Toyota Genuine Roof Racks
Boost the storage and flexibility of your vehicle.
Guides — Adventure ready
Mountain biking
Mountain biker Todd Palmer talks adventure tips and some of his top trail locations. Plus, discover which Toyota Genuine Accessories will enhance your ride.
3 min readEquipping your RAV4, LandCruiser 300, HiLux or C-HR with a ProRide Bike Carrier leaves your boot clear and reduces risk of your bike copping a spray on muddy drives. We call in an expert to prime you with destinations and tips for once you’re loaded up and headed for a peddle.
For a full list of Toyota Genuine Accessories shown above, click here.
LandCruiser and Pro Rider, ready for rugged terrain.
Todd Palmer has been fixing bikes professionally for over twelve years. He’s ridden everywhere from Melbourne’s hidden Yarra tracks to the wide-open plains of Mongolia. We sat down to talk about mountain bike adventure tips, for beginners and more advanced riders.
As someone who’s based in Melbourne, where would you drive for a beginner day trip ride?
The Warburton Rail Trail is really nice for more entry-level stuff. You can park in town, get your bike off the rack and go for a cruise and have a coffee on the way. That's a very nice time. If you don't feel like going the whole way you can do a shuttle. Just drop someone off and pick them up at the other end. Lysterfield is only an hour out of Melbourne, it has a skills park and easy family trails too.
What about for more advanced riders, where would you suggest?
The You Yangs are great. There’s also a place called La Larr Ba Gauwa, near Castlemaine. It’s really cool. You can leave your bike on the rack and have a picnic. And you can camp there overnight. That way you can use your car as a base camp and ride on smaller loops. I really like doing that as an easier option instead of a massive ride where you're miles away from anything.
Photo (second): Todd Palmer
"Get your bike off the rack and go for a cruise and have a coffee on the way."
Todd Palmer
Where would you go for a longer trip?
I’ve taken the ferry to Tasmania five or six times. You can just drive onto the boat with your bikes on the rack. Then, once you’re there, you have your car and your bike. Maydena Bike Park would be my pick if you’re going to Tassie.
What should you remember before you hit the road?
It’s good to bring basic tools. Maybe a spare tube. A bike pump is also good to have. With roof racks, it's worth measuring the height of your car. You don’t want to get stuck under the Montague Street bridge or the Drive Through window, or even your own garage on the way home. You can get tired after a day’s ride. It’s even worth putting a little sticker on your windshield to remind you your bikes are there.
A massive thanks to Todd Palmer for chatting with us. You can follow his adventures @toddcycles, and keep up with latest from Toyota @toyota_aus.
Cycle your way to scenic.
Featured accessories
Some accessories to help you get the most out of your mountain bike road trip.
Pro Ride Bike Carrier
Transport your bikes easily and securely.
All Weather Rubber Floor Mats
Protect the interior of your vehicle.
Second image:
GXL in Dusty Bronze shown accessorised with Slimline weathershields - tinted, Coloured steel bull bar, Winch, 24 LED light bar, Bash plate, Front recovery points J10, Roof racks (roof rail type) and Bicycle carrier. All accessories sold separately. Sahara ZX in Graphite shown accessorised with Slimline weathershields - tinted, Door handle paint protection film, Dark grey 18” alloys and On road –tow bar, tow ball and trailer wiring harness G6K12. All accessories sold separately.
