Carbon bikes are not recommended to put behind the vehicle racks, because carbon material is actually plastic and it does not tolerate bumps, vibrations, and braking of the vehicles, but if you travel for shorter mileages with your carbon bike, then there you can use vehicle racks for carbon bikes, but for longer mileages, carbon bikes are strictly not allowed because these are unsafe and top frame tube of carbon bike dingles inward and also scratches happen. carbon bike frames are stiffer but these do not tolerate the sudden vibrations and bumps of the trails.
The carbon material is the only material in bike categories which are not mounted behind the vehicle racks, because the moving vehicle will also move bike parts which include bike pedals, handlebar, and frame tubes, and these would start rubbing and scratching with the bike rack and bike frame, but aluminum material is firm and more durable and bike racks are usually recommended for aluminum bike frames, the safest mounting place for carbon bikes is you can put them in your vehicles when traveling anywhere and the next option is roof mounting, stand your bike behind the truck or vehicle and mount it with the roof, there are many roofs stands on which you can easily travel with your bike anywhere.
You also have another option, there are cotton tubes and foams which are mostly surrounded by fragile parts, they are widely available in shops and stores, and also you can get them from mechanic shops, you can easily wrap these foams around the top tube of the frame and around all those parts of your bike which are in contact with the bike rack, pedals frame tubes and the straps which are holding the bike on the rack, after wrapping carbon bike with a foam material you can easily travel your bike for longer mileage distance without any risk and issue. foam and cotton would absorb all the bumps and jumps of the trails, and the frame of your bike remains safe and sound.
It is necessary to cover your bike when you are traveling with your bike and your bike is behind the vehicle on a bike rack, because it is directly exposed to sunlight, and if your daily routine is putting a carbon bike on the rack, then after few months you will feel a clear noticeable difference in bike paint and color because sunlight would negatively affect carbon bike frame, and if its raining outside, you have to avoid your bike from rainwater and wet environment, all of these things are important to keep in mind when putting carbon bikes behind the vehicle racks.
You also have another option, you can use straps and other rope materials and clamp both the front and rear wheels of your carbon bike on a bike rack and prevent all the other parts of the carbon bike like pedals, frame tubes, etc. just the wheels of your bike should be in contact with the bike rack and keep other parts of carbon bike away from the bike rack, in this way you will travel with your carbon bike more than 100 kilometers from one county to another. trunk racks are also different based on their quality price and working ability, you have to look completely by getting information about the new trunk rack that you are going to buy online or at bike stores, wrong angles tracks would also affect bikes because these racks would remain non-compatible with for carrying and mounting carbon bikes.
Carbon Bike Cranksets, Handlebar And Wheelsets On Trunk Rack:
Carbon bikes have also carbon rims, carbon cranksets, and carbon forks and handlebars, when you mount them behind the rack, these parts of your bike would constantly hit the back rack and your bike will scratch and rubbing will also affect the durability of carbon fiber parts, so even crashing and hitting does not affect so much to carbon bikes than putting them behind the trunk racks, if all f these parts are covered up totally and not rubbing and scratching with each other then it would be better to travel with your carbon bike.
Preventing Carbon Frames From Dirt And Mud:
When you are repeatedly mounting and dismounting your carbon bike behind the trunk racks of vehicles after a few mountings you will notice mounting place above the top tube of the frame has absorbed dirt and mud from the road and trails, you have to prevent your bike from dirt by covering with a towel or any thin plastic, and when you will reach the point and destination remove the plastic, after returning from the trails, again cover your bike with plastic completely so that all the parts of bike would cover up completely.
Sizes Of Vehicle Racks For Carbon Bikes:
If the rack size is smaller or greater than the size of your bike then it would also matter a lot in giving negative effects, rubbing and scratching to your bike, always buy a properly sized rack so that it will keep safe and prevent rubbing the bike pats the rack and vehicle.
Can I Mount Carbon Bike On A Rack In Warranty Timing?
When you buy a new carbon fiber bike then it is in its warranty, and you will read and follow the instructions about your bike, you will get to know that carbon bikes are mounted on vehicle racks in their warranty time, which means that carbon would easily dingle and get scratches on a bike rack, so you have to keep your bike safer even after the warranty to keep the color, paint and looks as new as it was bought from the shop.
Difference between Rubber Straps And Mechanical clamps Of Bike racks:
Rubber straps are fragile bands and ropes which are holding carbon bikes with the truck rack, these are rubber materials and do not cause any scratching or negative effect on carbon frames but there are also trunk racks that have mechanical clamps, these clamps are not made of rubber and these are aluminum or steel clamps when carbon bike is clamped in these collars, these would destroy carbon frame tubes, so if you have a rack with mechanical clamps it would break or crack your carbon frame, change it or replace it with the rubber strap racks if you have aluminum frame bike then mechanical clamp[ racks are best for the metal bikes.
Lock Mount On The Handlebar:
If you have a carbon fiber bike and you are looking for safe mounting with the vehicle rack, then there are lock mounts that are easily installed on the stem and headset of the handlebar of these bikes, and then you will mount your bike with the bike rack, it is a safe trick and it will prevent scratches and rubbing, it is far a better method from mounting on the front tube of carbon bike frames.
Keeping Carbon Bike At A Distance From The Rear Side Of Cars And Trucks:
When hanging the bike on the rear rack of the vehicle always keep your bike at a distance from the rear side of the vehicle because the smoke of the vehicle would cause the melting of the bike rims and tires of your bike, and also on jumps and bumps your bike will move and hit with the rear side of the car, so it is important to keep your bike at a distance.