Cora Bike Racks Announces New Industrial Grade Bicycle Parking Rack Series

A company spokesman for Cora Bike Racks, manufacturers of industrial and commercial grade bicycle storage racks, recently announced that its latest bike rack series, the Cora Expo and Cora Vertigo, comply with and exceed AS2890.3 regulations and now include a 15 year guarantee. The spokesman added that an increasing number of local governments are adding mandatory requirements for the provisions of secure bicycle parking facilities at all new developments including shopping mall, school, hospital, library and public transit locations.

As a world leading designer and manufacturer of storage and parking bicycle racks, Cora Bike Rack stated that it has undertaken thorough research into the needs of cyclists and product specifiers, explaining that today's cyclists simply ignore poorly designed bike racks and choose to lock their bikes to signs, trees, posts and building fronts instead. The key to a safe and effective bicycle parking rack is to first and foremost provide a high quality product in the first place, the Cora Bike Rack spokesman concluded.

Bike Racks on Police Cars Proposed by City Councilman

As gasoline prices continue to escalate, reports of alternative programs proposed by federal and local government officials are also rising. Of note is Athens, Alabama City Councilman Ronnie Marks' proposition that the city police department consider outfitting patrol cars with bicycle racks so officers can park and patrol on bikes.

Marks reported that the local police department currently has 50 vehicles, budgeted $75,000 and to date has spent $27,634 on gas and oil. He asserted that bike racks on police cars would keep fuel costs down by allowing patrolmen to park their cars and ride through complexes such as malls, business parks and downtown areas. Also night-shift patrol officers could bicycle in pairs for part of their shifts.

Car Rack Industry Releases Informative Consumer Report Detailing Current Options Available

In an effort to inform and educate consumers, car rack industry experts recently released a consumer report regarding the various systems and options available, as well as the benefits and drawbacks. The report begins by explaining that car roof racks, which connect to a vehicle's roof, are currently the most commonly used systems. A roof rack set up typically consists of a set of two cross bars, which attach to the car roof using clips that connect to vehicles with and without rain gutters. Also, vehicles with factory-installed luggage racks can normally be fitted with cross bars and gear accessory attachments.

Roof rack systems currently include a variety of accessory attachments including cargo boxes, roof baskets and carriers for canoes, kayaks, skis, snowboards, fishing rods and surfboards. Major car roof rack manufacturers include Yakima Racks and Thule Racks. The report explains that some of the drawbacks to consider are accessibility on taller vehicles, need to remember that gear is on top before driving under low clearances, such as garage doors and fast-food drive-thrus. The benefits include versatility and very stable and secure gear transport.

The report explains that the popularity of SUVs and minivans is responsible for the current high demand for hitch bike racks and trunk racks, which connect either to a vehicle's 1 1/4 inch or 2 inch trailer hitch receiver or to the bumper and rear hatchback, trunk lid or rear access door on SUV's, minivans, station wagons etc using straps and hooks. Trunk racks are a good choice for people that don't often travel with their bicycles. Bike trunk racks and hitch racks can transport four bikes and sometimes five. They can also easily accommodate a mix of different bike styles and sizes. These sytems are relatively secure and stable, though not as secure as car roof racks. They also offer very easy access to loading and unloading bicycles. The report lists drawbacks that include the fact that bicycles usually must be removed first in order to gain access to trunks, hatchbacks and rear doors of vehicles. Also a vehicle must have a hitch receiver installed for bicycle hitch racks to be compatible.

The report next explains that permanent mount pickup truck bed bike racks are the least expensive type of rack available. The inexpensive permanent pickup truckbed bike mounts can be permanently installed in the bed of a pickup truck, inside a trailer or van, or can be attached to a removable cross brace, such as a 2x4 piece of lumber. Several new more expensive non-permanent options that don't require any hardware or drilling are also available and can include expandable bars that span the width of the bed, attach to the bed rails, hook under the tailgate etc.

The report concludes with an explanation of truck bed utility racks, which can be typically permanently bolted or non permanently fastened to the rails of a pickup truck's cargo bed. Because of a truck racks strength, they are an excellent option for carrying kayaks, canoes, small boats, ladders, piping, lumber, plywood etc. Manufacturers such as Yakima, Thule and TracRac Truck Racks also offer gear attachments that connect to the truck rack cross bars, similar to car roof rack load bars. The benefits of these systems include extra cargo space in the truck bed for other gear, super stong design for heavy loads and also relatively easy access to loading and unloading.

