Talking Cars 375: We're Cyclists, and These Are Our Favorite Bike Racks

We discuss the various types of racks, and answer a question about CVTs

By Jon Linkov

Main theme: As CR’s auto engineers and writers, we get to play with cars—a lot. But what do many of us do when we aren’t in a test car, SUV, or truck? We’re out riding our bikes! Like many of you, we’ve had a lot of free time to go riding during COVID-19 lockdowns. But transporting two bikes (let alone three or four) can be a challenge, especially if you’re new to cycling and haven’t had to deal with this before. In this episode, we talk about the different types of bike racks, what to look for when shopping, why some are better than others, and even how they can affect fuel economy.

Audience question: If a continuously variable transmission gives the driver an infinite selection of “gears,” why are they so reviled?

“Talking Cars” panelists Jake Fisher, Jon Linkov, and Mike Monticello.

Photo: Consumer Reports

As with other “Talking Cars” episodes, this one is available free through Apple Podcasts. (Subscribe to the audio or video.) You’ll also find the audio on Spotify (log-in required) and video on YouTube.

Have a Question?

We’d love to include it in a future show. Upload your video questions to our Dropbox folder. Please send high-definition (1920x1080) MP4 video files with high-quality audio. Or send an iMessage question to our TalkingCars@icloud.com account.



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