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If you are an owner of Land Rover’s fifth-generation Discovery, there is a likelihood that one of South Africa’s most popular outdoor pursuits also fall within the orbit of our lifestyle: mountain biking.
The local mountain bike market has grown enormously over the last decade and as such, the demands on vehicles expected to transport bikes from home to the where the trailhead starts, has created an entire industry of carries and bike racking options.
Making cycling easier
Anyone who has experienced the immense frustration of attempting to fiddle mountain bikes onto an ill-designed, or fitted, bike rack in the early morning hours will know the value of a properly engineered and integrated system.
READ: Land Rover's next-gen Discovery arrives in SA
Land Rover South Africa has recognised this demand from its customers, existing and potential, launched a cycling pack for the Discovery. Termed as 'Gear' it’s the first in a range of accessories packages due for evaluation and local release, which should eventually cover a generous reach of outdoor activities, including watersports.
Image: Land Rover / Supplied
The Discovery cycling package constitutes either a roof or tow bar mounted two-bike carrier, whilst the cabin gains rubber mats and a waterproof loadspace liner.
The choice is yours
Exterior enhancements as part of the cycling package details front and rear mudflaps (Discoveries look so much more on point rolling these), with a choice of black or silver wheel centre caps.
Image: Land Rover / Supplied
Purchased independently the cycling pack’s components retail just shy of R29 000, whilst Land Rover is offering the same value at R22 500, totalling a tidy saving, which can also conveniently be absorbed into your new vehicle financing agreement.
Considering the cost of contemporary mountain bikes, which can approach that of an entry-level car, and the damage they suffer due to frame or rim rub if mounted on a substandard racking system, Land Rover’s cycling package offers value beyond the obvious.
Image: Land Rover / Supplied
Badly designed aftermarket bike racks are unsteady, can vibrate alarming at speed and annoyingly lack crucial convenience features.
One of the clever features on the Discovery’s rear rack is a quick release system which allows you to effortlessly tilt the two bikes on the back out of the way, gaining easy access the Land Rover SUV’s tailgate area.
Another issue many SUV owners do not recognise as potential risk when purchasing a cheap bike rack system, is the incompatibility of its electrics.
The connector which enables all those required lighting functions on a rear bike rack (indicator, brakes), can often be substandard, exposing the vehicle to annoying electrical gremlins. With Land Rover’s approved and tested bike carrier components, there is no risk of any electrical gremlins at all.
Image: Land Rover / Supplied
If you wish to exploit your Discovery’s full potential as the bicycling transport SUV of choice and save its cabin from being ruined by the mud and dirt which is inevitable for SA cyclists, Land Rover’s new cycling pack is an excellent solution.
The package is available for existing fifth-generation Discovery owners too and there is an application study being considered for possible retrofitting of a similar cycling package for Discovery 4 owners.
