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Tuckerman Hatchback XT Bike Carrier/Rack

Last night I swung by RL’s to pick up our newest piece of test equipment, the Tuckerman Hatchback XT Bike Carrier/Rack. RL and I proceeded to install the rack on my Honda Pilot and with a little finagling we were able to find the sweet spot for the rack on the rear hatch.

Redline Mono 9 secured to the Tuckerman Bike Rack

Here is what the manufacturer says about the Tuckerman Hatchback XT Bike Carrier/Rack:

- Safely transporting bikes without hitch receiver or roof racks.
- Sliding wheel trays fit up to 21 inch frame bikes.
- The rack is constructed by 100% aluminum alloy. Ultra lightweight, sturdy and stylish.
- Premium rubber pads protect the vehicles finish.
- Adjustable frames fit on most SUV(s), mini vans, cargo vans. For complete fit list, download vehicle fit guide.
- Securely fit to vehicle with easy to use adjustable ratchet.
- Hatch door is accessible when bikes are not loaded.
- Some assembly required.
- 2 bikes up to 95 lbs.
- Warranty: Life Time
- Materials: Aluminum alloy, rubber
- Model No: XT
- Weight: 21 lbs

My large sized mountain bike can be seen over the roofline of my vehicle

After I brought it home, I mounted up my 29er on it and took it for a test spin. The bike did OK back there. I only went about a half mile, but I did find a small ditch and a speed bump to go over. The rack held the bike fine.

Wheel Tray can be slid outwards or inwards

Some quick thoughts on the rack:

- It is LIGHT. For what it is, a two bike rack, the Tuckerman is light. The specifications say 21 lbs and there is no reason for me to doubt that weight. The weight benefit does come at a slight cost though as the aluminum used is not the strongest but it does the job. The question becomes will it continue to do the job after a few months of testing? That, we’ll find out.

Inside trays are both together. Outside trays are moved as wide as possible

- The Tuckerman rack is very adjustable. There are a variety of adjustment points for installing the rack on the back of your vehicle which makes it able to fit on most any minivan/suv/van. But not only are there a ton of adjustments for installing the rack on the back of your vehicle, but there are a lot of adjustments for putting your bike on the trays. The trays have tracks to move outward/inward and the screw that holds the trays in place can actually be moved outward so bikes with longer wheelbases fit on there too. The arm that holds the toptube of the bike telescopes in and out and there is a knob that can be turned to adjust the tension of the arm clamp.

Telescoping arm clamps onto top tube of outside bike

- Rack contact point with the car are all padded or covered with thick plastic. The hooks are all covered with thick plastic to prevent scratches to the vehicle while the flat pads have soft rubber where it touches the car. These are nice thoughts and I look forward to seeing how it holds up.

Side view, 2.2″ tires are about as wide as the tray will accept

I’ll spend some time testing this bike rack out but I’m sure the Tuckerman will also see some time on a minivan as well. Keep checking back for the updates and a review of the rack.

Click here for the Tuckerman Hatchback XT Bike Carrier/Rack website.

Click here for great selection of car racks

Popularity: 14% [?]

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This is a great tip that Gerard of Jax Bicycles showed me. This tip uses a bike that has v-brakes, so for all you disc brake guys, sorry! But its worth checking out.

Popularity: 6% [?]

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White Brothers Magic 29″ 80mm

This is just a quick update on the White Brothers Magic 29�? 80mm fork that I’ve been riding on for the past 2 months. The initial break in period for this fork is said to be about 10 hours. After a little more than 10 hours of riding I either got used to the fork and its tendencies or the fork really did break in and start playing nice. I’ll vote for the latter mainly because this fork has become exactly what I’d want in my 80mm 29er fork.

I’ve been pretty excited about the White Brothers Magic 80 fork for three reasons: 1. its lateral stiffness, 2. it is not buttery soft and 3. it does not exhibit much (if any) bob. Since this is not a full on review, I’m not going to go into the “why’s�? of these factors but I am however going to mention something that I’ve been thinking more and more about as I ride this fork. I like to think of the WB Magic more similar to a rigid fork than to a soft and supple suspension fork.

A little dirty

Here’s why: in my experience a soft and supple suspension fork tends to be a little less stiff laterally and more prone to moving off the line you’ve chosen. They also have some pedal bob but they are excellent at getting rid of the small bumps and making the harsh trail disappear underneath you. The WB is almost the opposite of these traits making it kind of like a rigid but having some suspension for going through the tough stuff. Exactly the way I like my suspension fork to be.

A more complete will be forthcoming. In the meantime, if you’re interested in the White Brothers Magic 29″ 80mm, click here.

Popularity: 7% [?]

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I’ve had these shoes for over 1.5 years. Long story short, they have never torn, broke or malfunctioned on me during that time.

What first got my attention about these shoes was its style. They look like a pair of skater shoes or like Vans. I wasn’t a big fan of traditional cycling shoes that had all the buckles and shinny leather/plastic straps all over. The laces and one big strap, color and style made it the perfect fit for my taste and riding style.

Wore the Sette Rival shoes during the 24 Hours of Fullerton.

Another aspect of the shoes that caught my attention was the price. At the time I got them, Pricepoint.com was selling them for $25. One and a half years later, they are still priced at $25. Not a bad deal if you ask me!

Sette Rival are great for hiking the bike!

Right before these shoes, I owned a pair of $70 Specialized shoes. They had the plastic stiffy soles, and the strap broke after one year. How do I like the Sette Rival compared to my old Specialized shoes? I like them WAY better. For one, they do flex a bit. But only enough to help you walk up a steep hill. I love the full rubber soles. That means less chances of me slipping on smooth surfaces and they provide a great grip when I’m walking over rocks.

Great for jumping.

I used to commute to work and hated to bring another pair of shoes to change into. But with the Sette Rivals, I can actually keep wearing them through out the day because unlike traditional cycling shoes, they soles are level, not elevated on the ball of your feet. I can actually walk normally with these rather than walking around as if I just had my toe nails done.

…and for breaking your fall…


How’s the quality of these shoes?
As much abuse as I’ve put them through, I’d say its high quality. The anodized rubber and suede portions of the shoes have been in water, sand, rocks, snow and in the office. The shoes hasn’t shown any signs of wear other than the the laces starting to fray. The velcro strap is still strong. The cleats have never come off, nor have they moved since I’ve installed them.

Comfort
The Sette Rival shoes feel like a regular pair of sneakers, but a bit heavier. Like I mentioned, I used to wear these shoes in the office right after a commute. What’s great about these shoes too are the fact that I can keep them on after the ride to drive home or if we head out to Farmer Boys for breakfast after a ride.

Summary
Buy these shoes! You can’t go wrong for a $25 pair of shoes! They’ve lasted a while with no breakage what so ever. You will not be disappointed with the Sette Rival Shoes.

Popularity: 7% [?]

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With the WTB saddle the Sette Ryde seatpost is working like it should. While trying on the Bandersnatch for size I shot a little video of how this thing works.

Just pull the lever

Pretty simply operation. When you’re ready to go downhill, pull the switch and down you go. When you want to go back up, unweight the seat and pull again. So easy.

Popularity: 10% [?]

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