The Unintentional Roof Rack Removal Thread [Archive] - Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists Discussion Forums

BikerKitty v2.0

02-16-2008, 04:16 PM

Well, I always thought I was above doing something as stupid as catching my roof rack on the garage door - today I was proven wrong.

This morning I left the house to go ride Theo for Don's b-day. I opened the side door, hit the garage door button, and a mouse (or two?) ran across the floor in front of me. Little bastards. I went around the garage kicking various things to flush him out, saw his little nose poke out of a cinder block and look at me...I'm sure he must've said "don't forget to make sure the garage door opens all the way," but of course, I couldn't hear him, or understand his mouse language. My garage door lately requires two button pushes to get it to open the entire way...it's only this winter that it's been doing this, and I haven't had a chance to try to crawl up there and fix it. :(

Next thing I know, I'm in the car, backing out, hear a "cruuuuuunnnncchhhh," and see my Yakima rack, front rail and fairing come flying down the front windshield. Somehow, the rear rail stayed mostly on the car.

Good news is, the rack seems to have come out of this unscathed...the Civic, unfortunately, has a couple of nasty dents in the roof near the doors on either side, but the feet things came off pretty clean and didn't bend the door frame as far as I can tell.

The thing was such a pain to get on, though, and now I get to do it again. Hopefully this time I've learned my lesson and won't drive through the garage door again.

:incazzato:

If you have suffered from unintentional roof rack removal syndrome, please post up and share your stories so I stop feeling like the only dumba$$ on the planet.

Pandl

02-16-2008, 04:34 PM

Bummer. Sorry, can't offer up any roof rack dumb ass stories, don't have one. Maybe that is why. I have scraped the front quarter panel on the side of the garage backing in tho...

soupboy

02-16-2008, 05:15 PM

Bummer April. I've never done that myself but just look at the trays of the cars at the trailhead - you have plenty comrades even if they're to ashamed to admit it!

Tomg

02-16-2008, 06:17 PM

nigel

02-16-2008, 06:38 PM

Does backing into the garage with a hitch rack on (no bikes, i forgot it was on) and punching a hole through it count?

BikerKitty v2.0

02-16-2008, 06:45 PM

Bummer... at least you didn't have $2000 worth of Tommasini road bike on the roof at the time. But then again I don't know anybody stupid enough to do that:crazy: Oh wait... that would be me. :banghead:

Ouch. When I think of all the times I've driven home from a ride, chanting a mantra the entire way home, "bike's on the roof, bike's on the roof, bike's on the roof"...I guess I'm glad everything is mostly salvagable and my bike wasn't up there, too.

Does backing into the garage with a hitch rack on (no bikes, i forgot it was on) and punching a hole through it count?

Yes, that counts. I haven't looked at my garage door closely yet, but there are no visible holes or cracks from a few feet away, and it still opens and closes...well, with the issue still of only opening halfway until I close it a little and reopen it.

I fear the stories will keep flooding in, and this thread will be a sad one. ;) Maybe one of us should design a buzzer for racks, that yells, "Dumbass!" in the car as you approach an obstacle.

batjerk

02-16-2008, 07:16 PM

Gosh, April, I'm sorry to hear that. Since I have no garage, I have never had the misfortune of smashing my bike rack, but I'm sure if I did, I would. That'd be just my kind of luck.

bigwheel

02-16-2008, 08:01 PM

Bummer, April.

I never did it with a bike rack, but have had a similar experience. Quite a few years ago, I made my girlfriend a bookcase. It took a couple days to build, but it turned out nice. At the time, I had an old Datsun with roof racks on it, so I strapped the masterpiece on top and headed over to her apartment. Didn't even make it out of the garage before hearing the CRUNCH.

berrywise

02-16-2008, 08:26 PM

It must be the Civic. I had been storing my bike at work all winter and my boss needed some space for something so I decided to bring it home one day. Drive up to the garage, hit the garage door opener and go to pull in. At first I thought I turned the corner to tight and was stuck on a snow drift :crazy: So I go to give it some more gas to try and get unstuck :banghead: All that did was allow me to rip the roof rack off my car (though I did get into the garage finally :incazzato:). Scratched the heck out of the roof along with some dents and then more scratches on the trunk.

