Rich W

Hi All...

Finally, after a bad experience with a Saris Roof Rack (Which, I highly reccomend, if you do not have an A4...It now lives on my girlie's 97 Jetta GT) I bit the bullet and bought a second one... Below are some pics of my new Thule Rack. Yes, there is some talk that roof racks on the sedan model can cause some deterioration to the window moldings and door seals... But hey, I'm a cyclist... I carry a bike practically every day, and I'm sick of putting it in the trunk.

Can anyone else report on an molding deterioration, water leaks, etc...?

I'm also amazed of how quiet the Faring makes the rack. There is noticable rack noise from inside the cabin.

Looking forward to meeting the NYC Metro 'Org'ers at Bellavia on Sunday! I'll have the rack on the car, if anyone is interested in checking it out!

Rich W. 99.5 1.8TQMS

<IMG SRC="http://www.rwnewmedia.com/a4/images/thule_1.jpg">
<IMG SRC="http://www.rwnewmedia.com/a4/images/thule_2.jpg"><ul><li><a href="http://www.rwnewmedia.com/a4">Rich W's A4</a></li></ul>

Peter Brennan

I ask this because I've got them and have had them on various car w/out any problems.


TIA,


Peter

A. Udi

Nice parking spot, my Colnago goes in the trunk

Rich W

The curvature of the roof line... I was never able to get the Fork Trays to stay tight to the rear crossbar. When ever I took a Curve, the Trays would shift. Once, My Mountain Bike almost fell on my car, because the tray shifted about a foot to the center, and the tray pulled out of the head.

Also, more issues:

A RockShox JUDY/SID is difficult to fit in the QR. Road Bikes are no Problem.

The Clips are very thick, and they cause the rear door seals to tear after one week.

Saris even sent replacement parts, but I was never satisfied.

But I do think it is the coolest-looking rack out there. That's why I bought it. I'm also in the Bike business... so I manage to everything at dealer cost... and getting a second system is not that big of a deal.

CraigB

<center><img src="http://www.users.uswest.net/~craiger/cwbsquaw1.JPG"></center><p>I've had it for 10 years and have used it on two other cars. I have mine off the car briefly, in between ski and cycling seasons, although the seasons overlap big-time here in CO. I've never had any leakage problems. The plastic on the door jamb is compressed a bit where the rack bites, but it doesn't cause any problems.

See my toy box (link), for pix of my bikes.

CraigB<ul><li><a href="http://www.users.uswest.net/~craiger/craigmain.html">Craig's Toy Box</a></li></ul>

Rich W

I've been putting my bike in the trunk. But my 58cm frame forces me to drop the left rear seat to fit, with the wheels removed. Does yours fit without dropping the rear seat?

Which Colnago? Masterlight? C-40? I also am putting together a Banesto Team Issue Pinarello Prince Rear Carbon... Does'nt everybody need a Dura Ace Bike, and a Record Bike?

I'm sort of an addict...

pdw

I haven't noticed any deterioration of the door seals. My old car had a rack on it almost all the time and I never had any deterioration there either and I have to believe Audi uses better materials than Nissan.

In fact Audi implicitly endorses the use of a rack by putting the little arrows there to mark where the clips go.

How's the Trek? I was thinking of getting one but the geometry doesn't fit me. I'm going to get a Litespeed Classic or Tuscany in the spring.

ChrisWB

I pulled the edges of the fairing in to match the curvature of the windshield. In your pic it looks like the edges are sticking out. Is there a reason you did it that way?

Rich W.

You, Me, and Andy H.

We're three of a kind... Nice Mongoose!

Thats my exact Team-Spec USPS OCLV, with full D/A, Ksyriums (I also have a pair of Heliums) Cinelli Grammo Stem, Eubios bar. 16.9 lbs with Look 296 pedals... I was there when Lance won, and when I got back, I had to build an exact team replica. The watered-down Ultegra equipped complete bike verson, just isn't it.

For MTB... I have a 98 GT STS 1000 with full XTR, and crossmax, ringle stem and post....

Craig, get the fairing... It's worth it... Totally quiet, and it touches no paint. It rests right on the glass.<ul><li><a href="http://www.cyclesportonline.com/album/tdf99/tdf_99_1.html">Rich W's Personal Tour De France Journey</a></li></ul>

Rich W

What size bike do you ride?