Bike Racks Research Guide

Bike Racks Research Guide Glossary Terms

• Channels
• Frame
• Powder coated
• Receiver
• Top tube

Bike Racks Research Guide Glossary Definitions

Channels

The U-shaped cradles on a bike rack that hold your bike's frame to stop rattling, swaying and theft. These channels frequently employ padded materials, such as foam or gel, which both protect paint and grip the bike in place.

Frame

The metal structure which essentially acts as the backbone of your bike. The frame is considered the best place to lock a bicycle, as it cannot be cut-through by a thief quickly and such measures would run the bike they're trying to steal. Bike racks which feature locking channels grip to the frame for security, stability and safety.

Powder coated

Powder coating has become a popular process for treating metal with a uniform color coat that's chip-, scratch- and corrosion-resistant. The process involves spraying metal with fine dry resin particles that are electro-statically charged so that they stick to the surface. The coated metal is then baked at 400° F, melting the clinging particles into a smooth, durable finish. The overwhelming number of powder coat finishes are done in gloss black.

Receiver

The part of a traditional hitch assembly that accepts insertion of the ball-mount adapter. Hitch-mount bike racks either fit into the receiver or clamp around the receiver. The clamp-around style allows you to still insert the ball mount adapter for towing.

Top tube

The top tube is the thick bar of the frame spanning the length just below the handlebars to just below the seat. Typically, the top tube is where a bike rack will clamp around or cradle your bike. Many bike style evolutions have changed the top tube, from being the same diameter of other frame pipes to being significantly bigger. And, several styles (including women's and mountain bikes) employ an angled top tube.

Women's bikes began using an angled top tube as the solution to riding a bike while wearing a skirt. The frame shape long outlived its need, as few bike manufacturers make women's bikes with angled top tubes anymore. Modern bikes with angled top tubes are more likely designed for shorter riders' ability to reach the ground and still have enough distance between their feet and the front wheel.