The bike came out in pretty good shape outside the saddle getting bent up. What happened was the nose of the saddle punched a hole in the siding of the garage so the whole bike and rack hung from the roof all nice like.

My new plan attack is to throw the garage door opener in the backseat whenever a bike is on the roof.

Crash

02-16-2008, 08:36 PM

My new plan attack is to throw the garage door opener in the backseat whenever a bike is on the roof.

When I remember, I put the garage cans in the way so I can't pull into the garage when returning. It's probably been a good 5+ years since I have done it, so I am due no doubt.

Another good reason for a hitch mount.

jitterjepp

02-16-2008, 08:41 PM

When I was about 22 years old this guy Bob who was a singer from Jamaica used to hang out with us the last hour of the day on Friday. After talking to Bob for a bit our boss asked my buddy and I to return this 600 lb concrete saw to the rental place in his brand new truck.

We all lifted it into the bed and the boss left. We both thought, "Dude that thing wont roll anywhere. Its to damn heavy."

For some reason every time we hung out with Bob we got dumber. We should have tied it down.
Anyway the first stoplight we almost ran right through but thankfully my buddy slammed on the brakes. Instantly we heard the rumbling and immediatly ducked. The handles for this massive walk behind concrete saw came right through the back wind of the bosses brand new truck right where our heads would have been. If we hadn't ducked we probably would have both died.
We took the truck to a car wash place and gave the vacuum guy $20 and said we needed every single piece of glass out of there. He got it all then we remover the rubber stripping and returned the saw and brought the truck back. My boss didn't notice until he was halfway home.

At the Gates 2121

02-16-2008, 08:48 PM

I have had several close calls where it has almost happend after long trip when I lined in and apartment . now its different at my how house I store my bike in the basement and never been close

dave t

02-16-2008, 10:15 PM

Never a bike rack BUT I did mash the gutters flat with the wakeboard tower on the boat shortly after we got it.:banghead:

I was too used to just backing the old boat right in.

So, I'm sure if I used a rack, I would have scraped it off the car by now.
I know too many people who have to think that I wouldn't, especially if I had just chased a mouse around the garage.

KleinCrazy

02-16-2008, 10:17 PM

Sighs... Ok I will tell mine....

I have done it twice.....

Pulling into the garage with the Klein Attitude up in the fork mount trays.Rips the thing up and over and it is hanging from the Wheel Strap...That would be the first time I bent the tray that is on my car even now....

Sheared the Drop outs off of the fork, they were still clamped into the squewer.... did not seem to be alot of other damage..just had to replace the lowers on the Klein Specific Steerer tubed Manitou.....or so I thought.......

5 years later.... the 'tude is now a singlespeed and is being riden down a rocky doubletrack downhill at the Chain drive race in Houghton, MI. get to the bottom and the sterring seems to be sticky... get off the bike, lift up the front end and it loosens up...hmmm... wierd.... put it back down and climb on...take 2 pedal strokes and snap... front wheel and fork fold in front of me and I plant the headtube into the ground....

seems the encounter with the garage and cracked the steering tube and it had finally given up.... Still have the pieces on display in the basement...

2nd one... comming back from a long ride and completely forget it is up there...

Rip the Klein Adept off the rack...once again sheering both dropouts off of the fork....do other damage to the bike... however... I replaced THE WHOLE FORK this time just to be safe....

DANW

02-17-2008, 08:43 AM

soupboy

02-17-2008, 09:56 AM

Datsun made cars??

And how...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSJVi1mPjZQ

dvo1

02-17-2008, 10:22 AM

Supercharged LS1 powered 240z would be cool, the bike riding reminds me why I don't have a crotch rocket anymore.

setzep

02-17-2008, 10:58 AM

Supercharged LS1 powered 240z would be cool, the bike riding reminds me why I don't have a crotch rocket anymore.

ahem... look closer. It's a LT-1 :) Damnit.. still need to get my car back together.
Lucky man if you've had a rocket and have sold out before you died. I've had one too many friends get helicopter rides or die from them.

