2 in the boot and using Honda's magic seats, the rear seat bases fold up to make a large carry void in the rear which will take another bike. I was so impressed that one my last one died, I got another. Road tax is £20 for the diesel one to

[@Livi70590]

Yeah, it's crazy just how practical those are.

[@bigbadbou]

I have a five door hatch and simply remove the front wheel and put it in the back with the back seats lowered. You can still put a lot of stuff around the bike if you're going out for a while. Soft luggage ideally

[@nkantar]

I have a SeaSucker and absolutely love it. It carries my 56cm Trek Checkpoint SL 5 with some stuff mounted on it just fine at 90 mph (allegedly). It’s a great portable option, but removable rear hitch racks are probably nicer in just about every way. I’m a very infrequent user, so the SeaSucker works for me.

[@PinkAsAPistol]

Funniest crash I've had: My mountain bike was stolen at about 2016 and I only managed to replace it last year. So the new one arrives and I'm assembling stuff, thinking how wrong it looks without a single battle scar. The bike is finished and I'm off to the closest forest. At some point I'm starting to get used to mountain biking again and I take a descend through a trail I knew, only it's been years since the last time I was there and the forest seems to have finally recovered from a fire in the 90's, with more and taller trees etc. I approach a corner where there was a jump right after the exit, not a huge deal, but completely blind so you had to know about it and commit to it before actually seeing it. I decide to take the corner fast and jump and as I finally view the landing spot, I find out that there has been an important change; there's a pretty wide bush where I was expecting to land and I'm already in the air, so there's nothing I can do. I kind of let the bike go and take a dive into the bush like a cartoon, with hands and feet dangling in the air instead of reaching the ground. Plus the bush made wild blackberries, so on the one hand I have thorn scratches from hands to face and on the other I'm picking blackberries to bring home.

[@larrybarnette884]

I use a Sea Sucker and love it. Our A-4 Allroad has a panoramic sunroof and actually have to stick half of the suction cups to glass and have had zero issues over thousands of miles.

[@michaelarnold1150]

I love my sea sucker. I've been using them for years. I've driven across the United States multiple times and never had an issue. For me it was much cheaper than getting two racks (one for each car since one roof rack wouldn't work for both), or getting one hitch mount rack and installing hitches in each car. It really is a great system. And since I also had to get a new car as one of ours also decided it had worked long enough. The Sea Sucker works without any fuss.

[@JimSmithPNW]

I have a Subaru Outback -- fold down the seats and the bike slides in without taking a wheel off. Great for just me.

[@CycletheNation]

Just as a note, from experience as a cycling Guinness World Record holder (and going for another next year) - the amount of stipulations you have to stick to, and rules you have to abide by in order to set a record is huge, to satisfy Guinness themselves. Not only that, but the evidence required is a whole logistical problem on it's own. The riding itself is the 'easy(!)' bit. Plotting the route alone for my 1142 miles (in 8 days) around England took weeks, making sure I'd gone through exact places, ensuring that the route wasn't restricted, and of course, there's always issues such as roadblocks and diversions to contend with. On top of all of this, the planning for the logistics takes an enormous effort, and that alone (paired with the need to work and train) is mentally taxing too.

[@awesomedawson1150]

I have a fork mount on a piece of plywood and I put the rear seats down and put my bike in, that works really well for me

[@iunnra1s]

Have both a roof rack for the little commuter car and a hitch rack for the family car. 100% a fan of the tray style hitch mount. Easy to mount to the car, easy to deal with the bikes. Nice and secure for long distances (500+ miles) as well. I hate dealing with the roof rack. Pain to install/remove, total pita to take off the front wheel, mount the bike on the rack and reverse later. Lots of wind noise on the highway.

[@obfuscurity]

I had a massive head-over-wheel crash on pavement when I was a kid, losing a sizeable chunk of "knee meat" and numerous stiches. This has stuck with me to this day, decades later, leaving me still super uncomfortable with downhill rides at high speeds (40kph+).

[@MarcKaplan-y1n]

Just getting around to watching this. The Kuat Sherpa is light yet sturdy, easy to install and remove when you're not transporting bikes. You need to have a hitch with a 2 inch receiver. Overall a good investment.

