Practical, light, compact and easy to mount, for 2 to 4 bicycles
Atera Strada rear bicycle rack
Allows easier access to the boot

Motion Trends,
22nd May 2006.

You want to take one more thing out of the boot, but can't get to it from the passenger seat. You have to open boot lid. What if you have already fixed your bicycle rack, ready for departure, or are already on your way?

Conventional rear bicycle racks can be unhinged downwards. That means that the rack always makes it difficult to reach the boot. Usually, the bicycles have to be taken off too. A hinged device means the entire rack has to be lifted again after it is dropped down.

From this month, Atera, the Ravensburg-based specialist in rack systems, is bringing its own solution to the laborious process, with the innovative Strada rear bicycle rack (for two to four bicycles).

Practicality - First, the rolling extension (easy to move) allows access to the boot, whether or not it is loaded and without having to take the bicycles off. The rack immediately glides backwards and a little way downwards. That is all it takes to move it away from the vehicle, granting easy access to the boot. This also functions in vans with protruding lift gates, like the VW T5 or the Mercedes Vito. It allows the section with the bicycles to be pushed back to the starting position without any particular force.

Lightness - The second advantage of the Strada is its light weight. It is 30 percent lighter than conventional rear bicycle racks intended for mounting on trailer couplings.

The reason: steel was substituted with much lighter aluminium at many points, without any sacrifice in terms of stability and safety. The very stable design has already demonstrated its qualities on the tough testing grounds of the Southern German TÜV (German Technical Inspection Authority).

Compactness - Besides being the lightest of all rear-mounted racks, the Strada is also the most compact of its kind. It is only 1 metre wide and can be conveniently transported in the boot when not in use.

Easy mounting - Atera delivers the Strada fully pre-assembled. Simply place it on the trailer coupling, extend the provided stop lever, and mounting onto the car is finished in ten seconds.

Hanging the bicycle is just as easily accomplished. Place the bicycle in the aluminium rail, secure the frame with the rotary spacer, secure the tyres with the straps and off you go!

Because most of the car's rear lights would be covered up, Atera equips the Strada with an integrated lighting system that gets its power from a combined 7-/13-pin plug connection, for those late trips back home after a long day of touring.

Two to four - The Atera Strada is available in two versions.

The Strada 2 has capacity for two bicycles and can bear weights of up to 45 kilograms.

The Strada 3 has room for three bicycles.

Both versions can be used with any size bicycle.

Additionally, Atera designed an expansion adapter to allow either version to carry one more bicycle. In the case of the Strada 3, that means four.

Price - Strada rear bicycle rack pricing starts from 399 euros (in Germany), with a three-year warranty. Atera includes an EC operating licence for the trailer coupling in the Strada package. Both the bicycles and the rack itself are theft-proof.

As a specialist in rack systems, Atera offers a broad assortment of solutions for different transport problems. A partner with top-of-the-line auto manufacturers like BMW and Daimler-Chrysler, Atera guarantees high standards of workmanship, stability, safety and durability.

For more information about products availabilities, shipping and prices, you can visit the Atera website directly.