As the summer winds down and the bike parks close, downhill riders across the country turn to alternate means of getting them and their bikes to the top of something steep and gnarly to ride back down. Sure, pushing 40 pounds of downhill bike up the side of a mountain for an hour or two is a great way to work out your calves, but after a summer of multi-run days, it can be a little disappointing to get a single ride down for all that effort. Get enough like-minded friends together, and once you find appropriate trails with road access, and you can shuttle your bikes up and down for the cost of gas (and maybe a few Tim Horton’s breakfast sandwiches).
While piling tens of thousands of dollar’s worth of downhill bikes into the back of a pickup truck and bombing up a fireroad a half dozen times is great in theory, in practice it usually results in some rather expensive damage.
Yakima’s GateKeeper tailgate pad is a great solution for those with pickup trucks (it holds the bikes upright, hanging over the tailgate). The GateKeeper keeps bikes separated and secure, keeping them from getting scratched and dented during bumpy road excursions. SitTight cushioned bike cradles and closure straps provide extra stability and protection, and give each bike a safe, comfortable spot to be strapped in for the shuttle ride. Plus, one of the coolest features of the GateKeeper is a tuck- away cover that opens up the view for backup cameras
!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWVnU8fDaXQ
You’ve gotta hand it to Yakima for the pro-level finish on their racks; the fit and finish is always top notch. If you want to shuttle in style, then the soon-to-be-released Yakima HangOver vertical rack is the way to go. This baby will be hitting shelves in the spring of 2019, and has certainly got some hype behind it so far!
Vertical racks have been popular with shuttle riders for years, and have a lot going for them. Storing bikes vertically saves a lot of space, allowing a rack to carry up to six bikes without significantly increasing the effective length of the vehicle. The placement of the bikes (closer to the vehicle) also reduces the load on the hitch, and keeps the bikes from swaying. Yakima took the design and improved it with signature Yakima style.
The Hangover features really top-notch mounting touch-points…
…and a kick-pedal to allow the rack to tilt down out of the way!
The HangOver has a few features that set it apart from other vertical racks on the market. A easy-access kick pedal allows the rack to tilt down for tailgate and hatch access, and the entire rack can fold in half when not in use for easy storage on, or off the vehicle. Bikes are held securely with triangular fork supports (an industry first) as well as rubber straps, ensuring that your bike will stay put no matter how rowdy the road. And finally, the HangOver is adjustable to two different heights, allowing it to work with a variety of vehicle heights, and ensuring great ground clearance for larger bikes.
The HangOver 6-bike configuration
The HangOver comes in a 4-bike and 6-bike configuration, depending on how many muddy, sweaty friends you want to cram in your vehicle at a time. A word to the wise- both versions require the use of a 2″ receiver to support the weight of all those bikes, and the stresses of bouncing them over rough terrain in the search for adventure. Don’t forget to grab some HipLok Z Loks for a little extra security if you’re leaving the bikes unguarded.
Between the GateKeeper and HangOver, you’ll be all set for shuttle adventures this winter! Stop by your local Live to Play Sports dealer, where you can pick up a GateKeeper today, or put your name down for a HangOver rack which will be hitting shelves in the new year! Happy shuttling!