Bike carriers for the mk3's

[V1NNY]

I'm sure a lot of people on here are keen bikers, I'm looking for a decent bike carrier for the mk3 clio, pref a tailgate carrier and one that's not going to rub my paintwork. I'm getting sick of putting the bike in the back of the car now.

 

[Demic]

Ever tailgate rack I've ever owned has rubbed the paint work. I'm not really a great fan of them. I wouldn't trust my bikes to something held onto a structure that isn't designed to take a load (the tailgate) by some webbing straps! Get rear ended and good by bikes not to mention the faff of having to have a light board and not being able to get into the boot with the bikes in place.

I don't own a Clio (yet) but I'd go for a quality set of roofbars (OEM Renualt or Thule for instance) and a decent Cycle Carrier like the Thule 591. Much more secure and lockable. The downsides are added fuel consumption and a paranoid fear of car park hight restrictions, but in my opinon these disadvantages are far less than those of tailgate racks.