During the summer season, thousands of Brits transport two wheels on four, as they load up their bikes for holidays and weekend breaks. And it is the roof racks that bear the burden of their bikes. But the question is: which are the best and the safest cycle racks that they can use for the purpose? Before you answer the question, a few things need to be considered.

The number of bikes you will have to carry, the number of people and other kits you have to accommodate inside the car, and the budget you afford: all these needs to be considered before you take your decision on which type of roof racks you should buy. Once you take your decision on all these fronts, you can explore the options available on the racks. The market has plenty to offer and there will be no dearth of choices.

You can start with the roof-mounted, single cycle versions of roof racks. They are cheaper and easier to fix. Moreover, they take up little storage space. However, the problem is that you will need one per bike which means that you have to make payments on this accessory several times should you need to carry more than one bike. In addition to that, you have to face the hassle of lifting the cycles to head height. If the roof-bars already loaded with luggage then space may also become an issue.

The ready alternative is the hatch or boot-mounted carriers. They hold two or three bikes and are easier to strap cycles. But in this case packing the rest of the car may become difficult. Rear vision may also be affected and some racks may block the number plate and lights too. Compared to this, the roof racks offer better option. They also allow you to fix roof boxes along with them so that you can keep some valuable kits safe in it.