Sorry to hear about the car April. I've thought about that before... "I wonder how many times I'd rape the bike off the roof of a car if I had one of those roof racks"

jitterjepp

02-17-2008, 11:06 AM

And how...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSJVi1mPjZQMy dad had a 280zx when I was a kid. I'm pretty sure its the fastest car I've ever been in.

dvo1

02-17-2008, 11:13 AM

ahem... look closer. It's a LT-1 :) Damnit.. still need to get my car back together.

Ls/Lt never was good with bow tie crap.
Would rather see a RB26DETT powered Datsun myself.

jitterjepp

02-17-2008, 11:55 AM

Ls/Lt never was good with bow tie crap.
Would rather see a RB26DETT powered Datsun myself.what about an R2DTwo powered spaceship?

batjerk

02-17-2008, 02:58 PM

Supercharged LS1 powered 240z would be cool, the bike riding reminds me why I don't have a crotch rocket anymore.

Lucky man if you've had a rocket and have sold out before you died. I've had one too many friends get helicopter rides or die from them.Not to derail this thread too far from its intent, but the above is why I ride pedal-powered bikes. I nearly killed myself with a snowmobile and completely destroyed a truck driving off road; I just know I wouldn't last much past a week with a rocket. Mountainbikes are easier to fix and with the limited speed, I'm less likely to die from poor decision making abilities...

It's probably a good thing I don't have a garage, because with how many dents and stuff I see in vehicles from using them, I know I'd wreck my bike transporting in and out of one on top of the car.

setzep

02-17-2008, 08:33 PM

Ls/Lt never was good with bow tie crap.
Would rather see a RB26DETT powered Datsun myself.

Nothing wrong with a small block chevy in the right application but I gotta agree... a RB26DETT would be a lot cooler. One of the reasons I did a newer rotary in my old Rx-7 instead of the typical V-8 swap.

http://www.kaitaia.com/funny/g2/d/14608-1/hijack.gif

biking_stickman

02-18-2008, 10:14 AM

My new plan attack is to throw the garage door opener in the backseat whenever a bike is on the roof.

This is what I do...and I'm sure it has worked. I've tried to push the garage door button many times only to realize that the remote isn't where it should be.

It's a good reminder.

odrevelation

02-18-2008, 10:24 AM

First of all, I just want to say that I love my roof rack. The only disadvantages compared to a hitch that I see is your bikes get the wind/bugs/dirt, and the possibility of hitting your bikes/or cargo on top. I have hit my carrier in some sort of way three times. Once, hit a tree with bike on top and totally ripped apart my clamp lock. Bike got jacked a little, but for the most part it was replacement of the lock down. Secondly, had my cargo box on top of carrier and went into brothers garage, not realizing he only has the small 7 foot door. I came out with only paint tranfer on top of carrier, but had to take it off to get back out of the garage. Thirdly, knocked my bar of carrier on tree branch, and busted up the tower foot that connects to my factory rack. All I can say, thank god Thule sells spare parts on-line. I love Thule products, and they are built solid. The V2 bike tray saved my mtb from being stoling. They tried to pry it off, and do what ever to get it off, but they couldn't. This was at the same time they busted my window, and stole my cd player and other things. Now if my bike was in my suv, it would have been long gone.

As far as people posting on crotch rockets. I've owned two CBR's, and am glad that I got out of it while I did. All I need now for my speed fix is some downhilling or road riding. Although, I take my buddies gsxr-750 out once a summer. Also have snowmobiles that hit triple digets for a winter time speed fix.

TB0NE

02-18-2008, 11:13 AM

Yuck.

