Rear-mounted bike rack for 172

[Ally]

Hi everyone, my first post! Moving from AstraSport to ClioSport, as my car ownership dictates!

Im collecting my first Clio (a nice blue 172) next week and am in need of a rear-mounting bike rack. Im a keen mountainbiker and dont want to carry the bike in the car (messy: mud + leather aint going to work) or on the roof (aerodynamics and performance problems, also height restrictions), so a rear-mounted rack sounds the best option. And I dont want a towbar...



The rack Im looking at is the Thule ClipOn High - this attached using 4 straps: 2 at the top of the rear hatch and 2 at the bottom of the hatch.



My only concern is the plastic spoiler at the top of the rear window - anyone had any problems with this plastic bit snapping/scratching/getting in the way of the mounting straps?



Any advice/info you can give me would be much appreciated. the Thule website doesnt indicate if itll fit the Clio and Halfords didnt have a clue either.

Cheers.

Ally M

 

[RobFenn]

No idea, but it might be worth going into Renault and grabbing an Accessories brochure. However i dont think they use as good a make as Thule.

-Rob

 

[m_darby]

Same as above, Thule top notch

 

[wackojacko]

Well Thule make pretty much all the stuff anyway, (halfords stuff is last seasons thule but worse quality).

Buy some thule stuff from halfords, see which one fits best and then take the others back!!! Go 2 one of the bigger Ripspeed (arcade) stores they should have all the expensive thule ones in stock.

 

[Ally]

Cheers folks - Ive got the same thoguhts i.e. Thule is far better quality that Halfords stuff. Also, the Thule one Im looking at clips onto the bottom of the bootlid, not the bumper (which the Halfords ones does) - this means you can still open the boot with the rack and bikes on.

Has anyone actually successfully fitted a rear bike rack without damaging the spoiler? I know which rack I want (Thule ClipOn High, £99ish) but am concerned of the damage this could do to the spoiler. I really dont want a roof bike carrier.

 

[wackojacko]

Ive fitted one of these to the back of a Pug 206 GTI. Cant remember if the spoiler got in the way though.

Those are the ones that use like metal/rubber things rather than just strapy things? Very solid once on the car. Total b*****d to fit correctly though.

 

[mxfuk]

Ive got a bike rack. The hooks which fit over the spolier are not long enough if you understand what I mean. Its still fits and if your careful and put some foam under the hooks it is fine. Just dont tighten it too much otherwise you may damage the spoiler!

 

[Type_Mo]

Welcome To The Club !!!!

 

[BIGDAVE]

Ive got a Hollywood bike rack holds 3 bikes,and its fine on the back of my 172.Like the Thule one it has 2 hooks at the top and another 2 that go at the bottom of the bootlid or bumper,whatever your preference.Ive been using it for about 2 years with no problems at all.As ive sold my bike this rack is no longer needed,so if anyone wants it let me know.

 

[Ally]

BigDave: Tell me more about this bike rack of yours. Did you manage to fit the rack using straps to the top and bottom of the tailgate (rather than the bumper)? Its quite important that I can open the boot when the rack is on.

What Hollywood model is it youve got? I need a rack with support channels for the wheels as the normal two arms type dont work with my unconventional frame (no top tube to rest on the bike rack).

Im in the Central Scotland area. Let me know if youre reasonably close and I might take a look at the rack.

wacojacko: yep, thats the rack. Ive seen it used on the back of a micra (not mine, honest) and its solid once on.

Type_Mo: cheers!

P.S. My (pegasus) email spellchecker at work picked up on cliosport not being a real work - guess what it gave as alternative suggestions? Clitoris!!! Sorry, juvenile humour over...

 

[BIGDAVE]

Yeah mine fits top and bottom of tailgate,its "THE ORIGINAL" rack,its on the Hollywood web site.Im afraid it is the normal two arm type,although i was able to carry my Kona Stab Primo on it which has quite a unconventional frame,and yeah im in central Scotland as well,Wishaw.

 

[Ally]

Cheers Dave. Ive tried my bike on a two arm type but its never felt that secure - Ive got a Specialized Enduro (no top tube) - so Ill keep on looking. Ive spent a bloody fortune on that bike and would hate to damage it! Pity about your rack cause Im in Falkirk.

I presume you had no problems with the spoiler / straps then? Im going to try a few racks at one of the bigger Halfords until I get one that fits.

 

[Ally]

Update: picked up my brand spanking blue 172 on Friday - bloody excellent despite me not taking it past 3000rpm, it just seems to gain speed so effortlessly. Cant wait til it frees up then I can really give it a proper drive! Already managed to attract the attention of a couple of tits in a nedded Corsa who wanted a race - no chance, Im not interested guys. Must have been a 1.0 L because he had to rev the arse off it to get past despite me taking it easy.

And Ive successfully fitted a rear-mounted bike carrier to it already. I picked up a Halfords High Mount Deluxe rack for £60 (down from £130). It fits using plastic dumbell things that you stick through top of the tailgate - they pull against the inside of the tailgate/roof and dont put any pressure on the spolier (the spoiler prevents normal clips to be used). The rack sits on foam pads, one set against the centre of the back window, the other just on the bottom edge of the number plate recess. There are 4 other clips: 1 either side of the bootlid, 1 hooking through the towing eye, and 1 hooking into a hole on the chassis just to the side of the exhaust. Its also high enough so that it doesnt obscure the lights/number plate.

So if anyones struggling to find a rack to fit their Clio (any variety), it can be done (despite Halfords, numerous rack companies, Thule, and the local Renault dealer all telling me otherwise).