Thule Racks Officially Opens Newly Expanded Seymour Facility

City officials from Seymour, Connecticut, the United States headquarters of Thule Racks, recently reported the company has more than doubled its facility since moving to the Silvermine Road location in 1992. Thule Racks, part of Swedish car rack maker Thule Group, officially opened its newly expanded space the beginning of April. The space now includes an extra 28,000 square feet and adds a new customer training area, truck staging location and additional warehouse and office space.

With this expansion, along with the 26,000 square feet the company added in 1998, Thule now occupies 105,000 square feet at 42 Silvermine Road. Thule Racks now employs more than 150 workers and began in the U.S. in 1981. Thule's products include roof racks to carry rooftop boxes, canoe, kayak, bicycle, ski, snowboard and surfboard equipment.

Car Roof Rack Manufacturers Increasingly More Affected by Higher Gasoline Prices

Car rack industry analysts recently indicated that roof rack system manufacturers could hit rough roads ahead, as the sector has become increasingly more impacted by the media's attention to high gasoline prices and how consumers can increase their mileage efficiency. Media outlets are reporting with more frequency that car roof rack systems can significantly increase wind drag and reduce fuel effiency, cautioning consumers to refrain from installing car roof carrier systems and transporting luggage and cargo gear in open roof baskets and roof bags.

Car rack manufacturers have responded that they are working to engineer products that reduce drag. Spokesmen close to the matter stated that roof rack fairings and cargo boxes are good examples of products that have been heavily researched and designed to drastically reduce wind drag and increase aerodynamics.

Thule Racks Purchases Scandanavian Horse Trailer Manufacturer

Thule Racks recently announced the acquisition of Star Industrier AB, a Swedish horse trailer manufacturer. Star Trailers is reported to have annual net sales of around $5.8 million and assembles approximately 1,500 trailers yearly. Anders Pettersson, Thule Group's president and CEO, said "The acquisition of Star Trailers strengthens our position within the horse trailer segment in Scandinavia and gives us access to more effective production and distribution."

The Thule trailer division reports $80.3 million in annual net sales, making up approximately 20% of Thule total sales. The Thule Group makes bike, kayak, canoe, ski and surfboard roof racks for cars, rooftop cargo boxes, hitch mount bike carriers as well as trailers and snow chains. Thule employs 2,000 workers worldwide and owns over twenty separate manufacturing, production and sales facilities in Europe, North America and Asia. British private equity company Candover Partners currently owns Thule.

Innovative Roof Rack TV Antenna Receives US Patent

Publicly traded KVH Industries recently announced they have received a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a key component in the hybrid phased-array antenna used in KVH’s in-motion TracVision A5 satellite TV system for vehicles. The TracVision A5 is an extremely low-profile satellite TV antenna that is engineered and designed to specifically fit passenger cars and is compatible with virtually all factory roof racks and aftermarket car racks that include Yakima Racks and Thule Racks. A KVH spokesman explained the company also offers a roof-mount system for vehicles without car roof racks.

KVH VP of engineering, Kal Ganesan, said that while phased-array antennas have been available to the military for a number of years, the cost has been prohibitive in entering the mainstream market. The company added that it intends to use its newly patented technology to develop a hybrid phased-array antenna that is economically priced for consumers. Industy analysts, Frost & Sullivan, recently projected that by year 2011 more than 36 million cars in the U.S. will have video systems and of these, more than 3 million will receive TV programming via mobile satellite.

Car Roof Rack Manufacturer Advanced Accessory Systems' Parent Company Sells Restaurant Chain

Castle Harlan, Inc., a New York private-equity investment firm and parent company of car roof rack manufacturer Advanced Accessory Systems, recently announced that it completed the sale of Charlie Brown's, a New Jersey-based family steakhouse chain. The chain was sold to Trimaran Capital Partners, a private-equity firm that is also based in New York. The transaction is reported to be valued at $140 million.

