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Fat-Bike Roof Rack

Tha Mangoman, aka Dylan shared this roof rack solution for Fat-Bikes made by 1 up USA.


Review: 1 up USA’s Quik-Rack – http://1upusa.com/rooftray.htm

Like many folks I’ve been transporting my bicycles with a hitch-based rack. But the times, they are a-changin’. How? I commute about a hundred miles a day, and I’ve seen more rear-end accidents in the past year than I’ve seen in the last ten. Crazy. And while I don’t have hard evidence to back it up, my hunch is that most of these are based on a massive increase in smartphone usage. But, for whatever reason, they’re happening. A lot. I don’t care if someone rear-ends my old Subaru. But if Baby’s on the back? Baby…that took me months to plan, purchase and build? You hit Baby and we got ourselves a problem.

So I’m going to the roof. It’s not nearly as easy, hoisting my 30+ pound Fatback up there. But the rack I’m using from 1 up USA couldn’t be simpler. I’ve been using it for about one month. Installation is so easy it’s almost silly, and the function of the rack is even simpler: push the red lever up and open the arm. Close arm. Repeat for other tire. Done. That’s it. You might find yourself doing the same double take I did, wondering, “That’s it?” Yup, that’s it.


For all us Fatbikers, the $189 rack offers an optional $29 Fat-Tire Spacer Kit. The owner will install the spacers for free before shipping (just ask). And once installed, you don’t need to remove the spacers to rack a skinny-tire bike—my Fatback with 29er wheels is just as secure in the rack, and I’m sure my road bike will be fine, too.


Footprint-wise, this rack is very low-profile. I wish I’d found it before I bought a Yakima FrontLoader, which looks like an overbuilt turd by comparison.

Last thing: I paid an extra $30 to have mine anodized in black. That option isn’t offered on their site, but I asked and they said Sure (for $30), so if you’re vain like me and want everything to match, ask ’em about this option.

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7 Responses to Fat-Bike Roof Rack

  1. K8 February 6, 2012 at 2:57 pm #

    he said turd hahahha

  2. Valhalla March 6, 2012 at 12:08 pm #

    The tow hitch version is even sweeter. Folds up snug against the bumper, can be stacked like Legos adding up to 4 bikes, and installs/uninstalls in seconds fitting into any trunk. By fay the best rack I have used in 20 years!!

  3. Glenn Charles January 31, 2014 at 12:23 pm #

    Gomez, are you still liking this rack? Any issues with it or any problems loading skinnier tired bikes?

    Thanks,

    Glenn

    • Dylan February 1, 2014 at 9:03 am #

      Hey Glenn. I sold my ’04 Forester for a WRX and last year. I also switched from the rounded Yakima rack bars to Subaru’s very low/flat OEM crossbars. Point is, the 1upUSA rack is still up there, and it mounts just as well to the flat crossbars.

      Still my favorite rack ever. Why? Simplicity.

      FWIW, I have two racks for it: one regular and one fat. The reality is, I’ve had several occasions where my wife and I transported our road bikes up there, so one very high end tri-specific bicycle was locked into the fat-specific rack. Not a problem at all.

      Also, I have a bad speeding habit and have found myself cruising at 80mph with my Precious loaded up top in the 1upUSA. She’s very steady up there.

      Also, part 2: the black powdercoating job on my 1upUSA racks has held up very well. The 1upUSA guy was a bit reluctant to do it for a roof rack, but he’s apparently sourcing the powder coating to a reputable vendor.

      I have no interest in buying any other rack solution. Someone would have to create something more simple and more sturdy, and to them I say, “Good luck with that.”

      • Glenn Charles February 1, 2014 at 12:45 pm #

        Dylan, thanks and great to hear from you. So if I understand, there is no issue with a 29er in one of the racks with the Fatbike spacer installed?

        Thanks, and look forward to catching up.

        Glenn

        • Dylan February 4, 2014 at 8:54 pm #

          Glenn: You’re correct—since the typical fat bike’s tire is actually measuring out to 29″, fitting a regular 29er into the 1upUSA is an easy fit.

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