The Versatile Pendle Bike Rack

Barry Williamson
July 2010

Relevant Links include:

1. Pendle Engineering in Nelson, Lancashire    
2. Taylormade Bike Covers    
3. Our Fleetwood Flair Motorhome
4. Motorhome Medics of Cheltenham
5. Our Paul Hewitt Touring Bicycles
6. Images of the Pendle Bike Rack

Towards the end of June, just before we left the UK for another journey on the mainland ofEurope in our Fleetwood Flair motorhome, Darren Corder of Motorhome Medics in Cheltenham helped us fit a new bike rack. We had already chosen one from the extensive range manufactured on site by Pendle Engineering in Nelson, Lancashire. Making racks that fit on the back of cars, Land Rovers, jeeps and motorhomes in every kind of way, our rack is bolted solidly behind a tow ball.

We already had a Fiamma Pro two-bike rack fitted across the rear window of the motorhome: a rack that was fitted to our previous Four Winds motorhome when Brownhills (the original and the best Brownhills of Newark) sent it out to us in Corinth in 1996. When we exchanged the Four Winds for the Flair in October 2010, Motorhome Medics transferred this Fiamma rack to the Flair, along with much else.

However, loading the two bicycles on and off the Fiamma rack had involved the use of a ladder to hoist each bicycle above head height. Fitting our excellent waterproof Taylormade cover over the bicycles involved more ladder-borne acrobatics. Keen to cycle more readily on this summer journey, we turned to investigating a Pendle bike rack.

For many years, whilst still at work before we began motorhoming in retirement, we had a Pendle bike rack that fitted easily behind the tow ball on the back our car. The rack itself, including an additional number plate and lighting board, was easily removable from its fitting, which bolted between the tow ball and its bracket. The bicycles are held securely in place: each wheel drops into a D loop, adjustable to fit any bicycle wheelbase, and straps hold the bicycle frame firmly to upright supports.

Pendle supplied us with fittings for two bicycles but with the extra long arms usually needed tohold four bicycles. The longer arms gave clearance from the motorhome's spare wheel, fitted just above the tow ball. In the event, Darren neatly sawed the ends of the arms to fit exactly the available clearancs.

Before fitting could begin, Darren had to solve two problems peculiar to American motorhomes: the tow ball fitting and the electrical fitting for the bike rack's lighting. The American system is to provide two square slots, one above the other, into which a variety of towing and other devices may be inserted and locked into place. Darren already had just the thing for us in his well-stocked accessories showroom. Made locally, especially for him, he had a fitting that enabled a standard European tow ball to be bolted at varying heights - ideal for our purposes.

The electrical problem, however, required much more work, starting with the purchase of an electrical socket to replace the American type fitted to the motorhome. This involved a complete rewiring and the riveting of the socket to the framework of the tow bar fitting.

The rack itself had been posted directly to Motorhome Medics from Pendle Engineering of Nelson in Lancashire, arriving the next day by Parcel Force. It was rapidly assembled and slotted into the mounting block, which was first bolted behind the tow bar. Allen keys and ratchet socket sets were then deployed in adjusting the rack to fit our two bicycles. This precision is necessary to minimise the movement of the bicycles in travel, to avoid damage to parts and paintwork.

The last stage was to add our Taylormade double bike cover, which fitted easily, snugly and securely. Even the Fiamma warning square (compulsory in Italy, where they are made, and useful elsewhere) slipped on with ease.

Overall, the Pendle bike rack has been a great success.In Holland, the home of the 'fietspad' (bike path), the bicycles were off and back on the rack almost every day and, in between, covered many a sunny and safe kilometre – travelling with Flair!