[@peterwheatley5916]

Hey Jimmi, I have a Kupper Mount for mounting my Madone to the roof of my ford focus. Sits in a case in the boot, takes 5 mins to put on and take off. Magic 👌🏼

[@RichardHammondMTB]

I have used a fake seasucker for several years and then got the legit seasucker rack too. They're a really convenient solution for occasional use, perfect for rental cars too! Regarding they security I had no issues using it year around in Canada including the winter. Just have to be sure to clean the surface as dust will prevent it holding securely.

[@leonmarshall4383]

I could be wrong, but It looks like the RAF 1 has air scoops at waist height to fill it up when you're moving, from looking your other photos from the website. So the scoops will slow you down 😅.

[@johnnunn8688]

Exactly.

[@KriegKadaver]

Jimmi, ideally you'd get a van, like volkswagen multivan or ford transit custom. Bikes are always secure, and on the inside (no weather variables!), and the fuel economy on those vans isn't much higher than on passenger cars (unless full econoboxes are used for comparison). Otherwise, as many have already suggested - there are bike racks that mount on the tow hitch. This is the best one I've seen used. Also, RIP your poor duster.

[@Jinedan]

Hitch rack - velocirax. Put it in the shed with the included wall mount as a nice indoor bike rack when not in use. I love mine (6 bikes)

[@Whatsthepointingoats]

Ed pratts series was the best around the world series i've seen. And on a unicycle!

[@topaz_climber]

My Skoda Yeti is awesome for carrying my bikes. Remove the rear seat or seats, remove front wheel, put bike in vertically, with handlebars gripping the shoulder of the front seats (I use a couple of voile straps to secure to the front headrest). Bob’s your uncle. Love my Yeti.

[@PTL2502]

I’ve had a SeaSucker-like (Rassine) bike rack for years now on my cars. I put it on sports cars (Lotus/Porsche) and drove them without any problem at various speeds and roads. The only time my bike fell was when I failed to tighten my skewers, so no fault of the system itself. 100% recommand..

[@alecsadewhite6994]

Depends a lot on your car, but I think rear seat folded down, front wheel off, drivetrain up, front wheel on top in a wheel bag if you really care. It's pretty gentle on the car and if you really care a blanket or some kind of tarp will keep the trunk clean. Only issue I've found is that with mechanical shifting bikes, this can put some strain on the down tube cable stops so make sure you don't trim your housing too short.

[@michaelfleming4015]

Two things, John Tomac used drop bars on his mtb years ago and ride whatever bike you want for the riding you want to do. Using a gravel bike for cross is fine, but remember your restricted to 33mm tires (UCI). Finally please note that the Around the World and the Olympic Road Gold (and Team Pursuit) were both done by Alaskan ladies. Shout out to Alaskan Ladies!

[@davewright8206]

the reason i watch you lot is cause you understand (well better than most ) the value of money get somebody else to bring your bikes

[@DavidPatrick-f1u]

Hi Jimmy, I use a RockBros Roof sucker system (2 bike version). I have taken 2 bikes to France recently and regularly travel to Cornwall with them (180 miles). It has worked extremely well and I have had no issues to date. You just ned to check the suction every 2 hours and drive a little slower (I stuck to 70 as a max limit).

[@konfukuzawa]

Thanks for putting out such an entertaining episode, cheers!

[@wstcst_]

The Kuat Sherpa 2.0 is great for road and gravel bikes. I have a Kuat Piston Pro X and it’s amazing, but overkill for most people. Not a fan or Saris or Thule for hitch racks. 1up is good too, but it’s direct to consumer.

[@stephanrossel5905]

On one bike ride, a peddle broke off and I since have some fear going out of the saddle to sprint. Was just an old pair of peddles and I did not even really crash but the fear remains. So I definitely feel you.

[@oheso]

Jimi's tale reminds me of my first Tour de Tohoku in 2018 where there was sooooo much climbing (I'm not a climber) that at one point they send the medical van back to see if I was OK. I was fine ... just taking my time up the mountain, pausing for a lot of breaks, walking some of it, riding some of it. I finished.

