Rack attack
Roof-mounted bicycles totalled and cars damaged by low garage doors; now here's a device to stop the carnageNot many things look more cool, save as much luggage space or are as convenient when carrying a bike aboard a car than a roof-mounted bike rack.
The fatal flaw is that a bike carried on a car’s roof becomes so non-intrusive when driving that it’s easy to forget, after a while, that it’s there.
Which is fine, until you attempt entering your garage.
The tales of drivers who have wrecked their bikes and often also extensively damaged their cars by driving through garage doors with the bike fixed firmly aboard are rife. Which is why the American HeadsUp wireless alert system has the potential to be of immense value to someone who would rather leave both bike and car intact.
The HeadsUp system comprises an LED alert module mounted in the garage, a tag that attaches to the bike (or any other roof-mounted item) and an auditory alert that attaches inside in the car.
The idea is that, as the car approaches the garage, the LED module inside detects the tag on the bike and lights up to warn the driver. Simultaneously, the auditory alert inside the car is set off, warning the driver that the bike is still aboard the roof rack.
The kit comes with two bike tags, the auditory alert and the in-garage LED module. Additional tags and auditory alerts can be ordered if necessary.
The only problem is that the system still cannot protect users from blindly driving, bike aboard, under low branches, or through other low-clearance openings.
The HeadsUp system is priced at US$169.99 and the Web address is http://www.headsupsystems.com.
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