Additional Information on Yakima Mighty Joe Trunk Bike Rack Recall

The Yakima Rack company has issued further information regarding the Mighty Joe 2 & Mighty Joe 3 bicycle trunk rack nationwide recall. The company has decided that a defect that relates to motor vehicle safety exists in its 2005 Mighty Joe 2 and Mighty Joe 3 bicycle racks. Specifically, the latches designed to support the load arms may appear to be latched even when they are not latched. In such a case, the bicycle load arms may collapse while one or more bikes are mounted on the trunk rack, which could possibly cause injury or property damage.

All customers are asked to immediately stop using the product, and dealers should remove them from their car rack sales floors as well. Yakima will reimburse all customers that own a product affected by this recall. A Yakima website has been established to instruct consumers on how to apply for a complete refund.

Participants Wanted for Thule Rack Testing

Spokesmen from the Thule car rack company have issued a release stating the company is currently seeking participants for Thule rack testing at the company headquarters in Seymour, Connecticut. The announcement explains that anyone residing in the Connecticut area and willing to allow Thule technicians some time to test a roof rack on the car, Thule can provide a free rack system in return. The free roof rack system would be based on the company's ability to successfully fit the vehicle and may not immediately be available.

The testing program is available on a first come, first serve basis for the following car and truck testing - 2006 Dodge Charger 2006 Hyundai Accent 2006 Hyundai Azera 2006 Lexus IS 250/350 2006 Lexus GS 300/430 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse 2006 Buick Lucerne 2005 Ford Mustang 2004 or 2005 Kia Amanti 2005 Mercedes C-class 4dr, coupe, or wagon 2005 Nissan Frontier without factory installed rack 2005 Suzuki Reno 2005 Mazda 5.

If anyone owns one of these car or truck models listed above and are willing to bring the vehicle to Seymour, CT, interested participants are instructed to email the company for complete information.

Nissan Roof Rack Manufacturer Establishes Local Assembly Plant

A spokesman for the Nissan Motor Corporation has announced that Nissan’s automobile assembly plant is helping to bring suppliers close by. Tier-one supplier SportRack Automotive, a supplier of roof rack systems, is establishing an assembly and manufacturing plant locally, where it will manufacture Nissan roof racks. SportRack car racks will ship the products to the Nissan plant.

“We’re extremely pleased with the relationship we’ve developed with Nissan,” remarked Richard Borghi, president and COO for SportsRack. “SRA looks at Nissan as a partner and intends to help it in its future growth initiatives.” SRA reports to have chosen this location because executives got the impression that state and local officials were not only interested in helping the company to locate in Mississippi, but that they were also concerned with making the location a successful one.

Thule Truck Racks & Leer Truck Caps Announce Partnership

A representative from Thule recently announced it is to be the exclusive supplier for Leer fiberglass truck caps. Thule Inc., world leader in car and truck rack systems, and Leer, the truck accessory industry’s leading brand of pickup truck caps and tonneaus, have formed a strategic partnership where Thule is to be the exclusive supplier of roof rack products for Leer’s line of fiberglass truck caps. The companies will also cross-promote each other through their websites, collateral materials, and other marketing efforts.

“Leer is the undeniable leader when it comes to truck caps, and together we will provide truck owners with the best solutions for transporting their gear safely, easily, and in style,” stated Fred Clark, President, Thule Inc. “Active families need the capabilities of today’s pickup trucks for work and play – and a Thule-equipped Leer truck cap gives them the ability to take all their cargo, sports equipment and other gear along with them no matter where they go.”

“Thule is more than just a car rack company, they are an innovative leader who understands our customers and our business,” remarked Bruce Freeman, President, Truck Accessories Group. ”Thule truck racks fit perfectly with our ongoing campaign to encourage truck cap purchasers to ‘gear up their Leer.’ We look forward to the retail appeal and brand strength Thule brings to our product line.”

Effective November 1, 2005, Thule will be the only factory installed rack systems offered for the LEER line of fiberglass truck caps. In addition to a basic rack system of Top-Tracks, foot packs, load bars and locks, Thule Accessories will be included in popular Leer Special Edition packages. Early in 2006, consumers will also be able to add Thule’s new Rapid Aero load bars, Castaway fishing rod carrier and Escape, Nomad & Quest roof bags, to their made to order Leer cap. Leer retailers will also be able to offer their retail customers popular Thule ski, bike, canoe and kayak rack accessories at their retail locations.

Thule will be promoting truck caps on its website as an ideal way to increase a truck’s cargo capacity while enabling the user to take full advantage of Thule’s multi-sport roof rack systems. Thule also plans to outfit some of their Envoys who travel the country conducting retail training and supporting consumer and retail sales events with new vehicles outfitted with Leer caps.

