Thule UpRide Roof Bike Rack

Convenient alternative since my truck doesn’t have a trailer hitch. First few time I used the bike rack it was a bit nerve wrecking but I have gained confidence in its performance so far. One thing I had to do was buy a step stool to help me reach the top of my truck to stand the bike upright and lock it in. Quality build with 2 ways to mount on cross bars. Just purchased a second rack.

I was surprised at the way the cross lock for the front wheel was secured. It had one tiny screw in it, which fell out. I re-drilled the hole and tapped it for a M6x1 bolt and then glued the locking piece to the support arm. If that screw is all that’s holding your $6K bike on the car, it’s a 2 minute process to take the scrw out and take tour bike.

I was a bit worried as to whether this would mount on a non-THULE roof rack, but this mounted well and securely to my BMW brand roof rack. It’s extraordinarily sturdy, holds the bike nicely without damaging the carbon frame, which was the reason I purchased this particular rack. It was easy to set up an install, and although as with any roof rack, it’s a bit more cumbersome to get the bike up there rather than a tail rack, for roof rack it’s pretty easy to use. As long as the bikes not too heavy. I certainly would not recommend it for an electric bike. I think it could handle the weight but I’m not sure you’d have any luck getting a 65 pound bike up there without a lot of help. I’d still be a bit nervous about having such a heavy bike up there anyway. It might be an expensive rack, but it’s amazingly well built and instills a sense of confidence when you have your bike up in such an exposed position.

Vehicle Make & Model
2015 VW Passat Sedan

Thule Purchases
Thule 710500 Roof Racks, Evo Clamp in Black
Thule Evo Clamp Fit Kit #145185
Thule Wingbar Evo 135 (53”) in Black
Thule UpRide Roof Bike Rack (Bought Two)

Installation
Hell for me, but not for my more patient, younger, less bitter and jilted brother. He made quick work of it and all I needed to do was walk out of the room before I threw the entire system through a window. The ease with which these Thule systems are assembled depends upon your disposition, not your IQ. I understood the videos on YouTube, for instance, far better than I did deciphering the cryptic diagrams in Thule’s accompanying documentation. Matter of fact, Thule – an organization that clearly comprises brilliant engineers – are either utterly ignoring the ocean of steady criticism their instructions get, or they are just completely disinterested in hearing it.

As mentioned, once this whiny visual learner took to YouTube, I understood the design, function and assembly instructions. I still had a calmer (never-married) person assemble it all however and it made the difference. He tells me that it was effortless assembling the fit kit to the feet and the feet to the car and the load bars to the feet and the bike and my kayak systems to the load bars. I strong recommend you watch a few videos and pause as you assemble. Using such visual aids made it easy(er).

Durability
Incredibly strong. I drove with my two bikes on the roof on a highway, but mind you, remained sensitive to the sub 80 MPH recommendations by Thule. Fact is, if you’re barreling down an interstate at 90 or more MPH, with your precious outdoor recreation equipment on your roof, you deserve what happens to your stuff. I’ve heard some rather predictable critiques of the ratchet strap portion of the UpRide system, but my experience is that these criticisms are without merit if you follow the instructions of experts. For instance, I drove my two bikes on my roof to my bike expert for tune-ups. While there, I asked about how tight to make the ratchet assembly and they warned against overtightening. Said them, “it’s for vertical stability upon stopping and going, not for holding the weight of the bike in place.” They went on to explain that the front holding assemblies are what keeps the bike secure, stable and safe. The ratchet strap is meant to prevent the bike’s rear from going up and/or down as the vehicle comes to a stop or accelerates.

Fit
I have two bikes: one’s a mountain, one’s a cross or hybrid. Each fits perfectly and is impossible to free from the car once properly arranged in the system. Cautionary note however: tires must be fully inflated, lest vertical or lateral movement occur because there is play between the assemblies designed to press down on your front wheel and the inflation of the tires. Said more plainly, if the tires don’t have air in them, you’re introducing variability to the height of the bike’s wheels, thus the slack you’ll be introducing to the assembly.

Summary
Buy it. Yes, you’ll need to sell your least cooperative child to afford it, but then, aren’t they not eating all their broccoli anyhow? Kidding aside, I love that the ONLY THING I’ll need to buy again is the fit kit and feet, because the bars, the bike and kayak systems will go on any car providing the load bar length isn’t too short for the width of your next roof.

Cumplió con las expectativas,
Llego a tiempo.