Why Not Take a Bike Next Time You Go Camping - Share A Word
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Exploring Australia’s landscapes or just taking a ride with your bicycle down the riverside is time well-spent that can heal your body and mind, and release some stress. The oxygen-rich air and the calm environment of the wind blowing through trees can be enough to put your mind at ease. Camping is one way to enjoy the divine beauty of nature and along with it, you are able to reduce the amount of stress your body goes through. Your mood improves thanks to the melatonin you’re able to get from all the scents and greenery which can also help you improve the quality of your sleep. The sun shining at you also contributes to an improved mood thanks to all the vitamin D it provides.
You can also get some exercise when you go camping. Your camping trip doesn’t have to be lounging around doing nothing all day. Having something to do, something challenging can make your brain work better. Take mountain biking, for example, it may sound extremely challenging but starting out step by step can provide good exercise and the challenge your brain needs to function better. So, why not bring a mountain bike on your next camping trip in the mountains? It can be tricky to get it up there but if you have the right caravan carrier you can pull it off.
Benefits of Caravan Bike Carriers
Storage
Other than the fact that caravan bike racks make transporting bicycles easier they are the right type of storage for your muscle-powered two-wheeler. A proper caravan bike carrier will provide the necessary storage space for your bicycle. They are designed to store your bicycle without having to sacrifice living and luggage space. You don’t lose luggage space, and as a matter of fact, you use it up more wisely when you incorporate a motorhome rack.
Safety
The safety of both your caravan and bicycle will be improved with the right caravan bike carrier. If you’re going to be transporting multiple bikes there’s the risk of them getting scratched and damaged. But this is not the case with caravan bike racks as they have designated slots for every bicycle you may want to ride in the mountains.
Types of Caravan Bicycle Racks
A-Frame
Mounted on your caravan’s A-frame, these bike carriers are placed high up, far away from the caravan’s fittings. Although they are away from caravan fittings when mounted on the A-frame, they can get in the way of the front boot if your caravan has a short drawbar.
Drawbar
Even if the above is the case, you can still get a rack that’s compliant with the drawbar. Mounted on the drawbar itself, these carriers counterbalance the weight of the bikes with the other end of the caravan. This prevents the tow ball from coming off.
Hitch
Although similar to a drawbar rack, a hitch rack is mounted on the tow ball or sometimes underneath it. Hitch racks can get in the way of your caravan’s rear door. Fortunately, there are many models that can be folded out of the way, giving you access to the rear door.
Rear Wall
These carriers, as their name suggests, are mounted on the rear door of your caravan where the spare wheel is typically located. These carriers are the best option if you’re not going to be towing. Rear wall racks are not going to obstruct your rearview or the functionality of your caravan.
Roof
Carrying anything on the roof of your caravan is a great idea if you want to free up storage space inside. With a roof bike rack, you’re able to mount your bikes high up without having to worry about accidents or whether or not your bicycles are obstructing your view. Taking the bikes off the rack and mounting them is not as easy as some other types of carriers, though.
Towbar
A towbar carrier is also a good option when you’re not towing anything else. These carriers attach to the tow ball mount of your caravan. Unlike the majority of bike carriers, you don’t have to remove the tow ball racks even when you don’t have a bike or two on them.
How Fast Can You Drive with a Bike Rack?
While the manual of any bike rack manufacturer will state a different number, as a general rule of thumb you shouldn’t exceed speeds higher than 70 km/h if you have a bike rack attached to your motorhome. Some would advise a 60 km/h limit which is not a bad idea but again you may need to refer to the manual provided with your carrier. If no speed limit is specified go by the 70km/h rule.
Do I Need a Number Plate on My Bike Rack?
This depends on the type of bike rack you use. If your motorhome has a bike carrier on the back, such as a towbar or a rear wall rack, you may need to fit an auxiliary number plate. This is essentially a smaller version of your existing number plate which allows your vehicle to be identified without any obstructions.