Both companies offer industry leading warranties. Thule Inc. announced earlier in 2005 that they will be offering an industry leading Lifetime Warranty program on all its products beginning in January, 2006. The addition of a Thule truck roof rack system to a Leer cap, gives Leer cap buyers a wide range of options for carrying luggage, cargo, sports gear and other loads on top of the cap, while reserving the space inside the cap for items that require shelter from the elements or need to be stored out of sight.

Ottawa City Bike Storage Racks to be Removed for Winter

Ottawa, Canada city officials announced a new 2005 winter notice. City storage and parking bike racks in the city will be removed from city sidewalks beginning the second week of November. Officials have decided they will be taken in to make it easier for snow removal during the winter months. Some of the bicycle racks will be left out all winter however, if they are in locations where they won't impede snow removal. Bikes currently found at the parking racks will begin receiving warning stickers advising cyclists of the impending bicycle rack removal.

LeeTran Transit Authority Earns Award for Bicycle Rack Program

LeeTran has recently been honored for its innovative approach in attracting customers who do not live within walking distance of a bus stop. The transit authority was awarded the inaugural Rack and Ride Transit Challenge, which is given to a transit system with the highest percentage of customers using bike racks. The national competition, which is sponsored by the Sportworks car rack company, included 21 other cities.

"It's a neat award, and it's something we can be happy about," exclaimed Steve Myers, director of LeeTran. "It shows that among other cities, we rank right up there. It also shows that our program is as useful as, if not more, than other cities." Of LeeTran's riders, 4.1% use the bicycle racks. Its nearest competition, Honolulu, averaged 3.8%."The biggest benefit of the bike racks is that people who are further out can access the route," Myers added. "We have fairly good coverage, but it can be miles for some people to use the bus system."

LeeTran supplies bike racks for all its 57 buses, including trolleys. The buses are limited to two bikes, but there are plans to expand to at least three.There are three divisions, and LeeTran won among entrants with the largest transit systems. It also won the overall competition. "We don't consider ourselves a large urban city, but this is testament that we're making our buses more accessible for more people," Myers stated. "There was some skepticism at first, and this speaks well of the foresight to do this."

Fork Up Allows Unconventional Bike Forks to Work on Most Bike Roof Racks

Hurricane Components has released the after-market Fork Up for bike roof rack systems. The company states that it is compatible with bicycle thru-axle forks and the Cannondale Lefty fork, allowing users to transport their bikes on most roof rack systems including Saris, Inno, Thule, Yakima and Rocky Mounts bike racks. The Fork Up adapter connects to roof rack bike attachment standard quick release fork mounts.

According to Hurricane Components, the Fork Up approximates the bike wheel hub shell. The barrel is TIG-welded to two legs that slide into the bike rack fork mount, just like a set of non-thru axle fork legs do. Instructions for installation state the attaching of the ForkUp to the roof rack’s fork mount and clamping it. Place bike onto the rack then slide the thru-axle through one fork dropout, then through the Fork Up’s barrel, then through the other fork droupout. Finally, tighten the dropouts. The company states that it manufactures versions that fit Marzocchi QR20 forks, Cannondale Lefty Forks and Hannebrink forks.

All New Surfboard Rack Released by Monster Tower

Monster Tower watersport and surfboard rack systems has recently announced that it has released to dealers nationwide the company's new surfboard rack that fits any size tower. Monster Tower provides wakeboard towers as well wakeboard and surfboard rack attachments that fit any boat. Products are sold worldwide through dealers, distributors and direct.

Yakima Mighty Joe Bike Trunk Racks Recalled

Yakima Racks has announced that it is recalling the Yakima Mighty Joe 2 and Mighty Joe 3 bike trunk racks due to a potential design flaw in these products. After subjecting the trunk bike racks to rigorous scrutiny, the company has concluded that there is a flaw in the design that could cause injury or product damage.

Yakima has requested that car rack dealers immediately halt all sales of the Mighty Joe 2 and Mighty Joe 3 and also remove them from their sales floors. Retailers are also instructed to notify their Mighty Joe 2 and Mighty Joe 3 customers to cease use of the bike trunk rack systems. Yakima is directly managing the recall process with owners of the Mighty Joe 2 and Mighty Joe 3 racks.

Thule Lauches Cargo-Luggage Box Interactive Visual Guide

Thule Racks has launched an interactive cargo-luggage box visual guide. The interface is available at the Thule corporate website. Users are offered the opportunity to select their specific vehicle make, model and color. They can then choose any of the roof boxes compatible with their particular vehicle. The selected luggage box is then added to the vehicle, allowing the user to visualize what the cargo box will likely look like on the user's vehicle.

