This bike holder pioneer sells Bluetooth-enabled suction cups to attach bikes to your car

Richard Allen didn’t invent the automobile bike rack — He applied for a patent for his invention in 1967 He explains that others came before. But after nearly sixty years of selling common, simple mechanical bike racks, his company Allen Bikes now offers a range of — yes — Suction cups monitored via Bluetooth Paste bicycles on your car.

If you feel stressed Just look On these pictures New $299 Smart Suction GoYou are not alone! That’s the first thing my colleague Andrew Leszewski said, and I completely agree. But it seems some people actually swear by the ease and convenience of suction cup bike mounts – SeaSucker is the big name in this field.

Now, Allen is trying to reduce the worry with smart pressure sensors, so you’ll (hopefully) know if the suction has failed long before your precious bike hits the asphalt. It pairs via Bluetooth with a smartphone app. The company uses the same mounting technology to mount DSLR or mirrorless cameras in vehicles as well.

We had it Many questions. Here are some answers:

Has anyone tested this independently?

Technically, the Allen Bike was introduced A more expensive version is $599 Last year, but I don’t see a lot of reviews. here BikeRouror. here Canadian Cycling Magazine. Apparently it hasn’t really been pressure tested, so we don’t know how well it performed during a suction failure.

How much time do you have to withdraw? Once the suction starts to fail?

“Due to the redundant design, users have several minutes to stop and address any issues. Suction is effectively checked every 5 seconds,” says Alex Allen, son of the founder and new owner. Edge By email.

How do you know you have enough suction to begin with?

Each cup has a small pressure pump on the side, with an indicator that changes color once there is enough vacuum as well as being detected in the app. But also, the company only advertises this for bikes that weigh 35 pounds or less, mounted upright facing forward.

How many suction cups are monitored?

With the new $299 version, “the front three cups are actively monitored. The cups are actually strong enough that just one can keep the bike in place, but they are designed for optimal repeatability and stability.”

How do you know when you fail?

Smartphone notification, in-app alert, and you can connect it to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to monitor your dashboard as well. It doesn’t seem like you can accurately monitor pressure, the pictures we’ve seen either show “good suction” or a warning.

What about hot and cold weather? Suction cups can fail in each of them.

“Very reliable due to the real rubber material used in these cups,” says Allen. “This material has been specially selected to withstand a wide range of temperatures and contains UV-resistant additives to extend life even in extreme conditions. Smart Suction Go has been tested in the real world in Dubai, where temperatures often exceed 40 degrees Celsius.” The operating range tested is “-15°C to +60°C,” he writes.

Does rubber break down over time?

“In terms of lifespan, with typical consumer use, the cups are generally expected to provide around 7 to 10 years of service. The cups themselves are also fully replaceable if needed over time, for example, due to wear and tear.”

What prevents a bike from being stolen quickly? I see the original version comes with a seat belt…

“The Smart Suction Go SB05 does not include the safety tether of the First Edition. It is designed primarily to be used only for bike transportation, not for storing the bike on a vehicle,” Allen wrote. He also says that disengaging the suction cups will trigger a notification in the app.

Both of the company’s devices use four standard AA batteries with “a total of 6-8 hours of active use,” according to Allen. “You can probably drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles — but if you’re stuck in traffic on the way back, you might need to put in some new batteries,” he adds. (If you don’t have spares, most gas stations still carry AA, no need for a special CR2032 or anything.)

Did Allen cut any more corners with the $299 version compared to the original $599 version?

The rear suction cup is not monitored, and the company says some users may like how the original aluminum rod can keep the cups the same distance from each other every time. Also, Allen says the company has leftover inventory of the original that still needs to be sold.

Did you say something about the camera mount?

Yes. $70 for one 6-inch suction cup With Bluetooth monitoring, a standard screw mount, and a dual-angle ball head, it’s rated to hold up to 6.6 pounds of camera, lens, and accessories. Can you take some of the anxiety away when you get a great shot for your next movie?