Thule ProRide 951 Review

I don't have Thule ProRide 951 bike carrier, but my friend does, and I usually take it when we go to Finnish bike parks. After using this bike carrier for couple of years, I can easily say that Thule ProRide 951 is the most convenient bike carrier on the market. With this bike carrier, a bike can be mounted in a few seconds. User manual tells us that a maximum weight of a carried bike can be up to 17kg (37.5lbs), but I didn't have any problems mounting 19kg downhill bike. Even driving bad roads, this carrier keeps a bike securely mounted.

Specialized Demo 2011 on Skoda Fabia using Thule ProRide 951:

There is enough place on the roof of the car to place a big ski box even with a Thule bike carrier on:

 Three bikes mounted with three Thule ProRide 951 on one Mazda 6 of my friend:

In conclusion I'd like to mension some pluses and minuses of Thule ProRide 951:

Pluses:
- very fast bike mounting;
- security lock for the bike, and for the carrier;
- bike don't get mud on muddy roads or during rain;
- you can keep the carrier on the roof for the hole year, and it won't worry you.

Minuses:

- high fuel consumption on high speeds. The faster you go, the more fuel you loose. For exsamle, this Mazda 6 with three bikes on and at speed about 140km/h can take more than 15 litres per 100km. Without bikes and at lower speeds the fuel consumption will be decreased in a half.  If your speed is less than 100km/h and you carry one bike, then you shouldn't worry;
- smashed insects on the fork and handlebar.