Surf Bike Racks?

[sk8mk]

Anyone had any experiance with these, particularly in the UK?

When I move to Bournemouth for uni i'll be 3miles from the pier and without a car, so I was thinking this would be a much easier alternative instead of walking with a 7ft board. I'm a bit cautious cause I've no idea if its really hard to ride with a board and whether i'll look really out of place riding down the street with one. So has anyone ever tried one of these racks and what did you think of them? Worth buying?
Thanks

[griggo]

I've just been given one of these and fitted it to an old hack bike. Trouble is now I have to lock the bike in case someone nicks it for the rack! Does the job well enough I've had a 7'10" minimal on no problem - you automatically balance the weight when you're riding. No way would I buy one though, you can make the same thing out of pvc waste pipe and jubilee clips that is 90% as good I would say - do a search you'll find plans somewhere. I only use mine for a 5 minute flat ride to the beach and back, but I saw a guy do the Devon coast to coast cycle Ilfracombe to Teignmouth a couple of years ago - he made his rack from wood and some kind of extruded plastic S hook that I think you can buy somewhere. Look out for narrow gateways and be careful how you leave your bike propped up.

[griggo]

btw forgot to say, you can interpret the looks as admiring glances if you like, I'm sure I look like a twat but that's got more to do with being old and bald than riding a bike with a board on the side.

[sk8mk]

Ah thanks for the feedback, guess i might have to get/make one then. One more question, is it easily able to be removed and put back on the bike? because if you have worries someone might steal it would I be able to put the rack on the night before I go surfing then take it off the next day so I can cycle to uni? If i put some headphones in I won't be able to hear any comments to someone riding down the highstreet with a big surfboard on the side

[griggo]

The one I've got has the rack part attached by a thumbscrew so you can just take that off and leave the mounting blocks on the bike, but if the bike gets nicked your back at square one anyway. It would take about 5-10mins to take off completely so doable but a bit of a pain if you're surfing regularly. I used a bit of skateboard griptape to give the mounting blocks a bit more security. If I was starting from scratch I would make a rack from screwfix pvc pipe and mount it on a recycling centre special, less likely to go walkies. I've bought bikes from the local tip for a fiver, doesn't matter what happens to them then. Type diy surfboard bike rack into google, there's loads of ideas.

[finlay]

I had a shot at this - ended up with a device made from pvc pipes, T joints, 90 degree elbows and baggage straps - It didnt work that well, I'd say you'd have more success making it from wood (perhaps plywood, still using jubilee clips to attach your to your bike frame) - there is too much give in the PVC pipe elbows. We found the pvc pipe cement was useless, ended up attaching the elbows to the pipework by screws right through them. You dont really want your board banging off pedals/etc.

[ATTMFKH]

Use the search function on here mate - there was a thread on this a few years back ...... with Photos & BOM's ........

[chabaker]

hi i also live in bournemouth but have been loooking for a while on the web and cant find any uk distributors for bike racks any help please ?

[Estevan]

Hey there,

Made some racks with alu tubes. Did not hold so long. And it was really uncomfortable not to get them off easy...
When it broke, I just got these ones: http://ecosurfshop.eu/gb/surfboard-rack ... -rack.html
Have them since 2 years now and use them at least twice a week.

[baggins]

I prefer the look of the trailer type of carrier. Seen some decent home made efforts made out of golf trolleys etc.
Half way through converting an old fishing box into one for me.

I think the chance of catching the wind with the board up sideways would put me off that Stylee

[surfstarmorocco.com]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlYBLokO ... w&index=13

Check out the video above. Made + tested in the UK easy to make!

http://www.surfstarmorocco.com/

[sjb1983]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlYBLokOzIY&list=UU8hNdKFcG5OjbDuDPob87tw&index=13

Check out the video above. Made + tested in the UK easy to make!

http://www.surfstarmorocco.com/

A friend of mine (who is a D&T teacher in a local school) made one of these and said it lasted him a couple of runs to the beach before breaking. Looks pretty flimsy. Would be good if you could find the right shaped aluminium poles....have been searching online but can't see 'em anywhere...

An aluminium t clamp looks like it would do the job though...still searching

[sjb1983]

from the korduroy.tv diy vid...

[yellowmal]

I made one of the plastic pipe racks, as has just been said not that strong.
Ended up buying my daughter one from North Core..

http://www.northcore-europe.com/northco ... -rack.html

O.K for shortboards but I'm not keen on the fixing around the seat tube if you are carrying longboards, would prefer one like the carver one for carrying mals.

http://www.carverracks.com/csr-max/