Delta Cycle Corp. Recalls Bike Storage Rack

The Delta Cycle Corp. in cooporation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has begun a voluntary recall of the Delta Picasso Two-Bike Racks. Consumers are instructed to stop using this product immediately unless otherwise instructed. The company believes about 3,500 storage racks are affected.

Delta Cycle Corp., of Foxboro, Massachusetts, explained the bike racks do not have sufficient hardware to support its weight when hung on a wall, possibly causing the storage bike rack to unexpectedly fall. There has been one report of a bike rack falling. No injuries have been reported however. This recall involves Picasso bike racks with a collapsible shelf. The storage bike rack can be mounted on the wall and has slots to support two bicycles. The metal rack has the Delta logo and name printed on the front of the rack. The products were sold at LL Bean, Bike Nashbar and independent bike shops nationwide from January 2002 to the current date for about $40. Manufactured in China and Taiwan, consumers should contact Delta Cycle immediately to receive additional hardware and updated installation instructions.

Bill Proposed to allow Mopeds Use of Bicycle Parking Racks

Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou has introduced a bill that proposes to allow mopeds, but not motorcycles or motor scooters, to lock up to city bicycle parking racks on sidewalks. The bill prohibits riding mopeds on sidewalks however. Hawaii State Senator Suzanne Chun has drafted a bill that was distributed at the Downtown Neighborhood Board meeting. The bill would revise state law to allow mopeds to park on sidewalks where there are no designated on-street moped stalls to be found.

A moped is defined as a device with two or three wheels in contact with the ground that has a maximum power of 2 horsepower and a maximum speed of 30 mph. A driver's license is required to drive a moped, but they have the same registration requirement as bicycles.

Golf Club Hitch Cargo Box Available

Feat First Inc. has released the Autolinx hard-shell travel case that carries a golf bag and is suitable for airline travel as well stated a company spokesman. The Autolinx can be attached to the back of a truck or car using a typical hitch receiver that is commonly used for rear mount bike, ski, kayak and canoe racks. "Everyone knows hard-shell cargo-luggage carriers and cases offer the best protection, but the downside has been their unyielding bulk," added the spokesman. The Autolinx cargo box protects but avoids the bulkiness and even look good on small cars such as a Porsche 911, Audi TT or Dodge Viper. The golf club cargo carriers are priced at $295 each, and work with all trucks, vans, sports cars and SUVs with hitch receivers.

Chrysler Group Issues Bulletin on Reducing Aerodynamic Drag

The Chrysler Group has issued a bulletin to educate consumers on ways to decrease fuel costs when taking road trips. Among Chrysler's advice are instructions to reduce aerodynamic drag on a car or truck by removing empty luggage carriers, cargo box attachments, bike racks, ski racks, canoe carriers, kayak rack attachments and surfboard racks when not using a car roof rack system for transporting outdoor sports gear and equipment. The report states that at highway speed, 50% of the vehicle engine power is used to overcome aerodynamic drag.

Thule Hullavator Kayak Rack Earns Silver IDEA Award

Johnson Outdoors and Thule Car & Truck Rack Systems have teamed up to overcome the dilemma of kayaking's popularity among women and older kayakers, and until recently there was a perceived barrier to getting involved with the sport - that being the physical strength required to transport a kayak or canoe. The Thule Hullavator car roof kayak rack, an innovative watercraft transport system born out of a partnership between Johnson Outdoors and Thule, has received a 2005 Silver Industrial Design Excellence Award (IDEA), one of the most prestigious, global awards for innovation in product design.

The Thule 897 Hullavator is a transport system that assists in the loading of a kayak to a car or truck’s roof. The innovative system uses a gas strut assembly that cuts in half the strength needed to lift a kayak to the top of a vehicle. The design also reduces the traditional loading height by 40 inches, allowing for strapping to be done easily and conveniently at waist level. The lowered load height also makes the Thule Hullavator ideal for shorter paddlers and SUV and larger vehicle owners.

"Consumer research identified car top kayak transport as a major problem area due to the physical effort lifting a boat to a roof requires," remarked Johnson Outdoors Watercraft Vice President Mark Leopold. "The Thule 897 Hullavator makes it easy for one person to load and unload watercraft and has generated an enthusiastic paddler response." The Thule Hullavator stood out as a Silver winner from a design submissions field of more than 1,380 from around the world. The 897 Hullavator’s ability to revolutionize the process of watercraft transport is what caught the IDEA jury’s attention.

"The Thule and Johnson Outdoors designers have done a wonderful job tackling paddlers’ long-standing problem of straining to load and offload their watercraft," exclaimed Budd Steinhilber, IDEA jury member. "They have devised a well-conceived, cleverly-engineered and handsomely-detailed, transport system that I believe will do wonders to help grow their sport."

