Atera STRADA Sport M 3 to 4 bike carrier no....

This superb rack from Atera is relatively compact and light yet the reinforced frame makes it suitable for carrying heavier and electric bikes (up to 30kg). The optional drive-up rail makes the loading particularly comfortable if you have heavy bikes.

We reckon that Atera's new STRADA tilting carriers are the best designed and best engineered tow ball carriers on the market, bar none. Apart from its all round style, what's so special about the STRADA Sport?

(1) It is extremely robust and is made from both steel and aluminium, this gives it the best of both worlds. The steel means the carrier reinforces where it need to be making it suitable for heavier bikes (up to 30kg each) yet the carrier only weighs 16.5kg so it is easily manoeuvrable.

(2) It fits to 'bolt on' or 'swan neck' tow balls without any adjustment; you just place it on the tow ball and push down the handle - no spanners or Allen keys are required.

(3) It tilts away from the vehicle allowing access to the tailgate.

(4) The bike frame holders are without a doubt the most sophisticated units available. They fit oval and other outsize frames as well as round ones, wrapping a strap right around the frame for safety and security. (This looks like a simple plastic strap, but it is in fact 'sandwiched' around a spring steel core.) With swivel joints at both ends, and a slight curve in the aluminium support rod to increase the opportunities available, we haven't yet come across any combination of bike sizes and styles that can't easily be locked into place using the same key which locks the whole unit to the tow ball.

It makes sense when using this carrier to place a safety strap around all the bikes and the bike holder support frame. We're therefore providing a free strap with each carrier - one strap per carrier! As well as providing peace of mind the strap will also help to minimise vibration.

Technical and miscellaneous:

• Weight of carrier: 16.5g
• Maximum payload: 60kg
• Approximate dimensions when folded: 1000 x 200 x 720 mm
• The wheels are held in place with quick fit polypropylene straps which suit all rim and tyre sizes.
• The STRADA has five function rear lights so it is fitted with a 13 pin plug for 13 pin continental type electric sockets. If you have a 7 pin socket you will need the Lighting adapter '13 pin' (rack) to 7 pin (car) listed below. If you need one of these remember to tick the box below to add this to your order. (If you have a 7 pin socket the reversing light and fog light will not work. The 7 pin socket isn't wired for these functions).

Note for vehicles with a rear mounted spare wheel: You may not be able to fit the STRADA onto vehicles with a rear mounted spare wheel: in our experience you almost always have to remove the spare wheel. This could be (1) to get the bike carrier onto the vehicle (the upright may hit the spare wheel), (2) to get the bikes to fit on the carrier (the handlebars etc could hit the spare wheel) or (3) take the carrier off the tow bar after use (the handle to remove it could clash with the spare wheel).

You'll need a lighting adapter if your vehicle has a standard UK style 7 pin socket - buy a Strada from us by 31st November 2012 and we'll give you this for free, saving up to £20 at typical prices! Tick the Free lighting adapter box if you want one - there'll be a nominal 10p charge.

Made in Germany.

Deciding which bike carriers to buy is not always easy, especially as you may not have had experience of using bike carriers before. We hope that our buying guides provide useful guidance about which bike carrier 'strategy' will be most appropriate for your circumstances, as well as highlighting the best features of particular models. We also have troubleshooting FAQs - for example, some customers struggle at first to fit four bikes onto a tow ball carrier, and wonder whether a different carrier would allow the bikes to be spaced wider apart. (It won't, but we have some good tips which make bike fitting much easier.)

Our bike carriers Exchange Scheme covers roof mounting and tow ball mounting bike carriers only. Rear door mounting / strap on carriers are not included, and nor are roof bars. It allows you to exchange within 90 days of invoice date. Most exchanges are for roof mounting upgrades, or are tow ball carriers with very basic tilting systems being exchanged for easy to use sliding / tilting carriers.

These are the rules of the bike carriers Exchange Scheme:

• You are allowed one exchange only.
• The original equipment must be in "as new" condition, subject only to fair wear and tear.
• The replacement items must be different models from the originals.
• The replacement items must not be part of a package deal or be from our Bargains section.
• Roof bars are never part of the Exchange Scheme.

This is how the exchange scheme works:

• We charge in full for the replacement items, including the appropriate carriage charge and a charge for any packaging needed for the return of the originals.
• We pay the return carriage costs.
• When the originals arrive back here we refund you for their invoice value, but you won't get back more than the invoice value of the replacements. In other words, if the replacements are cheaper than the originals we won't be giving you "extra cash back".

Technical specifications at a glance:

Max number of bikes: 3 (4 with adapter 2624; shown below)

Takes electric bikes:Yes, up to two

Fits bolt on tow ball: yes

Fits swan neck / detachable tow ball: yes

Dimensions: 100cm (width) x 72cm (depth) x 20cm (height)

Weight: 16.5kg

Max load capacity: 60kg (68kg with 4th bike adapter)

Max weight per bike: 30kg

Max wheelbase: 120cm

Distance between bikes: 18cm

Tilting: yes

Integral lighting board: yes

Lighting board plug type: 13 pin (7 pin adapter available if required; shown below)

Bike carrier to tow ball lock: yes

Bike carrier to bike lock: yes

Possible to tow when in use: no

Fits with a spare wheel: no

Guarantee: 3 years

Useful information:

The maximum permitted load you can carry is also determined by your nose weight; you will need to check you don’t exceed this before using any tow ball mounted bike carrier.

Delivery charges and arrangements:

We charge a contribution towards delivery costs, depending on what you order, where you live, and how quickly you want the goods.

For most UK addresses, the charge for our two to three day service is £5.50 (£9.50 for orders including a roof box) and our charge for Next Working Day deliveries is £8.50 (£12.50 for orders involving a roof box). AutoSock, and small spare parts, are charged £3.95 (1st Class post) or £5.50 (express courier, usually Next Working Day).

There are different charges for any delivery including a sea crossing, and deliveries to Skye - we will contact you with a quote on receipt of order.

Orders for Next Working Day delivery need to be received by 4.00pm.

There are no deliveries on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays. Next Working Day orders placed on a Friday will be delivered on the Monday, Next Working Day orders placed on a Saturday will be delivered on the Tuesday.

We are very flexible with our deliveries and will aim to deliver on a day and at an address which suits you. Goods can usually be left without signature - we prefer this with roof boxes. There's a "Special Delivery Instructions" box in the checkout area where we'll ask you to choose a typical instruction and then amend it to suit your particular requirements.

No retailer or courier company can ever "guarantee" a Next Working Day delivery. All courier companies occasionally have the same transport problems as can happen to everyone else, including snow blocked roads, closed roads, traffic jams, mechanical breakdown, an inability to find the delivery address, or to gain access to it if, for example, it's in a block of flats. We work with some of the best couriers in the business, and overall they provide an outstanding service.