tkconlon461923890

I have used the Thule Ridgeline for almost 3 years now and am impressed with all its features.
1) It provides a solid connection to the car's receiver. I use it on a Prius and an SUV. The 1 1/4 inch connection allows the rack & bikes to bounce a bit on rough roads but I've never had any cause for concern about the bikes being safe. The 2" connection is very solid with no bounce.
2) The bike to rack connection is also solid. With 2 or more bikes aboard there is zero sway due to the downtube stabilizers of the Ridgeline. I do tie the bikes together to keep them from rubbing. With one bike up the bike tends to sway backward at freeway speeds on the Prius due to the small wind shadow created by the car.
3) The cable lock is a wonderful feature. I use it when I park to deter theft. One must be careful to use the included cable retainer when the rack is not in use or you will soon need to replace the passive end of the cable due to dragging on the road. Note that this lock system is not bulletproof and if a thief knew that it is held in place by one pop-rivet, your bike would be history. Fortunately most thieves will just move on to the next bike when they see the cable.
4) The rack is easily installed. The initial assembly is simple and has detailed, understandable instructions. Removing the bike from the receiver is simple (with a 3/4" wrench or socket) and quick. I can move to the other vehicle in about 5 minutes. I particularly like that the bolt to fasten the rack to the car's receiver features a lock.
5) The key can be purchased from any Thule dealer by giving the dealer the id number. You can also have other Thule products keyed alike so you only need to carry a single key for all of their products.
6) The tilt mechanism of the rack works great. I can open the hatch of the Prius without tilting the bikes back. On the SUV I can easily tilt the rack with bikes aboard to open the hatch.
7) My wife appreciates having her bike within easy reach unlike a roof-top unit. One caveat: I don't especially like or trust the optional Thule top-tube mechanism needed for some mountain bikes. I fiddled around with one bike to make it mount to the rack without this extra bar.

That's it. A great rack with easy access and many good features. I recommend it.

Tom

I have now been out on these skis a half dozen times, having switched from 210 cm traditional width, waxed skis that I've been using for 30 years.

On the PLUS side:

- The Alpinas are plenty stiff making them very stable in chopped conditions (mashed potatoes) and I think they would serve well on packed snow.

- They have lots of sidecut making them want to turn, turn, turn.

- The climbing ability is wonderful. I haven't had to skin 'em yet. I really don't miss waxing.

- The shorter length makes turning in tight places so easy - a boon for tree bashing

On the MINUS side:

- They are heavy, even heavier than my 210 cm Tuas.

- They are slow gliders. Even after hot waxing the tips and tails, they are notably slower than my previous skis and slower than my wife's narrower Alpinas.

OVERALL:

It is taking me a while to get used to them because of the dramatic change in ski style but I like them a lot and recommend them. If I can figure out a way to make them faster they will be perfect!

The Thule Ridgeline is the perfect bike carrier for me. It is very solidly made and thoughtfully designed with every feature in the bike rack world. It slid right into the hitch receiver on my 2008 Prius and locked solidly in place - no rattles. I can open the rear hatch without folding down the vertical member and the horizontal folding bars allow me to park in the garage with plenty of spare room. My wife likes not lifting bikes over her head to mount them on a rooftop carrier. The bike lock and receiver lock are easy to use and out of the way when not in use. Plus, I have not seen any decrease in gas mileage on the Prius since mounting the rack. I have yet to find anything I don't like about the Ridgeline rack. Highly recommended!