Hi All...

Finally, after a bad experience with a Saris Roof Rack (Which, I highly reccomend, if you do not have an A4...It now lives on my girlie's 97 Jetta GT) I bit the bullet and bought a second one... Below are some pics of my new Thule Rack. Yes, there is some talk that roof racks on the sedan model can cause some deterioration to the window moldings and door seals... But hey, I'm a cyclist... I carry a bike practically every day, and I'm sick of putting it in the trunk.

Can anyone else report on an molding deterioration, water leaks, etc...?

I'm also amazed of how quiet the Faring makes the rack. There is noticable rack noise from inside the cabin.

Looking forward to meeting the NYC Metro 'Org'ers at Bellavia on Sunday! I'll have the rack on the car, if anyone is interested in checking it out!

Rich W. 99.5 1.8TQMS

<IMG SRC="http://www.rwnewmedia.com/a4/images/thule_1.jpg">
<IMG SRC="http://www.rwnewmedia.com/a4/images/thule_2.jpg"><ul><li><a href="http://www.rwnewmedia.com/a4">Rich W's A4</a></li></ul>

I ask this because I've got them and have had them on various car w/out any problems.


TIA,


Peter

The curvature of the roof line... I was never able to get the Fork Trays to stay tight to the rear crossbar. When ever I took a Curve, the Trays would shift. Once, My Mountain Bike almost fell on my car, because the tray shifted about a foot to the center, and the tray pulled out of the head.

Also, more issues:

A RockShox JUDY/SID is difficult to fit in the QR. Road Bikes are no Problem.

The Clips are very thick, and they cause the rear door seals to tear after one week.

Saris even sent replacement parts, but I was never satisfied.

But I do think it is the coolest-looking rack out there. That's why I bought it. I'm also in the Bike business... so I manage to everything at dealer cost... and getting a second system is not that big of a deal.

<center><img src="http://www.users.uswest.net/~craiger/cwbsquaw1.JPG"></center><p>I've had it for 10 years and have used it on two other cars. I have mine off the car briefly, in between ski and cycling seasons, although the seasons overlap big-time here in CO. I've never had any leakage problems. The plastic on the door jamb is compressed a bit where the rack bites, but it doesn't cause any problems.

See my toy box (link), for pix of my bikes.

CraigB<ul><li><a href="http://www.users.uswest.net/~craiger/craigmain.html">Craig's Toy Box</a></li></ul>

I've been putting my bike in the trunk. But my 58cm frame forces me to drop the left rear seat to fit, with the wheels removed. Does yours fit without dropping the rear seat?

Which Colnago? Masterlight? C-40? I also am putting together a Banesto Team Issue Pinarello Prince Rear Carbon... Does'nt everybody need a Dura Ace Bike, and a Record Bike?

I'm sort of an addict...

I haven't noticed any deterioration of the door seals. My old car had a rack on it almost all the time and I never had any deterioration there either and I have to believe Audi uses better materials than Nissan.

In fact Audi implicitly endorses the use of a rack by putting the little arrows there to mark where the clips go.

How's the Trek? I was thinking of getting one but the geometry doesn't fit me. I'm going to get a Litespeed Classic or Tuscany in the spring.

I pulled the edges of the fairing in to match the curvature of the windshield. In your pic it looks like the edges are sticking out. Is there a reason you did it that way?

You, Me, and Andy H.

We're three of a kind... Nice Mongoose!

Thats my exact Team-Spec USPS OCLV, with full D/A, Ksyriums (I also have a pair of Heliums) Cinelli Grammo Stem, Eubios bar. 16.9 lbs with Look 296 pedals... I was there when Lance won, and when I got back, I had to build an exact team replica. The watered-down Ultegra equipped complete bike verson, just isn't it.

For MTB... I have a 98 GT STS 1000 with full XTR, and crossmax, ringle stem and post....

Craig, get the fairing... It's worth it... Totally quiet, and it touches no paint. It rests right on the glass.<ul><li><a href="http://www.cyclesportonline.com/album/tdf99/tdf_99_1.html">Rich W's Personal Tour De France Journey</a></li></ul>

I can't seem to get it to curve correctly. Could you post some pics (or email me) so I can match your setup.

Are you using the inside out outside holes? When I get it to curve, the center lifts up, and the wind causes it to vibrate...

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

-Rich W

Craig,

I'm calling Andy, and we're coming out to CO to move in with you... NJ and PA just plain suck...

We're bringin' our A4's, Bikes, Skis, and couple cases of powerbars...

Stock the fridge... set up some bunk-beds in the spare room... you don't mind if I wax my skis in the bedroom... do you...?

How far of a drive to the slopes...?

:b

Colnago Super, 62 cm frame, fits OK with seat down, used to race, was addicted until I discovered girls, still build my own wheels by hand, also have a Raleigh that is the SAME color as my A4, I've posted before about bikes on roof :)

3 car garage (the wife will understand), skis are waxed in the basement, 3 spare rooms. 8^) I drive anywhere from an hour to two to ski (except Aspen/Snowmass is about 3.5 hrs; but we go for the weekend, when we do that).

CraigB

But I did the installation myself. Check the archives, you have to coax them a bit to get the holes to fit correctly.

I've got clincher Heliums and Shamals, sewup Velomaxes, and Open Pro/Record wheelsets. So how do you like the Ksyriums???

DMoore
'00 S4
'98 Richard Sachs
'94 Litespeed Ultimate
'96 Ciocc Thron
'84 Ciocc Mockba SL

Saturday will be the first club ride with them.