[@ifanhua1781]

Back mountes on car > Top mounts. No fear of overpass heights, or forgetting that you have you bikes up there.💥🚲

[@Ianjeffery2500]

Transport your bikes. Take the wheels off, put them in wheel bags. Frames in the car and a Morgan Blue chain tensioner to keep the chain tight. Go to a charity shop and get a load of bath towels then use those to cover your car and the bikes with the wheel bags on the top of the bikes.

[@daboo2]

Quikr Stuff hitch-mounted racks are great. They can be put on/taken off in ~1 minute & racks folds up really small for storage.

[@dsa5394]

Wind tunnel should also include what happens when you encounter a sidewind. That would be fun and more realistic.

[@MacMasore]

59:35 well I think you’re wrong about that Francis most cyclocross pros do indeed still ride cyclocross bikes. Maybe in lower categories, but for example Pinarello an Cervelo specially made cyclocross bikes for their pro riders (Pidcock and Van Aert respectively)

[@splashpit]

I have an Alan 30+ years old if anything happened to it I’d get the same but there are plenty of options like a Merckx ,cannondale ,bianchi , and many more.

[@dawsonharris5498]

Rode a mountain/gravel race two weeks ago. Was flying in the singletrack when my front wheel hit some soft sand perfectly and I got yeeted over the handlebars. Shattered my collar bone but hey, it's just an early off season.

[@timosborne5282]

Hitch mount rack for sure, specifically the kind that grabs the wheels and not the frame. I’m partial to the Thule T2 Pro XTR and the Kuat Piston Pro.

[@fredfirth3834]

American here - I do like tea and drink a decent amount, but not as much as I drink coffee. As for the kettle, we've had one for over 20 years. I do agree about the voltage/plug thing. England is superior for sure. We did get an induction range recently, though, and you can use it to boil water so much quicker than the kettle!

[@johnthefarmer]

One of the funniest crashes for me involved a good friend of mine whilst pedalling the Chevy Chase audax in Northumberland a few years back. Not known for his descending skills, he lost it on a steep hill with a sharp corner at the bottom and ended up, out of control, at high speed, ploughing through a six foot high bed of stinging nettles for about thirty feet. Fair play to him for staying upright but I nearly wet myself laughing... 😂

[@hightechhighlander]

I love that you guys like Queens of the Stone Age. Song for the Dead from the album Songs for the Deaf, produced by Adam Kasper hence the cleanliness of that album in particular.

[@stevenhilbert4351]

Tow bar bike rack, had mine for years ,great and folds up for storage. The brand is Atera and will carry 3 bikes even quite heavy mountain bike with no issues.

[@elononoras1902]

Most 7 seaters fit whole bike without issues. My VW Sharan fits 3 bikes, with front wheels removed. And in this arrangement is still has 4 seats.

[@satbythesea]

+1 for seasucker - used them a lot for up to 11kg - never a problem on motorways, rough tracks, etc.

[@DelTacoBueno]

Sea Sucker Talon no question. Very little space needed to store in the trunk and then you’ll always have it when you need it… takes a minute to install and looks aesthetic af with a bike on it

[@brianridley1102]

I use a rear mounted unit that lifts on to your tow bar which folds out of the way when not in use, with an Atera cycle mount unit for two bikes. Super secure and takes very little time to set up. Downside, you do.need storage for a chunky unit when it's off the car. Not cheap, but good quality roof mounts aren't either!

[@dtolios]

Hitch mount rack 100%. I have a Kuat Transfer V2 for 3 bikes to cover the fam. Rack is secure, doesn't touch the bike frames and bikes have almost no chance of touching the car.

[@seanwahl2174]

Hitch mounted bike rack. Yes you have to store it but you can purchase a mount for it that attaches to the wall. You can store the rack on the wall out of the way which can also serve as a bike rack while being stored.

[@ncc1107]

I had a bike rack that attached to either the rear hatch/sedan trunk lid. It was easy to put on and take off, and I never had any issues with scratches.

[@Chris-l1b8d]

I’ve used a sea sucker for trips from London across to france on both ferry and eurotunnel on a few occasions and had no issues. Just keep the sea suckers clean, give the roof a clean and don’t exceed the specifications for using them and don’t exceed the speeds specified and it’ll be fine. Alternatively a tow bar and rack, either way you’ll have to store it somewhere. Just don’t go budget 👍

[@jimbrooks9470]

As so many have already said, a hitch-mounted rack is the way to go. Depending on what you get, the hitch receiver will tuck under the rear bumper and hardly be noticeable. Make certain to get a rack, though, that holds the bike(s) in the rack by the wheels.