Industry experts forecast that the move will transfer more emphasis to Castle Harlan's roof rack unit, Advanced Accessory Systems, which is the largest manufacturer of automotive roof racks, and markets the line of car rack systems and aftermarket products under several brands that include SportRack Automotive, Sportrack Accessory Group, Valley Automotive, ValTek Technologies and ValTek Automotive. Current factory roof rack customers include BMW, Daimler Chrysler, Ford, Honda, GM, Hyundai, KIA, Isuzu, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Opel, Daewoo, Subaru, Skoda, Seat, Toyota and Volkswagen.

2005 Audi A6 Bike Rack Developed

Spokesmen from Audi Motors recently announced that an innovative internal Audi bike rack is now included with the all-new 2005 Audi A6 Avant wagon. The company spokesmen explained the new A6 Avant has significantly improved its cargo box area with expanded cargo carrying capacity, along with the innovative internal bicycle carrier system. The company further explained that the system features two securing rails that are fitted with four sliding, adjustable, and lockable lashing eyes. The unique Audi bike rack system mounts on the rails and around the protective tray. The internal system allows consumers to transport two mountain bikes securely inside their 2005 Audi A6 wagon.

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Thule Racks Signs Letter of Intent to Purchase Sportworks Quick-Load Bicycle Racks

Sources close to the matter recently announced that Thule Racks has reportedly signed a letter of intent to purchase the Quick-load Bike Racks division of Sportworks Northwest, Inc. Sources close to the matter stated that Thule intends to buy the Sportworks Quick-load Bike Racks assets and will make the line available to all Thule dealers nationwide on the scheduled date of May 9, 2005.

Fred Clark, Thule, Inc. President, stated "We continue to be on the lookout for companies that fit in well with Thule's product and growth strategies. This acquisition fits all our criteria and the addition of the Quick-load products to the Thule line gives us the most comprehensive and innovative offering of bicycle racks in the industry." As outlined in the LOI, Thule Racks will distribute the Quick-load division of Sportworks Bike Racks with Sportworks branding included. However, Sportworks will continue to manufacture and distribute their Bike-Rack-for-Buses line under their current Sportworks brand. Thule Racks intends, over the next year, to fully integrate the Sportworks Quick-load Bike Racks into the Thule line with Thule branding.

President of Sportworks, Mike Reeves, stated "We are proud of our accomplishments of taking the Sportworks brand of consumer rack systems as far as we did. This opportunity with Thule will expand the distribution of our consumer products, while allowing us to concentrate on our original business of serving the transit market." Chris Dannewitz, Thule, Inc. VP of Business Development, added "Sportworks has always had very innovative products and they are the true originator of the platform bike hitch rack system. Their new T2 platform hitch bike rack and the Insta-Gater truck bed bike rack are fine examples of Sportworks products that will be worthy of the Thule brand name."

Sources close to the matter report that Thule and Sportworks intend to formally announce the agreement during the Sea Otter Classic bike racing weekend in Monterey, CA on April 14-17.

Bike Rack Rentals Now Available with VW Vans

Western Road Trips, an outfitter of VW Westfalia camper van rentals, recently announced that they are offering optional bike racks to rent along with the Volkswagen bus rentals. Established a year ago, Western Road Trips was founded by Pete Van Slooten and Nathan Williams, whom met at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah near Zion National Park.

The two began renting the VW vans to fill the market between renting a large RV motor home and renting regular car or SUV models when visiting the numerous national and state parks and other recreation areas in Utah and the surrounding western states. Many of the bike riding enthusiasts have expressed a desire to rent bicycle racks for the VW vans. The company stated that the majority of cyclists visit Moab, Utah a major destination for mountain biking.

Silver Star Resort Announces Addition of Chairlift Bicycle Racks

Silver Star Mountain Resort recently announced that beginning July 1 and continuing through September 5, 2005 bicyclists will be able to access the mountain using the Comet Express six-passenger chairlift. Resort spokesmen stated that the high-speed detachable chair lift will be outfitted with innovative chairlift bike racks that will allow riders to roll their bicycles into the carriers. Cyclists can then access the heavily expanded bike park and network of mountain bike trails. Spokesmen from the Canadian resort added that Silver Star is making an additional $300,000 commitment to the project, which, via the chair lift bike carriers, will provide mountain bikers access to over 1,800 vertical feet of mountain biking terrain.