Super-Light... No rim strips... First ride impression... stiffer than Cosmics. They make a neat whirring sound as the bladed spokes slice the wind.

Fisrt look at them was on top of the USPS team vehicles at Futuroscope!

Soon they will be as common as heliums. Plastic composite spokes...

In a word... SCHWEEEET!

Check out the specs on Mavic's Site...<ul><li><a href="http://www.mavic.com/eng/prod/fiche/ksyrium.htm">2000 Ksyriums</a></li></ul>

"Zicral" spokes are an aluminum alloy, not plastic. (Just thought you should know!)

DMoore
'00 S4
and a bunch of full ergo Record bikes!

It's really a composite, metal matrix material...

Part glass (plastic) mixed with alloy...

I have 11 sets in stock if you are interested in a pair...

Prices - any Campy compatible hubs? Do you know if Mavic is working on a 10 spd CC cogset?

DMoore

I'm 6'1" but my inseam is 35"(short body, long legs). Trek's top tubes are longer than the seat tube whereas Litespeeds have a top tube a little shorter than the seat tube. Or maybe I'm just trying to justify titanium:>.

I have an older Cannondale now that's starting to hurt too much. I don't race but do charity rides(200 miles/weekend) and I'm getting too old to deal with a century on the thing. So, ride is important.

Sorry couldn't resist. Riding a bike on the road is no fun in NE

Rich and Craig...

I built a ski tuning/bike maintenance center in my basement just for such things. Come on out and Craig and I can show you guys around. Skiing, boarding, mountain or road biking....we got it covered.


Rick's (no-web enabled) Toy Box
98.5 Avant QMS - soon to be PESd
87 944 S
98 Trek 9900 OCLV Pro-Issue
97 Specialized Allez M2
94 Fischer RS4 GS World Cup 205
97 Fischer RS4 GS World Cup 203
98 Fischer RCR Race 201
97 K2 Ginsu 156
99 Burton Alp 164
blah...blah...blah....

Is this an open invitation to snowboarding in CO? I'm down! E-mail me.

David

I love riding in New England. It's all climbing!

New England also turned out Tyler Hamilton... He has what it take to be a TDF Contender!

Any Thule Dealer can tell you that... Check their site<ul><li><a href="http://www.thule.com">Thule USA Website</a></li></ul>

Thanks for the invite!

Rich W

98 GT STS 1000 ds, White Bros, Full XTR, Crossmax
99 VooDoo SoBo Hardtail, Sid Race, Full XTR,
Crossmax tubeless coming soon!

98 Dynastar S9 203's Marker M1 Turbos
97 Dynastar G9 206's Market M1 Turbos

Technica TNT Explosions...

I used to race SL in my younger daze...

It touches glass only, and There is still 1" of forward adjustment left.

Are you sure that you don't have the brackets backwards? The longer segment attaches to the front load bar, the shorter segment attaches to the fairing...

Hope this helps. Try calling THULE. They are very knowledgeble with specific applications.

Call 800 directory assistance, they are in Seymour, CT.

Road riding in NE is great. Try western MA or VT. The only downside is people who've trained in CO will kick your butt due to elevation.

I use to climb all day in the Santa Monica Mts

a) climbing on a road bike is usually more grueling. The climbs last longer and you're usually moving a lot faster.

b) CA mtn. biking doesn't impress me. I suppose it's good exercise but New England is far more technical(try decending Mt. Snow or worse yet, ascending). Boston is reputed to have the toughest metro-area mtn. biking in the country(Lynn Woods, The Fells, others).

I live in Boston now and love riding here. I miss the long climbs, but wouldn't give up the roots and rocks of NE. My road bike gathers dust, my mt biked is ridden year round. I have a blue Avant with Yakima racks stop by and say hi next time you see me at the Fells, Blue Hills, or Vietnam(Hopkinton).

Brian

Fells, Milford (aka 'nam), and Foxboro rule.

I miss living in the Boston area for the technical riding (probably 10 GOOD riding areas within an hour or so). Even the easier stuff (Dover Woods, Blue Hills, Gloucester) were great to ride.

I now suffer in NJ.

I know some trails in the BLue Hills comparable to vietnam. You don't get the same in your face all the time, but you get some of it. Sounds like we should have an Audi Mt Bike Ride

to the winshield. You may have to bend the brackets to get the fit and play with pushing the center out as much as possible and pulling the sides back. Mine sits with a fair amount of force on the winshield.

This is a Yakima rack, though. And I didn't set it up to touch the windshield. Its on the paint. No marks though, cause I keep it waxed up.<ul><li><a href="http://home.mgfairfax.rr.com/jpinkert/carpics.htm">Pics of rack with fairing fit correctly</a></li></ul>

1) Depends on where you are. Try climbing Mt. Tam. outside San Francisco. Long, grueling, slow climb (although not technical). In fact, a fast climb is usually less grueling for me. The wind tends to cool you a lot more when you're moving quickly.

2) There's plenty of technical riding anywhere you go. I've found it in GA, VA, CO, CA, WA, CT, NH, VT and AK. Its always the hills that kill me. And the biggest, longest ones are out west.

Josh No-Lungs Pinkert
'98 A4q 2.8
'72 911T
'91 Yo! Eddy Fat Chance

You should be able to add a slight curve to the fairing itself using the actual mounting adjustment. Adjust the two corners tward the rear of the car so that the corners of the fairing touch the windshield. Mine fits perfect.

Mike