I've never hit the garage door, but I did get my rack removed on I-29 Northbound with 4 snowboards on it. We were heading to Banff for spring break out of Fargo. Between driving 80 and going against a strong wind the rack became unattached from the Accord. Luckily my friends car which was following me stopped it, also doing 80. This then sent the rack and snowboards scattered throughout the freeway at 10pm, with us college kids dodging cars picking up the remnants. We drove back to Fargo, got a different vehicle, and restarted our trip. The insurance bill just dropped about $80 a month when that came off the record. :incazzato:

toasthaiku

02-18-2008, 01:08 PM

A riding buddy learned a certain parking ramp is too short for roof-mounted bikes. :cryin: I've looked back to see my bikes bouncing higher than the trunk. It helps having ALL the straps hooked to the car.

My favorite was a tangle of metal at Ski Hut last summer. Someone's bike rack fell off the back of a camper between the Cities and Duluth, dragging all the way. One of the rims was ground away.

curt c

02-18-2008, 05:08 PM

Tried driiving into the garage with two bikes on the roof. First time with a roof rack. Put some nice dents in the roof. bikes where damaged, and the siding on the garage tore up.
Worst part about it was explaining to my dad what happened to his roof. We went up to Duluth and something went wrong with my car so I borrowed his.

DMonkey

02-18-2008, 05:41 PM

And it sucked.. Did about $1,800 worth of damage to my car, and snapped both drop outs off the lowers on the fork.

I got a new lower for my fork, and was lucky I did not do any other damage to my fork or bike.

I was after a ride at Leb - was having a great day riding and decided to do the 3rd lap, when I hung out post ride for a very sort time (for once) - when traffic totally blew on the way home..
I had 3 people coming over to my place for dinner & were going out downtown after - I didn't have any thing out to thaw yet and was way late!
So while I thought about what I was going to grab to make for dinner and thaw while I shower and what side... Crash.. Son of a...

First and I hope the last damn time I do that!

redlinmi

02-18-2008, 05:44 PM

A riding buddy learned a certain parking ramp is too short for roof-mounted bikes.

Sounds familiar. Happened to me with my (then) new road bike the night before a triathlon at the Southdale ramp where I had to pick someone up. The bike turned out to be OK, but the rack was pulled off, leaving several dents, scratches, and scars behind.

I can only assume that the clearance tubes on the upper deck of the ramp are intended to keep campers and other oversized/overweight vehicles off the upper deck. Other than that, I never really could figure out why they were necessary and had to come between my bike and car! :)

fasterfoster

02-18-2008, 11:27 PM

Years ago...my son was a toddler. He was crying in his carseat as I pulled into the driveway. My bike was on top. Distracted by the crying, I simply drove in. I heard what sounded like a tearing/cracking sound. I thought I drove over something. I backed up slowly and the sound was worse! Then the seat SHOT across the garage like a missle.

Damage:
Facia of the garage
Tore the dropout off the fork
Gouged the top of the Jeep with the damaged fork
Broken seat/seat tube

Luckily, insurance covered my dumb mistake!

baranowskim

02-19-2008, 08:43 AM

http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/04778.html

I have yet to run my bike into my garage but I know it is only a matter of time. I have been using the "Mantra Methode" ("bikes on the car, bikes on the car, bikes on the car") but I think I am going to start putting the remote in the back seat.

chiquito

02-19-2008, 10:27 AM

Sorry April! I have done it once. As a result I had to change my fork, seat, and seat tube (on the bright side my bike frame didn't crack). In addition, I had to buy a new bike rail for my Yakima, and I still have some scratches on the roof of my car.

Next car, I will install a hitch.

rihaha

02-20-2008, 10:45 AM

I like my hitch mount but if I am only bringing my bike and am not going to pick any one else up I like to just put the bike in the back. Protected from the weather and somewhat more secure unless they totaly disassemble the thing. Tailgate only unlocks from outside unless you take the door apart.:banana:

tedsti

02-20-2008, 10:50 AM

I am a big fan of hitch racks for this reason. It is always good to be garage door friendly. I hide the opener on the rare occasion that I have bikes that will hit. This is a good solution until you come home and your SO already has the garage door open.

Crash

02-20-2008, 11:22 AM

I am a big fan of hitch racks for this reason.

