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Coinciding with this week’s Sea Otter Classic, 1UP USA just announced a completely redesigned Super Duty hitch-mount bike rack. With a new one-handed push-button system, adjustable tray spacing, 100 lb rating per tray, and more, there’s a lot to like about this rack. Josh, our resident rackaholic, has been testing the new SD and shares a review below…
We’ve partnered up with Rig’d to give away a RambleSwing™, a $799 value, for our February Group Ride giveaway! Sign up by February 29th for your chance to win!
When it comes to bomber, made-in-the-USA bike racks, and swingouts, Rig’d is a leader of innovation. The brand’s RambleSwing™ adds the utility of a swing-away hitch to your bike rack of choice. Built by RiG’d Supply in the US of A, these swing-outs enable better access to the rear of your car by swinging away to the passenger or driver’s side. Available in a 2″ or 2.5″ receiver hitch.
Check out Josh’s review for an in-depth look at the RambleSwing™.
Due to the weight of this month’s giveaway, outside of the US and Canada shipping charges may apply.
Smith Levi, of RatKing Frames, has been dedicated to making frames and bicycle cargo accessories that merge fun and function for a decade. After getting started in Oakland, California in 2013, RatKing has since migrated north to Seattle, Washington and is a founding member of the creative collective Stunt Doubles. Andrew Johns recently had a chance to stop in the space for a chat with Smith and, below, shares a conversation that spans from the idea behind Stunt Doubles, to RatKing’s design inspiration and obsession with process, and Smith’s current offerings.
Known for the Ultraswing spare tire and accessory swing out, in addition to the RambleRack bike rack, Southern California-based RiG’d Supply makes hitch racks that are burly enough for off-road use, yet convenient and intuitive for everything else. Today, RiG’d announced a preorder for their newest product, the RambleSwing, which is the first swingout for bike racks we’ve seen to boast a 300-pound carrying capacity in addition to a list of other clever features. Josh got his hands on a prototype RambleSwing a few weeks ago and, below, offers a look at some highlights and fitment considerations using his F-150 and 1UP USA Super Duty 4-bike rack.
In early 2022, Wisconsin-based bike rack manufacturer 1UP USA purchased Recon Racks and began offering the Recon 5 and Recon 6 for, you guessed it, carrying five and six bikes respectively on a single vehicle. With attractive features such as no frame/fork contact with the rack, off-road rating, Smooth Pivot recline, and accommodation for a variety of tire and bike sizes, our interest was piqued. Josh has been testing a Recon 5 for the better part of a year, taking it everywhere from Arizona’s remote forest roads to local shuttle runs and cross-country road trips. 1UP also recently redesigned their RakAttach swing-out adapter, which Josh has been using in tandem with the Recon. Continue reading below for a full rundown on these new offerings from 1UP…
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Inspired by North Shore, Lolo, and other racks made in house, the Yakima HangTight system is a mass-produced option with greater distribution. The new HangTight 4 and HangTight 6 are designed to store your bikes vertically for transport, making it easier to carry more bikes in less space, straight off the back of your car equipped with a 2″ receiver hitch. These racks are slated for an 11/15/21 release on Yakima.com and select retailers.
Specs:
-Transports up to 6 flat bar Bikes or 4 drop bar bikes using minimal space
-Securely supports most road, mountain, kids, and cruiser bikes by the handlebar
-Fully padded cradles protect your handlebars, including carbon bars
-Rotating rear wheel cup fits a wide range of wheelbases up to 50″
-Accommodates bikes up to 37.5 lbs. each
-Holds 20″-29″ tires up to 5″ wide
-Add your own bike lock to the integrated lock loop for greater bike security
-Foot-operated tilt mechanism makes it easy to access the rear of the vehicle
-Dual cradle retention stabilizes and protects bikes from one another.
-HitchLock included
-Built-in bottle opener—cheers!
-Fits 2″ hitch receivers only
-NOT compatible with the Yakima BackSwing and StraightShot
-Not compatible with aero handlebars, clip-on aero bars, or handlebars larger than 35mm in diameter
-Transport dual-crown fork bikes with the HangTight DH Cradle accessories (sold Seperatly)
Four wheelin’ and cycling are not exactly a common pairing yet this merging of two hobbies for me creates all kinds of interesting problems to solve. For instance, finding a bike rack that lives up to the same standards as my truck’s other accessories. From the roof top tent’s aluminum structure, to the steel bumpers and other body armor. I need a rack that can take a few hits and keep on tickin’… or in this case, clickin’. That’s where 1-Up USA’s newest model, the Equip-D double bike rack comes into play.
Got a vehicle that needs to carry a spare tire on the back but you’ve gotta carry a bike rack too? Well, if it has a 2″ receiver, the RIGd UltraSwing Hitch Carrier Multi-Fit fits all vehicles now. The original UltraSwing only fit the 4th/5th gen 4Runner but the Multi-Fit works with just about any vehicle with a 2″ receiver. The offset receiver hitch keeps the bikes away from your spare tire and when you need to get into the back of your vehicle, it swings away, making access easy. See more at RIGd.
When it comes to carrying a lot of mountain bikes, few racks can match the North Shore Rack. While there are many options for carrying capacity from the brand, this post will only address the 6-bike NSR design, since it’s the only one I’ve ever used personally. Granted, the 4-bike NSR will also apply here, since it’s a very similar design. After our Nevada Highway 50 MTB trip, I was impressed with the versatility of this unique rack design. The North Shore Rack carries mountain bikes and mountain bikes only. Due to its fork crown hanger, it has to attach to modern MTB fork crowns, not road bike forks. Yes, it’ll work on rigid forks too!
RockyMounts’ BackStage Swing Away Rack Makes Road Trips Easier
Words and photos by Locke Hassett
Living in my truck a few months out of the year with 2+ bikes just got a whole lot easier thanks to the BackStage Swing Away Rack from Boulder, CO based RockyMounts. For the past few years, I have been utilizing my truck bed as a mobile studio apartment while driving all over the American West, including my twice a year migration between Montana and Arizona. Usually, I throw an old sleeping pad over my tailgate and pile my bikes into the back with the front wheels hanging out. Sure, this works, but it is cumbersome to transition into kitchen/bed mode and my tailgate and forks don’t love this method either. It was time for a change.
