The more cycling becomes a part of my life the more I learn.  Couple that with acquiring higher purpose bikes, and in my mind the treatment of the bike, older methods of hanging a bike on the back of a vehicle becomes questionable.  Yeah, the hitch mount bike rack where the bike hangs on the top cross bar is not the best treatment for carbon frames along with the addition of scratch marks on the nice paint.  It was time to make a change….wow there are so many choices!  I decided to start paying attention to the various racks I would see hanging on the back of vehicles and understanding the advantages and virtues of each type.  What I learned is that nothing touching the frame of the bike is the best.  No undo pressures on the carbon frame and no scratching the paint.  Secondly, an attachment to the rack via the wheels accomplishes the first observation.  Pictured above is the Thule rack I purchased that accomplishes all this with, in my mind one added advantage, an attachment point on both tires.  It is very simple to put on and take off, very sturdy, and no contact with the bike at all.  Of course, it is easy to fold up, has a locking mechanism, easy to take off, and easily stores in the garage.  For those familiar with Thule products they come with a slightly higher price tag than many competitor products.  My experience with them has been justified by their build quality, long lasting, and they work every time!