[@bruinphotography]

If you can get a detachable tow bar for your car then tow mounted carrier is amazing. Easy to fit and remove. And really easy to load bike. Only takes seconds to fit and remove.

[@johnnunn8688]

I am the John that had the rotors changed by the shop that didn’t have a micrometer. A vernier wouldn’t work because the lack of wear on the periphery of the rotor would make that impossible. One could use a height gauge to figure out the thickness using plasticine or similar, then doing the math…..s but they won’t have that either. The rotors have a minimum thickness marked on them. Needless to say, I won’t be going there again.

[@para142]

Buzzrack Buffallo 4 Bike Ball Hitch I did a lot of research settled on the Buzzrack, solid rack easy install, lockable , fold down for boot access, can highly recommend

[@pscoop]

If your new car has a tow bar, or can get one fitted, then a tow bar rack is my recommendation. Typically they fold up so don't take up too much space. Get one that can rotate down with bikes loaded to allow you to get into the boot.

[@allchangepersonaltraining8411]

Lael did a supported circumnavigation where jenny did an unsupported circumnavigation which adds another level of complication so jennys record still stands as the fastest female unsupported ride etc. both phenomenal women. Just phenomenal.

[@mickp3000]

Thule tow-bar mounted rack would be my recommendation... not cheap but rock solid, dead simple to attach/remove, fold to a reasonable size so you can unload the bike and chuck the rack in the boot while you ride

[@alasdairgillies6808]

I use a suction rack for my Lotus sport car. I use it to drop my car off for servicing and cycle home. I have no issues with its efficacy.. I think the issue would be its genuine ability to damage what it’s sucked too. Make sure the surface is clean and the suction cup racks are fine in my experience.

[@hotclubsrq]

SeaSucker for the win! An authentic small business in my home town that goes out of their way to assure confidence, quality and innovation! Worth every penny or pound in your case😊

[@maciej_ma]

Bike rack on a hitch is what I use. A cheap one right now, but I'd like to change to Spinder TX2, because Thule Epos is crazy expensive. They are foldable and easy to carry

[@kevinmcgrath5126]

Hitch racks are the way to go - secure, relatively easy to pop on and off. I have to remove ours about a dozen times a year. Kuat make some nice ones with integrated lights. OneUP is a popular brand with gravel folks in the US. THULE also make some solid ones.

[@RhettShull]

Hitch mounted rack is the only way to go, I’ve got a Kuat that’s been great

[@simonwoodthrillerwriter]

Regarding bike racks. I use a Saris bike hatch/boot rack. It's simple and adjustable. However, I do have a cut price solution. My wife has a Honda CRV and I take the front wheels off our bikes, drop the seats, put the bikes in upright and keep the bikes tethered in place with a strip of velcro looped around the downtube then through backseat brackets. The bikes don't move and there's room for kit and tools in the space between the seats. Regarding kettles in the US. I moved to the US 26yrs ago and finding a quality kettle here is like searching for the Ark of the Covenant.

[@matthewbasile9417]

To bridge two segments, I had my first major crash last year. In a gravel race I broke a collar bone, shoulder blade, and three ribs. It took hours to get back to the start of the event and another 2.5 hours to get home. I didn't get to the ER (A&E for y'all in the UK) until the early evening, so I missed seeing Dave Grohl/the Foo Fighters at ACL (music festival), which I had a free wristband to.

[@SARGEinc]

I'm currently living the vanlife with a hitch mounted bike rack carrying an early 2000s mountain bike. The rack works good, but my bike has undoubtedly gotten beat up pretty bad. The top tube has rub marks where it sits on the rack. And the the amount of dirt and water that has been sprayed on my bike has done a real number on the bike. It's gotten rusty on some parts, and the amount of dirt that has collected on the oily chain has been insane. It's been on the back of my van for almost 2 months now, so maybe that's more the problem, but being right behind the vehicle puts it right in line to be constantly bombarded by my road spray, which I don't think is ideal. Ultimately, that's why I'm carrying a crappy bike around with me.

