How To Keep Bikes From Swaying On Bike Rack?

Bikes swaying on a bike rack or the rack itself swaying. Both are very annoying. The rattling noise always bothers us. Is there anyone who can tolerate this annoying noise?

If you’re wondering how to keep bikes from swaying on the bike rack, this article is for you. Fortunately, we have a solution to the problem of swaying bikes. So could you stay with us until the end?

Why Does A Bike Sway On A Bike Rack?

Before we can prevent a bike from swaying on the bike rack, we must know what’s causing it to wobble. Even if we’ve followed all the instructions in the owner’s manual to the letter and have our bike securely fastened to the rack, it often continues to wobble when we ride. So what’s the cause of the sway?

Let’s take a look at how we attach a bike to a bike rack. Usually, all bike racks are equipped with a secure two-point locking system for the bike. The carrier comes into contact with the bike at two points. The grip is secure, but sometimes the bike can move forward and backward. So when you accelerate or decelerate, the inertia will cause the bike to sway on the rack.

This is the most common reason your bike sways on the rack. Other reasons can be a loose grip or swaying of the rack itself.

How To Keep Bikes from Swaying on Bike Rack?

The reason your bike sways on the hitch bike rack is due to the design of the rack. Usually, bike racks are designed to contact the bike at two points. This causes the bike to sway forward and backward.

The simple solution is to create a third point of contact between the bike and the bike rack.

Create The Third Point of Contact With The Bike Rack

How do we create a third point of contact between the bike and the bike rack? Let’s get started right away!

Find the Right Place

First, we need to decide where to create the third point of contact. The easiest and most effective way is to place this point near the pedals.

The two existing contact points are near the bike handle and the seat. If we create a third contact point at the bottom of the pedals, we create an upside-down triangle. Together, these three points prevent the bike from swaying in any direction.

Get Some Soft Wraps

To create the third point of contact, we need soft wraps. They come in a variety of sizes.

There is nothing to worry about if you don’t have soft wraps. You can make do with a rope.

Tie the Pedals to Rack Mast

Whether you have a soft wrap or rope, we’ll use it to tie the pedals to the mast of the bike rack. Wrap the mast first and then go through the pedals. Then tie it down. This will create a solid third point of contact, and your bike won’t wobble in the rack.

Also, tie the front wheel to the bike’s frame with another piece of soft wrap or rope. This will prevent the front wheel and handle from wobbling while driving.

And You’re Done!

This method is suitable for securing one bike and multiple bikes to the bike rack.

If you’re attaching multiple bikes, you should attach the heaviest bike first and use a long rope/strap to create a third point of contact for all bikes.

Conclusion

That’s it. We’ve reached the end of our guide on keeping bikes from swaying on the bike rack. Apparently, it’s pretty easy to create a third point of contact that prevents the cycle from wobbling.

We hope our guide was helpful for you. Have fun with your bike!