Bikes have come a long way is a short amount of time. Bikes today have disc brakes, front and rear suspension and frame designs that would make Frank Lloyd Wright salivate. These innovations have improved the quality of the ride to almost limitless lengths.

With these recent innovations you might have a little trouble mounting your new VPP mountain bike on the same rack as your old road bike. Luckily, there are solutions!

If you’ve been taking your svelte road bike around on your bike rack with ease you might be a little concerned when your 20mm fork won’t mount on the quick release clamp. Before you start thinking about giving up on the rack check out our Yakima adapters. These adapters convert your 20mm, 24mm or 25mm thru axel fork to a standard mount allowing you to use your new rig on your old rack.

Having problems with your fancy new monocoque frame not fitting the arms on your hitch-mounted rack? Fear not, the Yakima Tube Top adapter attaches a bar between your seat post and your stem, giving you ample room to mount your bike on the back.

With these options you should be able to go from pavement to dirt in a snap without the headache.

Roof mounted cargo carriers are the most widely compatible option out there. You don’t need a hitch but you do need a roof base rack. Base roof rack systems generally run around $250 and you can find out what system is right for your vehicle using the fit guides from Thule, Inno and Yakima.

Once you get your base system on your roof you can start looking at carriers. The Ridge Box from Inno is a great option for compact cars and has the capacity to carry 2 golf bags as well as your shoes and other small items.

Another great roof option is a basket style rack. These racks are lightweight and can accommodate cargo in a variety of shapes and sizes. The Yakima LoadWarrior with the optional extension gives you a wide footprint of 62” by 39”, plenty of room for your bags.

If you have a taller vehicle or the roof just isn’t something you want to add on to look in to getting a hitch. A trailer hitch opens you up to a variety of cargo racks, cargo carriers and bike racks. Mounting the rack to your hitch is a breeze and they are easily removed for storage when not in use. Don't have a hitch? Get a Hitch Quote and we'll get you on your way.

The StowAway2 Max SwingAway model can hold up to 4 golf bags on a frame that conveniently swings away allowing you access to your trunk without un-mounting the carrier. The durable design and large amount of usable space make this carrier ideal for all uses, not just playing 18 with your buddies.

If you have a vehicle with a lower class hitch and need to keep weight in mind, check out the Surco Hauler Basket. Coming in two sizes the hauler basket can accommodate whatever your needs may be.

Whatever you choose to get you on your way come on in to Fasttrackracks.com where our selection and prices are a hole-in-one!

Here at Fasttrackracks.com we like to make things easy. Most of our products perform their best when you don’t even notice them. So it’s not surprising that we get a lot of questions about where to start and what we recommend. Being rack experts isn’t easy, but it’s got to be done so it is with great pleasure that I introduce Fasttrackracks.com staff picks!

This collection of products exceeds our expectations in every import factor. These are items that excel in value, quality, ease of use and innovative features. Any item you see with the staff pick check mark on it has endured through a vigorous selection process and sets itself apart from the rest. Come on in to the Staff Pick section and see all the items we have selected.

Ever been to a site and find something you really like but then you're disappointed by the variety and quality of the images?

When you shop online, you don’t get a chance to get up close and personal with the product. Having a wide variety of detailed images is something that should be standard, right?

Well our good friends over at StowAway2 have been raising the bar for some time now. They just rolled out their new Rainier and Shasta bike/cargo racks and with them they added extensive image showrooms.

The Rainier is a full-featured swing away bike rack that can hold 4 bikes while still leaving room for cargo in the cargo rack thanks to an innovative bracket. The Shasta is a bike/cargo rack mounted on a fixed frame at a more modest price point. By combining the bike rack with a cargo rack these are the most versatile hitch mounted racks out there.

Check out the showroom section to have a look at some more images of the two and then head over to the StowAway2 section of Fasttrackracks.com for all of your StowAway2 needs.

Here at Fasttrackracks.com we often get questions about similar products asking about the pros/cons of each. Today I would like to take this opportunity to point you in the direction of a roof bike rack guide I put together here.

This guide outlines the basic function of fork mounted and upright style bike racks and provides you with some of our favorites as well. Come check out our Roof Bike Racks Guide now and we'll get you started!

After you have read that (or before, if you wish) head on over to the Roof Bike Racks section of Fasttrackracks.com and check out our wide selection of racks from Thule, Yakima and Inno.

Here at Fasttrackracks.com we pride ourselves on carrying the widest selection of roof racks and accessories and today we proudly add Malone Auto Racks to our lineup.

Malone offers a wide array of roof racks including their innovative inflatable HandiRack roof rack and a variety of injection-molded thermoplastic canoe and kayak racks as well as an affordable light-weight trailer!

The HandiRack inflatable rack is a great option of those of you who need to occasionally carry something on the roof but don’t want to spend the time or money of mounting a permanent roof rack on your vehicle. This rack can be stored in your trunk when not in use and then mounted and inflated in minutes.

Malone is located in Maine where the harsh salty conditions inspired them to develop an injection-molded rack system that was resistant to the corrosive nature of the location. There is a J-style rack called the AutoLoader, a V-style rack called the SeaWing, a kayak stacker called the Stax and a canoe carrier called the Bigfoot. All made from corrosion-resistant thermoplastic.

Malone also offers a line of cargo trailers called the Downeaster Sport Trailer. These trailers are capable of carrying up to 4 kayaks and are available in a number of packages. The Malone Downeaster trailer is lightweight and able to ship via UPS ground so shipping charges are minimal. The trailer includes everything you need and is DOT and Transport Canada approved.

Malone is a manufacturer of quality products and we are very proud to welcome them to our site. Check out our Malone water rack page and our Malone trailer page!

