A wise man once said, "The only thing constant is change." For a guy born in 0534, this Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, really hit the nail on the head.
Over a millennium later, his famous quote continues to be true. Many of us find ourselves propped up by the water cooler, cup in hand, musing over the passage of time and the busyness of life. Between hectic schedules and constant change, it's no surprise that when a shift does occur, it's highly unlikely that your first thought is "how does this impact the way I transport my bike."
The good news is you don't have to. We do. Since bicycle transit is our specialty, we spend a lot of time thinking about life transitions and what that means for you, your bike, your car and your car rack. Beyond our rack team, we did some additional research, chatted with co-workers, friends and customers, and uncovered five common life changes that may warrant a new bike rack for your car.
1) You Just Bought a New Car
Ah yes, that new car smell. Whether it's new-to-you or fresh off the show room floor, buying a new vehicle is a big deal. Whatever your new wheels are, the most important thing you can do before racking your bike and rolling is to ensure your bike rack is still the best choice for your new vehicle. The best and easiest way to do this is to check the fit guide.
This guide details all possible bike rack options for your car, trunk racks specifically. Each car- and rack-fit pair is done in-person by our in-house fit tester (yes, every single fit), so you know an approved fit has been technically vetted to ensure the safety of you, your car and your bike.
2) You Just Purchased a New Bike
First of all, congratulations! There are few feelings as good as the one that accompanies the smile while peddling a new bike for the first time.Our goal is to protect your bike as much as your car, and we've engineered our bike racks to do just that. Here's a handy guide to help match your No. 1 consideration to one of our racks:
- Don't want anything to touch the frame = SuperClamp
- Electric bike that weighs up to 60 lb. = SuperClamp or Freedom
- Step-thru bike = Bones Family (Trunk rack) with a Bike Beam
3) Your Family is Growing
If you're anything like most parents, once you have children the time vortex jumps to warp speed. You blink your eyes and your kids have grown from balance bike to tag-a-long to full blown independent rider. With that growth comes the opportunity to take the whole family to bike ride destinations further from home.
And where there's a family of cyclists, there's a family of bicycles. As children grow, it can become increasingly cumbersome to pack the adult bikes and the progression of bikes for the kids. The next thing you know, you find yourself staring at your bike rack in your garage with three or four full-sized bikes and no rack to transport them all (where has the time gone?!).
For these moments we recommend a three- or four-bike car rack – depending on the size of your crew. Available as hitch and trunk styles (3-bike maximum), these racks are made to transport your brood (and your bikes) in an easy-to-use way. 
4) You Want the Latest and Greatest
You've been known to wait in line for the next iPhone. You have a reputation for being ahead of the curve. You seek out what's new and hot.
If this sounds like you, then we have two racks to recommend: the SUPERBones and the SuperClamp. The SuperBones, released in 2016, incorporates state of the art technology with its gas injection molding process, alongside innovative part design makes this car rack a feature rich standout. The SUPERBones truly holds up to the promise of being "the ultimate trunk rack."
From the hitch rack side, our SuperClamp is the only hitch rack on the market with dual shepherd's hooks that hold the bike by the tires and the ratchet arm design ensures the rack stays put, making it extremely safe and secure.
5) You Buy Products that Support Your Personal Beliefs
Did you know that Saris car racks are made in Madison, Wisconsin, USA? We employ over 180 people just here in Madison, and our business practices directly impact thousands of other jobs in the region. If you're passionate about American manufacturing, supporting a local economy and want a lifetime warranty to back the quality of your next purchase, then you've come to the right place.
If you need help finding the right bike rack for you, your bike, and your car, your local Saris dealer is your absolute best resource. And if you have any questions along the way, drop us a line.