Need a "Bike Bar" - not hitch or roof rack attachment

I know Honda has a roof rack bike attachment and they have a hitch attached bike carrier, but what about a simple bar that attaches to the front of the bed that you lock your quick release wheels on to?

This just seems so simple and much less expensive.

Has anyone used an aftermarket product like this? On their Ridgeline?

I got the Saris Kool Rack. It works well. Here's one source, but this isn't an endorsement. You can get it from lots of places. Just Google Saris Kool Rack.

http://bicyclesource.us/site/itemdetails.cfm?ID=546&Catalog=39&sort=Price%20desc

Also, do a search here in the ROC forum for bike rack or bicycle. There's been lots of discussion on this topic already.

Have the same unit..........works perfect for me as I sometimes use the wifes truck to drive to cycle club rides.

So far so good, its a bit $$ perhaps but I'm lazy and my local shop had stock.

I saw a guy at the local trails that has a rack that he named as "Rack N Roll". It was a pneumatic bike bar that fits in the bed of the truck. Looked pretty neat and should work well for the RL.

I found this:

StableLoader (http://www.deltacycle.com/)

You have to click on "Car and Truck Racks" and then the top left picture.

It's cheaper than Thule or Yakima and will do the trick for me. Also will work in the Ody so that's a plus.

Here's a couple of pics of a bike rack I made using a Rhode Gear carrier I allready owned. I carry a road bike, and had to add the "spacers" to keep the brake levers from hitting the tailgate. The "eye-bolts" were installed to provide a means to strap it down to keep it from sliding, but I have found that I don't need to use them.

How do you attach it to the Ridge bed? Photos?

The wooden bike carrier in my last post just sits in the very back of the bed. The two short pieces of 2x4 are facing the rear of the truck. As stated in the last post, they were necessary to keep the brake levers of the bike from hitting the tailgate. It's heavy enough so it doesn't slide around, and there is only a couple of inches it could slide before the rear wheel of the bike hits the front of the bed. Yes, I know it's a down and dirty way to get it done, but I needed one quick. I was planning on getting a real bike carrier, but this one works great, and I don't have to worry about anyone stealing it! If it doesn't rain Wed. I'll take some pictures of the bike in the truck when I go on a ride.

Here's the pic.

Wow, downtube shifters. I haven't seen them in years, except downstairs in my basement on my old race bike.

I saved the attached photo some time back from a post (don't remember when or were) but I thought the poster had great ingenuity when he built his own bike rack out of ABS or PVC (plastic pipe.) I know Honda has a roof rack bike attachment and they have a hitch attached bike carrier, but what about a simple bar that attaches to the front of the bed that you lock your quick release wheels on to?

This just seems so simple and much less expensive.

Has anyone used an aftermarket product like this? On their Ridgeline?

Now this one I like! :cool:

Here's the pic.

Thanks for posting the pic!

Rapidrick, do you find that the back of your bike starts to fish tail? Go back and forth when you turn the truck on the road? If so, what was your remedy for that?

Rapidrick, do you find that the back of your bike fishtails while you are driving the truck? Seems like it would. If so, do you have a remedy for that?

after searching the site, I went with the Thule bar. I have it across the top of the bed in the back, and the in-bed trunk will open with it on,even with bikes on it. you don't need to climb in to attach the bikes. I leave the rear wheels loose for around town trips, just use a quick release strap to tie the rear wheels down on the highway. it is a square aluminum bar with pads on the ends, it ratchets tight to the bed walls and locks in place. comes with two bike mounts. paid $150.00. plus it doesn't interfere with kayaks on the top, plenty of room for both.

Here's my simple home made one.

http://www.ridges.dynip.com/images/Ridgeline/bikerack2.jpg

http://www.ridges.dynip.com/images/Ridgeline/bikerack1.jpg

That looks good. How does the bikes hold up on the road? does the rear wheels move a lot? I'm doing something like this tomorrow. I"ll post pictures once it's completed.

here is the Thule bar. oh that's a Kona Bear Deluxe!!

here is the Thule bar. oh that's a Kona Bear Deluxe!!

what model of thule is that and how much do they run for?

This thread:
http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13852
Shows what I came up with to hall bikes.
Starting with post #6 for the final version

Prob should start a master bike rack thread.

In the mean time here is what I built.
http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8634

Prob should start a master bike rack thread.

In the mean time here is what I built.
http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8634

Yea, I saw yours after I had built mine. Looks good and solid. I did not come across a source for extruded aluminum when I was working on mine.

I should be getting my Yakima "Dry Dock" soon. This is a T-bar the goes in the hitch and lines up with the roof rack so I can carry my kayak. Hope to be able to hook the back of my tandem bike to the bottom of the T-bar to haul it up to Minnesota this summer. The front will be hook to my Bike bar.

Yea, I saw yours after I had built mine. Looks good and solid. I did not come across a source for extruded aluminum when I was working on mine.

I should be getting my Yakima "Dry Dock" soon. This is a T-bar the goes in the hitch and lines up with the roof rack so I can carry my kayak. Hope to be able to hook the back of my tandem bike to the bottom of the T-bar to haul it up to Minnesota this summer. The front will be hook to my Bike bar.

Post some pics of that when you get it.