[@adventure_scapes5039]

I drive a sedan and I just remove the bike wheels and drop one of the rear seats down.. fits in the trunk with moving blankets as cushions can fit 3 max if you remove seatposts as well

[@maxlloyd3740]

Funny you mention mouthguards. I went into the back of someone who had parked inappropriate after a busy roundabout. My face went into my handlebars and broke my frame. A few smashed teeth but no broken bones. My partner works at a dentist and said you should wear a mouthguard! Still haven't but could be useful when you think about it!

[@teunluijbregts2533]

Most important: inner tubes. Tie it down with those. Second important: bed sheets to protect it. Optional: get a Station wagon, like a Volvo 850 or a Mercedes 300E. They’re cheap to run and you only need some old bed sheets when transporting multiple ones. Or just take the wheels out, use the bed sheets to cover the bike and put it on the back seat.

[@treefrog2727]

Rear hitch is the best way I’ve found. I used to rave about seasuckers until the bikes fell off cracking the frames. It only has to fail once and the probability seasucker failing is much higher than any other of the other more secure racks…. Just my opinion

[@jasonbanales4447]

I have a legit seasucker and LOVE IT! It actually came from the sea... like the ocean. They make a bunch of boat products. I still love mine and no problems! I put my Orbea on my 370z!

[@daredemontriple6]

Funniest crash story: I'm sure most people are familiar with the hilariously cartoonish 'walk into a lamp post or a bollard' routine. You know when you're too distracted talking to your mate that you walk right into a pole. Well i managed the cycling equivalent in Ireland once. Was cycling down a country lane with a few friends, one of whom was a novice and was asking us all for advice and tips and such. I got carried away talking to them about keeping your wits about you, looking down the road not just at your mate's back or at your own feet, trying to spot things like potholes and manholes before you hit them. Well our little chit chat was enough distraction for me to be totally oblivious of having entered a small town, promptly found a gully with my front wheel, bike stopped dead and I did a somersault over the bars! Many laughs were had after they'd checked I was alright. I hadn't broken anything other than the bike which now had a bent wheel. I went into the nearest pub and had a Guinness (like you'd give a toddler a lollypop for not crying after a trip) and waited there with my bike until the guys got home, and one of them could drive back to the village and rescue me. Luckily the wheel wasn't a total write off, just a bit out of shape, and I got it trued up by a very helpful bike shop, which meant I could continue riding for the rest of the holiday. As you might imagine, the entire rest of that trip whenever a gully was spotted there were loud cries of "Gully" and "Watch out for that drain" and "There's a drain coming up mate be careful".

[@cyclingcalifornia510]

For the scaphoid fracture, you may want to get follow up, MRI. If it still hurts you could develop something called DISI and need a wrist fusion. Just had to let you know because love your show and don't want to see you have to stop cycling because of wrist fusion. Oh, and I vote for a hitch mount rack that can come on and off such as kuat sherpa.

[@AquidoSquido]

Towbar rack is the best, I use roofrack but hate it due to air noise and bad fuel economy

[@alynlambert4855]

I've been using a tow bar mounted 4 bike rack for years. Started out withe cheap Halfords job then upgraded to Thule. Storage of the rack is a slight pain as the 4 bike rack is big'ish, BUT they do folding up 2 and 3 bike versions which are way smaller. Also you don't have to worry about height barriers and multi-storey carparks as it's on the back. Plus better than the roof for fuel economy. Hope that helps. Or buy a van! :)

[@TheoHiggins-w5o]

Rear mount hitch… if that’s too bulky, seasuckers. I have two pairs and love them. Used them for short trips, 300+ mile trips no issues at all.

[@Projectioncloud]

Thule Velocompact ís really amazing. It even pivots to let you get into the trunk even when bikes are mounted. Sure it takes some space, but it’s really stable and space efficient!

[@adamsibbald1163]

Not cheap but the towbar mounted Thule EPOS is really good, compact when stored in its bag, very neat design !

[@MichaelSmith-fn1ci]

I’ve always used a tow bar and bike rack…doesn’t damage your car and completely removable when not required.