Swedish brand Thule was established in 1942 and offers a wide range of products for the outdoors that includes roof racks for mountain bikes and winter sports, roof boxes, and a range of bags from camera bags, to sports bags and some of the best hydration packs too.
They have now announced their new and innovative bike carrier the Epos. Thule says is a fully foldable and tiltable towbar bike carrier, with a patented telescopic bike attachment system designed to transport bikes of any type or size from mountain bikes, or the best gravel bikes to e-MTB.
Thule claim the core innovation of the Epos bike carrier is its flexibility and ease of use which is down to the unique individual, and telescopic bike arms equipped with pivoting heads and reinforced straps. That is claimed to offer numerous attachment options to securely hold any type of bike. Thule also adds that the system is durable and is capable of carrying bikes with a weight of up to 30kg each and can load up to three bikes, depending on the model.
Although we haven't tried the system yet Thule says that mounting requires minimum effort, and securing the carrier to the car is also claimed to be simple. Bikes are easy to load and unload independently, without having to think about the order the unloading will take place. Once the bikes are loaded, the trunk is still accessible thanks to the smart tilting mechanism. When the system is not in use the bike arms stow flat, which also makes the trunk accessible even without tilting the bike carrier. Thule Epos is also fully foldable for easy transportation of the vehicle or convenient storage.
The new Thule rack comes with a host of handy accessories like the Bike Repair Holder which attaches to the system allowing for supported repairs and adjustments that could eliminate the need for carrying a bike stand. There is also a foldable loading ramp that does what it says on the tin, making the loading of heavy e-MTBs far easier. Finally, Thule has teamed up with Abus to develop an Epos-specific high-grade lock for added security and protection against theft.
Thule Epos pricing
The Thule Epos will be available in two or three-bike versions, but they are definitely premium priced. A three-bike rack will retail for $1,099 / £880 / €1,099 and the two-bike version at $999 / £970 / €999. Accessories are available separately from the main system with prices on those TBC. For more information head to Thule.com.