Yeah, I see those racks for cheap all the time at goodwill and similar
stores.

If you have a trailer hitch, you might like a rack like mine:
http://snipurl.com/9ueg
It releases to fold down so you can open the rear hatch.  I think I got it
for about $60 a few years ago.  Mine was sold under the brand name Graber.

I often take my bike for the reasons Joy states.  I do feel more secure
having it too.  Walking 5 miles to get a repair part or something is  a
real drag.  Riding that far is pretty easy.

Edward

>Chris Renz wrote:
>>A decent rack for your bike *can* be cheap and plenty reliable. Too many
>>VW'ers get all into finding some complicated overengineered device for
>>everything, but bike racks can be very simple.
>>
>>Personally, I went to my local GoodWill and bought a Hollywood rack for
>>$9 and it works great!
>>
>>I had bought a brand new one for my old baywindow years back and loved
>>it as it doesnt get in the way of the engine access door (was more of an
>>issue with the baywindow bus.)
>>
>>http://www.orsracksdirect.com/hollywood-racks-f1.html
>>
>>The URL above shows the one ive used for years now and its never let me
>>down.  $58 brand spanking new and this is only the first website I could
>>find with this item, you may be able to get it for even less elsewhere.