Atera GIRO AF aluminium bike carrier no. AR2220

The best selling Atera GIRO AF has now been discontinued and replaced by the even better Atera GIRO AF+, with improved wheel holder tensioners, and longer wheel straps; we're sold out of the older model.

Use this page to order spares for the GIRO AF (see Spare parts tab).

The remainder of this information for the record, e.g. for people selling second hand products, and wanting technical specifications.

This smart aluminium carrier includes some really useful innovations, especially in the ease of use department. Ease (which means speed) of use is the big issue when you've already heaved your bike onto the roof. So what's so special?

• For starters, the frame holder will stay in whatever position you place it in, so you can position it before lifting the bike onto the roof.
• The bike comes to rest between the wheel clamps which, unusually, can and should be locked in position, adjusted for your bike, so the bike won't roll up or down the wheel tray. Now all you need to do is hold the bike vertical with one hand, even if the car is parked on a slope. Clever stuff...
• Now give the control grip a quick twist and the clamping jaws spring shut, i.e. adjust automatically to your bike profile.
• Give the control grip a further twist to tighten the mechanism, and then lock it and remove the key.
• Push the wheel straps into their quick release catches and pull tight.

All these adjustments are made at shoulder level (on the average car). When you come to take the bike off you'll loosen the wheel straps, unlock the control grip, twist it and pull it down until it clicks - all ready for when you put the bike back again. Believe us, there's no faster or neater system on the market.

Further specifications:

• Holds oval down tubes up to 100mm by 80mm, and round tubes from 22mm to 80mm diameter
• Weighs only 3kg
• 240mm wide, with 125mm between the roof bar fixings
• Quick release fixings to roof bars, including an integral lock
• The bike is locked to the carrier, and the carrier is locked independently to the roof bars (these locks are supplied)
• Identically keyed lock barrels are available, which makes sense if you're buying 2 or more carriers; you need 2 per carrier
• Thick rubber coating to protect the bike frame
• The quick release straps accommodate all common wheel sizes
• Takes bikes with wheels as large as 29"
• Easily changed from right hand to left hand mounting
• Frame holder folds flat when the bike is removed
• Holds bikes up to a maximum weight of 17kg
• Fits 32mm x 22mm standard steel bars
• Comes complete with 20mm x 24mm aerobar adapters for e.g. Atera, Whispbar, CRUZ or Thule aerobars. Also fits many other manufacturers aero bars including Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Vauxhall
• A complete range of spares is available.
• Has passed the European "City Crash test"

Atera has a proud reputation to uphold as Germany's premier car rack systems manufacturer, making own branded gear for most of the German car companies as well as their own branded systems. Their testing regime is, as you can imagine, very extensive, and their quality is exceptional.

The GIRO AF has featured in numerous product tests over the years. 2011 tests include Germany's ADAC test which rated the GIRO AF+ in 2nd place behind the Thule ProRide 591, and Germany's auto magazine "Auto Strassenverkehr" test which put the GIRO AF ahead of the Thule carrier. Which one to go for is very much a matter of personal preference.

Exchange Scheme: Roof mounting bike carriers are part of our unique 90 day Exchange Scheme - see the tab for details. The bottom line is that if you aren't satisfied that the GIRO AF+ fits the bill you can exchange it for an alternative roof mount, or a tow bar bike rack.

Made in Germany.

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.

These are our standard charges; there are usually surcharges for all offshore destinations and some remote postcodes - for details please see our delivery information page.

Delivery of other items

Delivery times

Delivery times are calculated in working days (Monday to Friday, excluding Bank holidays).

Cut-off times for Express Delivery orders
Express Delivery orders placed before before the cut-off times shown below will usually be desptached on the date of order. Express Delivery orders placed after these cut-off times will be despatched the next working day.

Delivery FAQs

When will my order arrive?
There are no deliveries on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays, except for postable items where Royal Mail has a Saturday delivery. Express Delivery orders placed on a Friday (before 1pm) should be delivered on the Monday or Tuesday, Express Delivery orders placed on a Saturday or Sunday should be delivered on the Tuesday or Wednesday. The arrangements for Very Heavy Items are different and are shown above.

What about Next Working Day delivery?
Most Express delivery orders will arrive on the next working day, if the order is placed before the cut-off time (see above). Some will arrive on the second working day if there has been a "split-delivery". So-called “split deliveries” happen when the couriers do not have enough trailer space for everything that should be moved around the UK, so they will load what they can and leave the rest for the next trailer.

Is my delivery day guaranteed?
No retailer or courier company can ever "guarantee" a Next Working Day delivery. As well as split deliveries, 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.

Do I need to be at home?
We are very flexible with our deliveries and will aim to deliver to an address which suits you – this does not need to be your home address. 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.

Payment options:

We take the following cards, and also PayPal. Please note that the entry on your card statement will be from "The Roof Box Company".

Secure payments

Our website is secured by Sectigo (formerly Comodo CA), the largest commercial Certificate Authority in the world.

Technical specifications at a glance:

Fits roof bars up to: 32mm wide x 22mm deep

Fits aerobars: yes, adapters included for aero bars

Takes downtube dimensions: oval up to 80mm wide x 100mm deep, round 22-80mm diameter

Weight: 2.9kg

Max load capacity: 17kg

Bar to carrier lock: yes

Carrier to bike lock: yes

Matching locks available: yes

Width: takes 24cm of roof bar space

Guarantee: 3 years

Useful information:

You can top-and-tail the bike carriers to take up less space on your roof bars.

The GIRO AF came out top in a recent product test in the "Auto Strassenverkehr" magazine. (1 = Excellent, 2 = Good, 3 = Satisfactory, 4 = Adequate, 5 = Not good enough, 6 = Failed. The lower the score, the better.)

It scored 1.5 for its concept and workmanship, 1.7 for fitting and use, 1.0 in the driving test, 1.8 in the crash test, with an overall score of 1.5.

Here is an approximate translation of the summary:

• Good results in all areas: The test winner's concept is well thought through. The wheel rail can be adjusted and adapted to the bike. The method for fixing the wheels to the rail also proved to be good, because the strap is equipped with a ratchet, which facilitates the attachment. The frame holder is equally convincing - it fits neatly to any bike with its quick release clamp. It didn't show any noticeable weaknesses during the driving test. The GIRO AF passed the slalom, shaking track and full braking tests with flying colours. Though one frame holder loosened, the bike was held firm.
• The Thule ProRide 591 is also praised but let down because it doesn't include adapters for the wider channeled BMW aerobars (which are made by Atera, so the GIRO AF comes with the adapters!). As with the GIRO AF, the Proride 591 "convinced in the driving and crash test, during which only one holder loosened slightly".

We offer our existing customers a full "Next Day if possible" spares service, and will cannibalise new stock as required to find you the parts you need.

To find the spare parts you need, please see the diagram below, identify the product codes, then choose them from the list below. If you need more than 1 of any item, change the quantities in the Shopping Basket.