Nationwide Envoy Program Launched by Thule Racks

Thule Racks has announced it is hitting the road with its Thule Envoy program for 2005. Traveling all across the United States to several showcase events, the Envoy program is intended to be an opportunity for the public to visit with and meet the Thule Envoys and learn all about Thule car rack systems and gear transportation. Participants can also pick-up valuable Thule hitch, trunk and roof rack coupons redeemable at local and online retailers, as well as being entered to win kayak, ski, snowboard, surfboard, bike and canoe rack raffle prizes.

Upcoming destinations include Tri for the Cure - Denver, CO August 7; Outdoor Retailer - Salt Lake City, UT August 8-14; Sun Cup: Soccer Trnt. - Virginia Beach, VA August 20-21; San Francisco Grand Prix - San Fran, CA September 3-4; US 10K Classic/Family Festival - Atlanta, GA September 5; Oktoberfest - Denver, CO September 10-11; Cycle Oregon - Boardman, OR September 16-17; Gauley Festival - Sumersville, WV Sept. 24-26; Jamba Juice Tri - Mission Beach, CA October 2; 24 Hours of MOAB - Moab, UT Oct. 16-17; REI promotion/clinic - Phoenix, AZ Oct. 21.

Yakima Racks Announces Free Car Rack Locks in 'Steal the Locks' Promotion

A spokesman for Yakima Racks recently announced the company is offering a new promotional program, titled 'Steal the Locks', throughout the end of June and the beginning of July. The spokesman stated that, for a limited time through any participating Yakima Rack dealers, customers will receive free car rack locks to be used with a purchase of any Yakima roof rack multi-purpose system as well as any roof mount gear attachments that use the Yakima Same Key System (SKS) locks such as Yakima bike racks and ski racks.

The Yakima spokesman further explained that the SKS locks promotion does not apply towards Yakima bike hitch racks, trunk racks or vehicle roof mount gear attachments that are non-lockable such as kayak racks and canoe racks. For further information, Yakima is asking consumers to visit a participating car rack dealer.

BVG Back Road II Hitch Bike Rack Earns Outdoor Magazine Gear of the Year Award

Outdoor Magazine recently awarded the BVG Back Road II Pro Hitch Mount Bike Rack a "Gear of the Year" Award for the vehicle sport rack category. Features of the Bauer Vehicle Gear (BVG) manufactured bicycle carrier that were highlighted by Outdoor Magazine include the hitch mounted bike racks superb ease-of use, with simple load and go features; a gas assisted swing away bar that allows users to quickly access the rear of their car even with the bikes attached; two horizontal bike arms have soft rubber cradles and locking tabs on either side, conveniently accommodating all types of bicycles like womens' bike frames, bmx, kids and downhill mountain bikes; anti-wobble device that prevents bikes from swaying and making contact with each other and the car while in transport; integrated bike cable lock system.

DIY Bike Parking Rack Released By LEDA Security Products

LEDA Security Products recently announced the company has reengineered the Compact Security bike rack, converting it into a do-it-yourself shippable kit form. The company reports significant distribution and freight savings will result. The storage bike rack has security rails which offer vertical support while allowing the bicycle’s frame and both wheels to be secured. Each heavy duty security rail incorporates an EPDM cushion that protects bicycles from accidental damage. The bicycle storage rack is manufactured from powder coated steel components.

LEDA Security Products also announced it has released The Bicycle Parking & Security Handbook, a technical guide for designers and builders when selecting a bike parking rack for various needs and applications.

Rocky Mounts Lariat SL Bike Rack Reviewed in Bike Magazine

The Rocky Mounts Lariat SL bike rack was recently reviewed in the latest issue of Bike Magazine. Intoducing the Rocky Mounts Lariat Sl as an alternative to major car rack manufacturers, Yakima Racks and Thule Racks, the article focused on the small Boulder-based company's ability to specialize in roof mount bike trays instead of complete roof rack systems. The Rocky Mounts Lariat SL bike carriers are designed as fork mounts that can be bolted to existing Yakima and Thule cross bars.

Features include a sturdy, cast-metal head, optional locking, quick release skewer and lever, as well as a full-length tray that is compatible with tires as wide as 2.3-inches. The Rocky Mounts Lariat SLX is available for wider tires and longer bikes such as freeride and downhill mountain bikes.

Bike Magazine highlighted the RockyMount Lariat SL spectrum of available color choices, including the new Rocky Mount urban camouflage color. Other bike tray colors include red, black, yellow, silver, orange, baby blue, gold and green. According to reviewers, installation of the bike carrier requires only a crescent wrench and hex bolt wrench

Rocky Mounts also offers an optional disc brake adapter for bicycles that run front wheel disc brakes, avoiding complications when mounting a bicycle to the bike rack where the disc brake has the potential to interfere with fork mount attachment.