Recommendation: use a hitch extender for bike rack

[colinl]

I ride all over the country. Last time I was in B’ville — which, admittedly, was a couple years back — I never saw a moped. Hard to imagine the reasoning given almost no real elevation gain.

whaaaat? you are seriously misinformed, 1,000 feet of climbing per 10 miles is pretty typical there.

I can't find a full session on tunnel vision or back40 because Strava's search just sucks, but it'll be well over 2k feet gained. this is way easier than the rockies - yes - but it's hardly easy, or flat, and there's hundreds of miles of singletrack so e bikes are popular just to see it all in less time.

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[dbozman]

OK. Everyone‘s experience is different. 100 feet of elevation gain per mile is not serious or difficult climbing. I’ve ridden every system in Bentonville. It’s super-fun, but not hard climbing. The hardest part is the humidity.

I am an average rider in Phoenix, so difficult technical climbing. My normal ride will be 2k of elevation gain.

 

[colinl]

OK. Everyone‘s experience is different. 100 feet of elevation gain per mile is not serious or difficult climbing. I’ve ridden every system in Bentonville. It’s super-fun, but not hard climbing. The hardest part is the humidity.

I am an average rider in Phoenix, so difficult technical climbing. My normal ride will be 2k of elevation gain.

yeah, I've done that in Colorado starting above 9k. it's just absurd to say Bentonville is flat because it's certainly not.

 

[cyberdog]

I'm mixed on the use of an extender with a bike rack, particularly with heavier e-Bikes, which may come in at 80 Lbs or so, even with the battery removed. Wouldn't adding the extension be asking for trouble, as it will increase the load on the receiver in motion, like putting a pipe over your ratchet wrench to magnify torque. (Reducing the tongue weight capacity of the receiver).

The force applied is multiplied as the length of the lever increases, and adding that extension in effect is creating a longer lever. Unlike a trailer where the balance of the weight is over the wheels of the trailer, all of that weight or force is now being applied to the receiver with a rated capacity of 200-400 Lbs. Take 160 Lbs of bike, plus a 50 lb or so carrier rated for 200 lbs of bike, and you already have a good 230 or so pounds bouncing around. Not sure I'd want it to apply the equivalent of more weight in motion.

Admittedly its been way too long since I took physics to try and calculate the exact reduction in weight capacity due to the effect of that 10" extension, however its in the area of 20-25%. That 200-400 lbs receiver just became somewhere between 150-300 lbs with the 10" extension in use. (And some of those carriers already have the trays some distance from the receiver).

 

[Phimosis]

I think I got on my bike twice last year. Running has taken up most of my time. And I'm old, I've been eyeing those pedal assist Turbo Levo's pretty hard...

Have you considered a Turbo Tero? The Levo is a one trick pony for bombing down single track trails. If you're old, your not exactly bombing down trails anymore, right?

The Tero is still a full suspension eMTB with a dropper post and can handle single track trails at moderate speeds. But with less aggressive tires, higher gear ratios, power assist up to 28 mph, headlight, taillight, fenders and a kick stand, it is a lot more pavement friendly and will encourage you to ride more miles per week/month/year.

In the last year, I rode my Tero X 5.0 for 1,200 miles on pavement, because I can just hop on after work and get a quick work out before the sun goes down, while I only did 300 miles on dirt because I have to plan a weekend trip somehwere far from home.

https://electricbikereport.com/specialized-turbo-tero-x-review/

 

[Phimosis]

yeah, I've done that in Colorado starting above 9k. it's just absurd to say Bentonville is flat because it's certainly not.

OK. Everyone‘s experience is different. 100 feet of elevation gain per mile is not serious or difficult climbing. I’ve ridden every system in Bentonville. It’s super-fun, but not hard climbing. The hardest part is the humidity.

I am an average rider in Phoenix, so difficult technical climbing. My normal ride will be 2k of elevation gain.

