You love cycling, and road cycling most of all. You probably have one or two road bikes you love riding, but around town you use a bike made for city streets. So how do you carry these bikes quickly and easily when you need to? With a bike rack, because it keeps both you and your bikes safe.

Of course, you have seen plenty of ‘cyclists’ who put their bikes straight inside the car, but that is not a good idea at all. Doing this is very dangerous when you head off on a long ride and need to take your road bike or city bike by car. Why is it dangerous?

Because any minor impact, sudden braking or similar situation will turn the bikes into a real hazard. The danger is above all to you and your passengers, but also to other road users.

That is why you should choose the right rack for the type of bike you ride.

Tell us which bike you ride and we will tell you which rack to choose

To begin with, let us assume you own and ride a city bike. These are the most common bikes, and we will focus on them as well as on road bikes.

You may not know this, but there are several types of bike rack: they differ in how they mount and in how many bikes they carry. To help you understand how to choose your rack, we will focus on the racks and their mounting types. That way you will have a wider range to choose from.

Roof bar bike racks

This type of rack only works if your car has roof bars fitted, as the bike rack attaches directly to the roof bars. Racks like these usually carry a single bike, but that is actually a good thing. Why?

Because when you carry a road bike or a city bike, it has the rack to itself, which keeps it from getting scratched or damaged on the move. Before you choose a rack from this category, check its specifications carefully.

The instructions list the frame and wheel measurements of the bikes the rack will take. For example, check which frame tube sizes the rack can hold.

Roof bar racks that suit road bikes and city bikes perfectly include the Menabo Asso, Menabo Huggy and Menabo Juza.

You also need to check the rack's load capacity. In general, roof bar racks can carry around 15 kg at most.

Bike racks that fit on the tailgate or boot lid

These racks attach to the car's tailgate or boot lid. Before you buy one, make sure it fits your car. One advantage of tailgate racks is that they can carry several bikes at once. So if you are setting off on a long route with two friends, a rack like this is ideal for your bikes.

For carrying road bikes or city bikes, racks of this type are perhaps the most suitable. Why? Because they can carry up to 45 kg, and 99% of the bikes in the categories above are compatible with tailgate racks.

For city bikes and road bikes, our top tailgate rack picks are the Menabo Mistral, Menabo Main, Menabo Stand Up 3 and Menabo Logic 3.

Remember: before you choose a tailgate rack, check the compatibility details in the instructions supplied with it.

Towbar bike racks: how safe are they, and should I choose one?

In general, this type of bike rack suits almost any kind of bike perfectly, and road bikes and city bikes all the more so. Why would you buy a rack like this for your bikes?

First of all, towbar racks are the most rigid and reliable way to carry bikes.

These racks attach directly to the car's towbar in a few simple steps. Wondering whether they are right for your bike?

Towbar racks can usually carry several bikes, from two upwards, and weight is not a problem for them. In terms of protection, these racks are among the ‘gentlest’ on your bikes, so do not hesitate to choose one when you decide on a model.

Of the towbar racks, we can recommend the Menabo Sirio, Menabo Alcor, Menabo Antares and Menabo Merak.