SeaSucker Talon 1 [Rider Review]

Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for.

Transporting a bike with a car that doesn't accommodate a bike rack can be a hassle. However, that's where SeaSucker comes in clutch! See what our customer thinks of their SeaSucker Talon 1 rack.

Overview

I've always lived for bike races. Which happens every other month. I train hard for these races, which take place miles away from home. But for the longest time, before I could get/leave the race venue, I had to face a battle: me versus my car boot.

My car, a trusty but compact station wagon, was clearly not designed with a cyclist in mind. Or maybe it was. Just that my handlebars happen to be a bit too wide. 780mm to be precise. Soon to be replaced with 760mm. Marginal gains in mind. But I digress.  Getting my bike inside was a frustrating ballet of awkward twists and brute force. First, I’d have to take the front wheel off, carefully placing the through axle somewhere it wouldn't get lost. Then came the delicate act of getting the frame inside.

I’d have to twist the handlebars at a perfect 90-degree angle, lift the frame, and slide it in rear-wheel first. But rear wheel first always proved to be a bad idea at the very last minute because of the wide handlebars. They won't let me close the trunk. Alright. Here we go again. Take it out and now handlebars first, making sure they are 90 degrees parallel to the frame. Also, make sure the derailleur side is up. You don't want shifty gear shifts during a race. During this whole process, the back wheel made sure to leave some dirt on my pants. 

The post-race return was the true nightmare. Tired, sweaty, and completely caked in mud, the last thing I wanted to do was wrestle a filthy machine back into my car. Clumps of mud would fall off the tires, creating a small, earthy mess in the boot. My car deserved better treatment.

But all this time, I knew this was not the best way to transport a bike. There is a reason for the bike rack. I always liked the look of a bike on a car's rooftop. Tour de France support car style. Therefore, I had my eyes on the SeaSucker Talon 1-Bike Roof Rack. Some people had shared concerns of the suckers losing air and consequently your bike coming undone, and you leaving it on the road. But those were all imagination. I like reality better. I have purchased parts and accessories of over USD 2,000 on Worldwide Cyclery, and not a single one of them has fallen short of what it promised to be. 

The very next time I had to transport my bike was a revelation. I installed the rack onto my car in less than two minutes. I lifted my bike and placed it onto the rack’s cradles. A few clicks/pumping and tightening of the sturdy straps, the fork axle, and it was done. The entire process took less than three minutes. I just stood back, my hands clean, my car untouched, with a massive grin spreading across my face. What more can a man ask for? 

Final Thoughts

My cycling life has been transformed. I will be arriving at races in style. I can go on spontaneous rides without the dread of the packing-and-unpacking ordeal. My car stays clean, and my clothes are dirt-free. That bike rack wasn't just an accessory; it was my ticket to bliss. It turns heads. It looks badass.