DIY bike rack

[Sled]

If you did that with a carbon frame, you'd have a VERY good chance of cracking the downtube, especially on a bumpy road surface.
(USAC Licensed Mechanic)

This assessment is assuming so many things...

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[Sled]

OP, your gonna bend the shit out of your frame that way. It's also not gonna handle a sideways turn that well. If you want to do a strap like that, look up motorcycle strapping. It won't be as safe as motorcycles have front shocks but it's a heck of a lot more sturdy that what you got going on..

I plan on using the flexbed slots for some 2x4's and then securing some THULE bike racks to them.

I don't like the idea of removing the front wheel and a full bike rack is a PITA to take off and put on. Hopefully with a 2X4 replacing the crossbars I'll be able to figure out an in-bed bike rack system.

..another very assumptive statement, so much needless alarm here. i can imagine a handful of differnt more stable ways to strap this bike into place but these assertions are unfounded and wildly alarmist. itsa mtn/ gravel bike meant to be abused on semi rough trails, dirt roads etc.. not a fly weight racing road bike... even those being so light would esily be strapped into position and held fast with such a setup as they weigh so little
You are assuming he's putting ridiculous torque into tightening the straps..and/or that the mass of the bike is soo great that the forces involved will buckle the tube due to the straps being so strong as to create damaging stress point at the spot the straps are attached to the DT, so that spot is held rigidly in place while the rest of the bike mass is stressed so badly it deforms instead?

This bike likely weighs what 24-28 lbs max ? There is not enough mass involved being held in place by the straps straps to bend the down tube regardless of how tight he cinches them unless the down tube is virtually beer can thin and unsuitable for a mtn bike meant to take trail abuse under an average riders weight....

OP,... if this damages your DT I'LL buy you a new bike ffs.

 

[Sled]

How is that any different than my hitch mount rack that applies pressure to the top tube?

in a nutshell, the potential pressure to the top tube with your rack system is likely not nearly as much as could be possible from someone putting their weight behind setting a tiedown/cinch type strap as the rack's frame arms are meant to hold/lock the bike into position vertically and horizontally within the other features of the rack that keep the bike in place on the rack, they do not apply a huge amount of direct pressure against the frame as it is unnecessary.

Bottom line: that comment is assuming alot of conditions that are negative, and not taking into consideration some basic facts, one being the mass of the bike which would have a huge part in any potential damage risks. Carbon bikes are by design low mass, very light, and extremely strong structures meant to take the stress of a 130- 165LB++ rider hammering over uneven terrain.
The conditions that could result in actual frame damage with this method of securing the bike are not very liklely unless some one is extraordinarlily ham fisted, incredibly strong and at least some what clueless, or.......the frame itself is defective.

I could be wrong, but untill some one can show me instances where these warnings are based on actual damages witnessed that were specifically caused by the same method of securing the bike in this manner......

So, Y'all are good, some people just need to find something 'wrong' or something to worry about in most things they see and do not fully understand.

 

[710-oil-614]

If you did that with a carbon frame, you'd have a VERY good chance of cracking the downtube, especially on a bumpy road surface.
(USAC Licensed Mechanic)

OP bike not carbon.

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