RockyMounts SwitchHitter LS Rack

RockyMounts has always been at the top of my list when looking for a new bike rack, they make well thought out and nice looking racks and the fact that I get to support a local Colorado company is always a bonus. The SwitchHitter is one of their newest racks and what caught my eye is that the rack can handle thru axle forks without the need of an adapter like most other racks of a similar design. The rack has removable inserts allowing you to run a 15x100, 15x110 (Boost) and 20x100 as well. The rack also comes with a QR skewer that fits inside of the 15mm insert which comes installed.

When it came to installing the rack, it was pretty simple. I have crossbars with the center mounting slot, which requires a bit more work than the standard mounting, but the instructions are pretty straightforward and it took me about 20 minutes to install two racks to my roof. I also purchased 4 lock cores, which lock the rack to the crossbars and allow you to use the cable locks in the back. The cable lock is long enough to go through your wheel and rear triangle. While it would not be hard to cut the cable, I do like the theft deterrent it provides.

The SwitchHitter is very low profile when there is not a bike on it, and I have not noticed any increase in wind noise or a significant decrease in gas mileage when using the racks. Loading bikes is a snap, especially when using a thru axle fork as you use the thru axle to secure the bike to the rack and a simple ratcheting strap in the back to secure the wheel. I have used this rack with a wide range of bikes from road bikes to MTBs and have not had any issues. Depending on the height of your vehicle it may be a challenge to lift your bike up, but the rack sits low enough that it has not been an issue for me.

My one gripe with the rack is that the rear mount rattles (especially when there is a bike on the rack). The rear mount slides back and forth to allow for differing distances between the bars, but does not tighten down to take the small amount of play out. This is not a major issue, but the rattling is kind of annoying.

Overall though I think RockyMounts has hit it out of the park (pun intended) with this rack. The price may be a bit high for some, but I think the build quality and great customer service from RockyMounts makes the added cost worth it over a company like Thule or Yakima. The low profile, thru axle compatibility, and overall functionality of this rack make it a winner in my books. If you are in the market for a rack that will work with road bikes, DH bikes, and standard mountain bikes and look good doing it, check out the SwitchHitter.