Being active in the outdoors can be a little difficult when you live in the city, especially if you live bike riding, but with a little extra effort it is something that can still be enjoyed. One of the crucial pieces of equipment in order to enjoy bike riding in general and specifically mountain biking is a trunk mounted bike rack.

While most people may think bike riding in the mountains or outside the city is limited to those with a truck, SUV or van that simply isn't true these days. With the high price of gas and the increased concern and desire for more economical and greener vehicles, many people have made the move to smaller sedans and hatchbacks. For those people, rear bike racks can allow them to continue their hobbies and their active lifestyle with no troubles.

While features, quality levels, ease of adjustability, expandability and size when not in use will vary amongst the different models; the basic concept is very similar. By using a framework that rests on the trunk and is supported either by another bar resting on the lower part of the trunk or license plate or resting on the bumper, the bike rack will hold anywhere from 1 - 3 bicycles. Support straps are used to stabilize the rack and they attach to various parts of the back of the vehicle with rubber coated clips.

Rear bike racks offer a number of advantages over roof mounted bike racks. The first and most obvious one of course is the ease of accessibility. Needing to lift a bicycle up and onto the roof of a vehicle is not always an easy endeavor. While many modern mountain bikes can be very lightweight, not everyone has the latest, most expensive technology in their mountain bike. Secondly, some people may be interested in something other than mountain biking, for example beach cruising or riding old British roadster bicycles in the countryside. These types of bicycles are extremely heavy, passing the 30 and even 40 pound mark. Having a bike rack that mounts to the trunk can make much more sense in these situations.

Most trunk mounted bike racks are designed to fit a wide range of vehicles. While some are specifically targeted to a certain car model or a certain vehicle style, minivans or hatchbacks for example, the larger majority of rear bike racks will most likely be able to be fit and positioned on most kinds of vehicles. With this in mind, the style, feature set and ease of installing becomes much more important. While these bike racks are not outrageously expensive, it makes sense for a prospective buyer to consider the features wisely.

Trunk mounted bike racks can be a great way to carry bicycles from one place to another for people in today's modern world. Although typically marketed towards city dwellers, they are useful for anyone who does not have a large vehicle to put a bicycle into. With proper research and investigation into features and installation, anyone can find a rear bike rack to fit their needs and their wallet.