My impression is - THIS THING ROCKS!

After 4 years of either carrying the bikes inside,
using some crappy strap-on rack that damages the paint
on either the bikes or the van (or both) or tying
frames up in the luggage rack, I finally have an
excellent product for toting my bikes around.

Stability - this thing is probably the most stable
thing on the van.  The vanagon specific clamps are
tight, and when I shake the rack, it doesn't move -
the whole van does.  With a bike on it you shake the
bike and the van moves, not the bike or the rack.

Versatility - the standard bike-block arms are
adjustable to hold my friends Bianchi downhill and my
fat-tube aluminum bike.  The rails hold up to 2.25
tires without a problem.  I ordered a bike-block pro
just in case I ever end up with a weird calf-thick
frame bike (or cannondale)

Value - I was lookin at the Thule / yak type racks,
and dreaming of the Paulchen.  The paulchen was WAY
too much for me, and after I added up all the add on
goodies that a yak / thule would cost, it was a good
200$ more than the Fiamma.  Not to mention the PITA of
having the extra weight on the poptop and drilling
holes.

Improvements - the only thing I could see as an
improvement would be a better system to secure it in
the upright position.  The strap and block thing
works, but some sort of quick and easy latch would be
better.

Total cost for the 3rd bike add on, extra BB Pro and
shipped to my door was ~$310.  A much better purchase
than some I have made for the van.

=====
Mark
Music is the soundtrack to the Low Budget B-movie that is my life.

87 Westfalia Gl
84 Scirocco 8v
http://student.fortlewis.edu/~mwmages/

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