Not all car bike racks are suited to the average car.

By the same token, not all cars will fit the average car bike rack.

Often unusual shaped cars – like the VW Beetle, Morris Minor, Mini Cooper and some beasty SUV’s – can’t accommodate the standard bicycle car racks.

Solution?

Well … you can commission a custom-made bike rack.

Or alternatively, seek out a specialty car bike rack retailer. There are manufacturers who have created bicycle car racks for specific makes and models of unusually shaped cars.

If the problem is that – your bicycles are an unusual shape – then you will need to invest in a conversion bar accessory which will allow you to transport irregularly shaped, non-horizontal bicycle frames – ie MTBs and women’s bicycles.

For specialty bikes like tandems and recumbents – you probably need to source a specialist car bike rack manufacturer.

There isn’t a huge amount around but we did come across the – The Long Bike Tote. It is designed to transport recumbents, tandems, normal bikes and recumbent tandems.

We haven’t tried The Long Bike Tote and so can’t comment on it … however, the manufacturers marketing page says that the rack can “be attached on any car fitted with a square hitch receiver… even your compact car or small SUV. Carrier folds down for easy trunk access.”