Unfortunately the trade-off is one downside for another. Someone rear ending a bunch of bikes is then the risk. The ideal would be inside the vehicle if that works.

dvo1

02-20-2008, 11:45 AM

Truck, bike in box, no problem, or just ride everywhere.

bobbkr

02-20-2008, 12:46 PM

Funny stories! I think that most of the incidents happen coming home after a long ride and a couple of beers.
On the rare times that I have had to use my wife's car with a roof rack I hang a sign on the rear view mirror with a big red arrrow pointing up.
The mini-van is the way to go though....safe, secure, clean.... and dorky.

BikerKitty v2.0

06-20-2008, 01:52 PM

Had to resurrect this thread after last night. Seriously, how do I do this? I've used all the tips and techniques mentioned in the previous posts on here, and still...this time I REALLY did it good. As opposed to last time, this time the bike was *on* the car and I was going INTO the garage, not out of it. It was hilarious, I heard a horrible scrunching, but yet, kept pulling into the garage! I thought someone had run their car into the side of my house or the church next door or something. Got out, looked behind the car, and saw the rack and bike, FULLY INTACT, laying on the ground as if a magician had pulled the car right out from under it all.

Just checked it all out today, and the rack and bike are perfectly fine. How is this possible? How did my bike not die? How did the rack not break? I should write into Yakima and expound upon the virtues of a greatly-designed, idiot-proof rack, 'cause it appears to have just slid right back off the door grooves of the Civic, leaving only a few giant (er, GINORMOUS!) scratches in the roof, trunk and even the GLASS of my rear window. I'm relieved though...I can deal with scratches in my 11 year old car.

Okay, I'll shut up about this now...I think I've posted my sadness in 3 threads now. I just wanted to put it where it belonged and more fully describe how hilarious the setup looked laying in my driveway.

The rack goes back on this evening, and I've devised a new system, wherein, when I have the bike on the roof, the garage door opener on my keychain (equipped with a new tiny carabiner) gets clipped to the brake cables of the bike. That way, I HAVE to get out of the car to open it. *sigh*

All you roof-rackers who HAVEN'T driven your bike into a garage door, I salute you. I am probably doing my share for us all.

:banana:

Happy Friday everyone! I'm headed out to ride!!!

soupboy

06-20-2008, 02:00 PM

You, ma'am, are special with a capital hockey helmet.

I suggest having someone (I'm happy to) more closely inspect your fork, HT, HS, stem, bars, etc. for damage.

How about a big sticker that says "Got Bike?" on the outside of your garage door? Or a mirror mounted on the outside of your garage? Or some pop cans strewn on fishing line 10ft in front of your garage that would catch and rattle if your bike is on top?

DMonkey

06-20-2008, 02:04 PM

For some reason - the term "Crack-Baby" comes to mind..

I've done it once, learned pretty good from that time, I just throw the opener in the back of the car now if a bike is on the roof.

I agree with Sean, have someone give your bike a good once over - just to be sure.

BikerKitty v2.0

06-20-2008, 10:14 PM

You, ma'am, are special with a capital hockey helmet.

I suggest having someone (I'm happy to) more closely inspect your fork, HT, HS, stem, bars, etc. for damage.

Or some pop cans strewn on fishing line 10ft in front of your garage that would catch and rattle if your bike is on top?

ROFL!!!

I know, I know. I just...phbbbt, there's no excuse. I am THE most absentminded human being alive.

I probably should have someone check out my bike just in case. I honestly think the rack was loose enough though that it just flipped right off. I mean, it was still sitting perfectly in the rack on the ground, upright and everything.

I love the fishing line idea. I still say someone needs to invent a roof rack that somehow folds over, so you put the bike up, and then little hydraulic arms lean it over sideways. You could only get two bikes up there, but crap, it'd be better than this. Or maybe I'm just dumb.

As for Dirk's crack-baby comment...I thought a few of us discussed, at a recent barbeque/post-ride, the fact that my mom drank wine regularly and ran 10 miles a day up until the day I was born? Scary. I fell out of my crib once, too, right onto my head, when I was about 6 months old. Oops.