In the spirit of the Hood to Coast relay I’m going to go over a little Hood to coast tradition of my own. It doesn’t involve much running but it does bridge the gap between summer and winter.

Living in Portland, OR places me in a unique location where I am equidistant from the slopes of Mt Hood and the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Every summer a group of us gather to take full advantage of our prime location by snowboarding in the morning, and surfing in the afternoon. Oddly enough the conditions for snowboarding and surfing are optimal in the winter but the summer sun brings out the energy to make this all possible.

The problem with our little tradition has always been carrying multiple snowboards, surfboards, boots and wetsuits in an efficient manner. That is why today I’m going to go over 5 space saving tips to maximize the space on your crossbars so you can take everything you need with you.

5. Roof rack it! Chances are you already have a roof rack if you’re taking surfboards and snowboards on the same trip. There are, however, a few bold people who have not yet made the transition to the roof. Let’s support them and show them the way! Fasttrackracks.com carries a wide selection of base roof racks from Yakima, Inno and Thule to get you started.

4. Wide load. Using crossbars wider than the distance between your towers can offer more space but be sure not to over load and always check your vehicle’s specifications when it comes to after-market additions.

3. Cargo=everything. Roof-mounted cargo carriers can carry a variety of items from snowboards to surfboards to luggage to all of the above; provided they are modestly sized. We carry many carriers from Inno, Yakima and Thule that can accommodate almost anything.

2. Go vertical. If you plan on taking a kayak with you look at using a J-style or stacker-style model and mount it towards the side. Traditional saddle-style kayak racks work great but put the widest point of the boat on the roof. By rotating the kayak on to the side you can cut that space in half. Check out our water racks section for a full selection of canoe and kayak racks.

1. Get hitched! A trailer hitch opens up a wide array of cargo boxes and baskets as well as bike racks and even ski racks. By putting the load on the rear of your vehicle you open up a whole new world of cargo possibilities. Don't have a hitch? Give us a call at 866-403-8505 or email us at info@fasttrackracks.com for a hitch quote.

Step on in to Fasttrackracks.com to check out all of our products to help you with the roof rack shuffle.

Perhaps the most vital component of a successful trip to the outdoors is a cooler. They provide sanctuary for perishable items and keep your drinks cool when the luxury of a refrigerator isn’t available. The two main kinds of coolers are the disposable Styrofoam type and the heavier-duty permanent type.

Styrofoam coolers can be found at beaches and campsites around the world. They function as expected and are an inexpensive and simple option to buying a re-usable cooler. The downside is that they are not very durable and often break Like the one pictured to the right. This leaves you with nothing but a pile of plastic to throw away.

The benefits of a quality permanent cooler are as clear as day and this is why most everyone has a cooler. Some are large fishing coolers and some are small for your lunch at work. Mine not only keeps my food and drink cold but has an amount of sentimental value to it.

A quality cooler can be priceless, check out the wide selection of coolers over at Savvyboater.com.

Perhaps the main setback of coolers when you travel is the size. They always seem to take up the most space in your trunk forcing you to put items up in the passenger area. This makes for an uncomfortable trip if you factor in magazines, iPods, books, and similar items. The only solution here short of buying a bigger car is mounting your cooler outside.

Mounting coolers on your roof may damage your paint if you don’t have a roof rack to set the coolers on when you strap them down. Wind resistance also comes in to play when you put anything on the roof of your car. The added resistance of the coolers on the ceiling can reduce your fuel efficiency and increase the amount of wind noise you experience inside the vehicle.

The optimal arrangement for carrying coolers is on a hitch-mounted cargo rack. The Masterbuilt Hitch Haul Cargo Carrier, Lund Hitch Cargo Rack, Rola Hitch Mount Cargo Racks, Surco Hauler Baskets, Putnam Outbacker Baskets, StowAway2 Hitch Racks and the Softride Versa Cargo Racks are all excellent options. This way you can put your cooler in an easy to reach place that is out of the way and save the cargo space inside the vehicle.

Not only do these racks work great for coolers but you can also put luggage or other items in them. Anything you would like to keep out of the car is perfect, ever come back from the beach with a bag full of sandy beach toys?

These racks come in a variety of styles and are available in the most popular 1.25” and 2” hitch sizes. Remember to check your vehicle’s tongue weight to ensure you do not overload the rack and damage your hitch.

Summer is in full swing, take advantage of your cooler while you still need it!

Just in time for summer it's the brand-new StowAway2 Rainier Bike Rack!

The Stowaway2 Rainier is a upgraded package version of the StowAway2 Bike Cargo Rack.

The Rainier now features everything you could want in a bike rack: it swings for clearance, it has a cargo tray for tons of capacity, and it includes security and stability features like a hitch lock/cable lock (single key) and a hitch-coupling tightener.

Perhaps the most important update to the design is a new bracket which moves the bike post further from the vehicle, allowing for more vertical room in the cargo tray (perfect for storing large items like coolers, luggage, etc).

And check out this cool schematic that highlights just how much additional room there is in the storage basket. The brand new StowAway2 Rainier retails for $499. Click here to order the Rainier online at FastTrackRacks.com.

To read the official StowAway2 Rainier Bike Rack press release, click here.

A cool feature of FastTrackRacks.com is our extensive resources section, which provides helpful how-to guides, fit guides and more.  We want to make selecting and buying a roof rack, bike rack or cargo carrier as easy as possible.

Recently, we published some of our more popular article on Associated Content, a cool site full of helpful articles and guides.  Take a look at our first guide, the How to Select a Bike Hitch Rack Guide, and be on the lookout for more guides from FastTrackRacks.com.