That's true. 100 ft elevation per mile is nothing. That is only a 1.9% grade. The thing is, there's a 99.999% chance that his 10 mile ride is not one long, even, uphill climb for 10 miles straight. Most likely he's hitting 10-12% up hill and downhill sections. Common sense prevails.

 

[dbozman]

You’re correct. I’m not sure why this is so controversial. I’ve ridden all the trails the other member referenced as well as many significant riding destinations across the US. Bentonville is rad. I love riding there. But from a technical climbing and elevation gain perspective, it’s not like climbing actual mountains. That’s all.

Not really sure why this has become an argument. I’ll just move along.

 

[Surly Old Bill]

Have you considered a Turbo Tero? The Levo is a one trick pony for bombing down single track trails. If you're old, your not exactly bombing down trails anymore, right?

The Tero is still a full suspension eMTB with a dropper post and can handle single track trails at moderate speeds. But with less aggressive tires, higher gear ratios, power assist up to 28 mph, headlight, taillight, fenders and a kick stand, it is a lot more pavement friendly and will encourage you to ride more miles per week/month/year.

In the last year, I rode my Tero X 5.0 for 1,200 miles on pavement, because I can just hop on after work and get a quick work out before the sun goes down, while I only did 300 miles on dirt because I have to plan a weekend trip somehwere far from home.

https://electricbikereport.com/specialized-turbo-tero-x-review/

It doesn't appear to be full suspension. I'm basically looking to add pedal assist to the type bike I'm familiar with; I have an FSR I built up to be a bit over 23lbs. But hey, with pedal assist, who cares about weight? Some of the other brands look ok. Maybe an Ibis? I'm fond of carbon frames.

 

[Surly Old Bill]

My swing away cost $150 when I bought it in 2015 but I'm sure it costs a bit more now.

swing away adapter to make any rack swing away is under $300. And that's brand new from the dealer. There are probably used ones for $50, and it's kind of hard to mess these up, making a used one any worse than a new one.
https://www.amazon.com/AETLEEMO-90°-120°-Capacity-Extension-Accessory/dp/B0DGTDRG5Q/ref=asc_df_B0DGTDRG5Q?mcid=d023c082bc3535f49710d3658d81bf85&hvocijid=5866395288655407186-B0DGTDRG5Q-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5866395288655407186&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032086&hvtargid=pla-2281435177618&psc=1

 

[Phimosis]

It doesn't appear to be full suspension. I'm basically looking to add pedal assist to the type bike I'm familiar with; I have an FSR I built up to be a bit over 23lbs. But hey, with pedal assist, who cares about weight? Some of the other brands look ok. Maybe an Ibis? I'm fond of carbon frames.

• Fork: RockShox 35 Silver TK, lockout, 130mm, fender mounts
• Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select R, rebound adjust, 45x190mm

I rode an all carbon Specialized Roubaix for 15 years. But I’m AARP aged now and my neck and wrists can’t tolerate a road bike, so I got an eMTB.

I had the day off, so this was my ride today.

And my ride after work yesterday.

And my ride after work, the day before that.

I can ride this thing for hours, every day. I’m not picky about it having the most suspension travel or setting the course record at my local bike park. I want something that I love to get a workout on every day. And this bike does that job on every road type.

 

[Dad]

It's a suburban mountain bike trail in a very wealthy area. When I get there, I see Ram Rebels, Raptors and Rivians. All with tailgate pads or hitch racks with the bike right up against the tailgate. Meanwhile I'm sitting back on the tailgate, chillin'. Seems like nobody else is set up to do this but I do recommend it. The hitch extender was cheap. I've seen guys pull mtb bikes out of a Ford Fiesta, so you don't need anything special to hit the trails. However I'll say that by far, I think the Maverick is the best and cheapest middle ground vehicle for this purpose.

Great idea! Thanks for sharing. Who needs a Rivian anyways.

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