Just realized I was over-tightening my bike rack straps this whole time

For 3 years I cranked those Velcro straps on my trunk rack as TIGHT as possible, thinking that was safer. Then last month in Austin a guy at the bike shop pointed out my rear brake cable was all pinched and bound up from the strap pressure. Now I just snug them firm and check after 5 minutes of driving, and my shifting actually works better than it ever has. Anyone else deal with this or have other rack mistakes to share?

2 comments

2 Comments

elliot_king5d ago

The real hidden problem nobody talks about is how over-tightening can actually warp your frame over time. I bent a top tube slightly on an old aluminum frame because I had the straps cranked down so hard the pressure was uneven and it just slowly deformed. Plus those tight straps trap road grit and moisture right against the paint, which over years creates these weird micro scratches that turn into rust spots if you have a steel frame. How often do you actually inspect the contact points on your rack for wear?

lucas_carr245d ago

Actually @elliot_king you're partly right about frame damage but over-tightening straps won't warp an aluminum frame unless you're using a jack. The bigger issue is what you said about trapped grit and moisture though. I ruined a set of paint touch-ups because I never checked under those contact pads after a rainy ride.