JustSON Product Review: Yakima King Joe 2 Bike Carrier

I recently purchased a new mountain bike (I'll review that later this week once I get to take it out on the trail) and since I drive a Dodge Neon I needed a way to carry it.

My dad has a trailer hitch mount bicycle rack on his car. The main complaint that he had about this form of bike rack was that it was pretty unstable. Because of the 1 1/4 inch mount to the 2 inch rack he has to use an adapter. The adapter adds length and some wiggle.

For what I will be using my rack for we decided the best rack would be a trunk mounted one. This way I could take it off and since I didn't drive a Subaru I wasn't going for a roof rack.

I only needed a rack that would haul two bikes and I looked at the various models out there. After reading some reviews on the models (some people who used them obviously didn't know how to follow directions but I'll get to that more in a minute) I opted for the Yakima King Joe 2 Bike Carrier.

I purchased the carrier at REI last week and got to try it out on Friday for the first time. I was carrying two bikes. My old school, weighs almost as much as my car mountain bike, and my street bike.

I found that the bike rack was very easy to install and the pads that rested on my trunk didn't scratch my car. There are six straps that connect to various points on the trunk. Two up, two down and two to the side. After tightening the straps there was no wiggle in the rack.

The rubber holders on the bar for the bikes to be strapped on are great too. They open up to add extra support on the bike frame with three separate straps to hold the bike snugly to the rack.

I drove just over 50 miles on Friday over a very windy and curvy road. I kept my eyes on the rack for any movement in the bikes. When I got home I found that the straps were just as tight as when I left and the bikes hadn't moved at all.

This is a great trunk mounted bike rack especially for the price. It runs $135.00 at REI. But I got it at the anniversary sale so saved a good chunk of change.

I've only used it for that trip and some smaller ones of about 15 miles each, but have yet to have any problems.

The negative reviews that I have read about it seem to be more user error than product error. Most of them talk about the straps being loose and lots of movement before they even started driving. I believe that is due to the user not tightening the straps. Another review said they didn't like that it could be removed from the trunk. To this I say, "You bought a REMOVABLE bike rack!" That's not the products fault, that is the users fault.

It is also great because this model not only fits my car, but also my fiance's 2008 Dodge Avenger. She has a spoiler on her car and the Yakima King Joe 2 allows for clearance over the spoiler. You can also open the the trunk with the rack still in place.

I give it a review of five stars for trunk mounted bike racks.

Reasons why you're still single... vacation spots

Every once in a while we need to take a break from everyday life. If your single, those vacation spots tend to differ than if you have a significant other to bring along. Generally, the opposite sex wouldn't be thrilled about these locations...

(1) The Dalles, Ore. -- to visit your great Uncle Lou and watch old Red Sox games on VHS. While this may seem like a great vacation. Think about it from a girl's perspective. Yeah, you're dying alone.
(2) Stateline -- for obvious reasons.
(3) Colville, Wash. -- Just because it's the county seat of Steven's County in Northeastern Washington doesn't mean you should take you summer vacation there. No, Walmart does not constitute as "things to do while in Colville."
(4) Yakima, Wash. -- Ponder for a moment how you would sell this to your significant other. Come up with reasons you can use. Drawing a blank slate? yeah thought so. And please keep in mind that watching 2A high school basketball at the SunDome is only socially acceptable when you go to the schools that are playing. Anything else and you're just weird.
(5) Any place in the State of Montana -- Unless you like ticks.
(6) On a non-cruise ship boat for three months -- actually this isn't called a vacation, it's called the Navy.
(7) Omak, Wash. -- Other than the dog-fighting rings they have going on here, there's really nothing going on. Maybe passable if you can get Michael Vick to come along.
(8) Texas -- Ew.
(9) Your buddies' house in Spokane -- 48 straight hours of "Halo Wars" is considered a coma.
(10) Staycation -- Who wants to play Yahtzee?!?!?!

God, I love March Madness

I'm headed to Yakima very soon to go watch the Spokane Shock play an exhibition game against the Tri-City Fever at the SunDome. While I'd love just to sit and watch NCAA games all day, people are buying me wine down in Yakima. I can't turn that down.

However, check out Fish Bear Sports running diary. That Joel Willits is a funny bastard.

And I'll try to drop in on his comment board and insult his mother every I get wireless on my laptop.

Which in Yakima, could be very iffy.