[sard]

Just a pic of this setup. I'm only 5'7" so the pull out ability of the carrier is really convenient. I can easily load and unload the snowboards without stepping on anything. And yes, the board with the green flowers on the base is my wife's.

[MetaX]

Nice! I like how the racks mount to the load bars. I'm still waiting for my Aeroblades to come in (fit kit backordered). Just hoping that my Yakima Fatcats will mount securely on the bars.

[utcadman]

I used same although I used a flush mount kit found here....

http://www.orsracksdirect.com/thule-...apter-kit.html

[sard]

Originally Posted by utcadman

I used same although I used a flush mount kit found here....

http://www.orsracksdirect.com/thule-...apter-kit.html

Ya know.. I was looking into that a while ago. The shop said it will drop your MPG by like 1-2 though. Not sure how accurate that is. I do like how it sits lower though. Also you will have to cut that rubber strip on top into 3 pieces to slide the T-bolts in right? Then when you use a different carrier you'll have to redo the top rubber strip..

[utcadman]

Mileage not sure about.

I just removed the rubber strip all together...

[MetaX]

Like the look of the flush mount, but I also like that the universal clamp buys you some more space for clearing bulky bindings...

[sard]

Originally Posted by MetaX

Like the look of the flush mount, but I also like that the universal clamp buys you some more space for clearing bulky bindings...

I think it looks a little silly being so high =( Wish it was more sleek somehow..

[TuffLittleUnit]

What are are you riding? Custom and Cartels here...

[sard]

Originally Posted by TuffLittleUnit

What are are you riding? Custom and Cartels here...

Awe yeah...custom + cartel = ultimate. My wife's board is a Burton .. uh Feather I think....Burton Lexa bindings. I've gone through a burton custom, a burton custom x, a burton T6, Rome Agent, and then I'm on my second Rome Agent now. Various bindings like Drake. I don't like how 'corporate' and popular Burton is, but fuck, they make the best shit. Wasted a lot of money in the beginning with boots and bindings that didn't work that well.

The latest Custom / Custom X's are so fucking expensive though. I'll ride my Rome Agent till it breaks.. then I'll dig deep into my pocket for a possible Custom X. My previous Rome Agent only lasted 1 freaking season and the nose cracked. I like how the Agent is a twin tip though unlike the custom's directional shape. Where do you live? So. Cali / OC here..

Speaking of Burton they just replaced my 6 year old $350 [AK] 3L jacket with a $370 2012 [AK] Stagger jacket haha. Burton Lifetime Warranty FTMFW!

[TuffLittleUnit]

One of the joys of Burton being so corporate is that it has things like the outlet in that famous ski resort ... erm ... Orlando.

Burton warranty is awesome ... mate had a red T6 which he'd picked up in a sale and the cushion pads came off after a week's slush riding. They happily swapped it for a brand new 2011 T7 Black Edition, no questions asked.

The only other brand I've come across with a policy like that is Oakley. I broke a pair of Minutes which had RX lenses in ... so pretty expensive. They sold me a retrospective insurance policy for £8 and then provided me with a brand new pair, transferred the lenses over and made them all good. Awesome service that suddenly made the initial outlay of £250 a very worthwhile investment.

[sard]

Nice!

[coolesnce]

I have the Thule Snowcat i bought last season for my x5, unfortunately our roof rails are different on the x3. anyone know of any other self contained systems like the snow cat, or adapters to make them fit, or is or only option the thule setup. Yakima website doesn't have an application for 2011/2012 x3s

[MetaX]

Originally Posted by TuffLittleUnit

What are are you riding? Custom and Cartels here...

Running Cartel ESTs and C60s. These newer bindings definitely don't fold down as much as they used to, but they ride SO much better.

[utcadman]

Here are some pics of the flush mount. Plenty of clearance.

jim

[sard]

Originally Posted by utcadman

Here are some pics of the flush mount. Plenty of clearance.

jim

BMW Factory crossbars?

[sard]

Here's a photo with my snowboards facing down. Snowboard bindings stick out further than ski's. The normal way I fold my bindings down probably wont have enough clearance with the flush mount T-bolts, but if I fold them the second way they should fit. I went ahead and ordered that t-bolt kit.

[utcadman]

Yes Factory Crossbars. Even with the flush you may make it!.

[TuffLittleUnit]

Originally Posted by utcadman

Here are some pics of the flush mount. Plenty of clearance.

jim

I've got the same flush mount ski/board carriers ... except mine say Audi on them instead of Thule

[MetaX]

Hi Sard,

Did your Fit Kit come with a sheet that provides the proper numbers for the plastic slider on the Aeroblades (for positioning the foot packs on the bars)? Mine was missing this vital piece of info so was hoping that you might be able to tell me what those numbers were...

[sard]

Originally Posted by MetaX

Hi Sard,

Did your Fit Kit come with a sheet that provides the proper numbers for the plastic slider on the Aeroblades (for positioning the foot packs on the bars)? Mine was missing this vital piece of info so was hoping that you might be able to tell me what those numbers were...

i dont think i had that in the box either! i just guessed...how are the EST design?

[MetaX]

ESTs are great if you find that you'd like to change up stances frequently (but don't since its such a PITA). Based on the snow conditions I'll occasionally opt to go from a duck-footed stance for riding switch to a directional stance for more high speed carving. On powder days I'll just slide both bindings back a few inches to get on the tail to make it easier to keep the front of my board floating over the pow. The beauty of the EST system to me is how quickly you can make these changes by just loosening 2 screws on the OUTSIDE of the bindings and easily dial in variations. All positions of the binding are infinitely adjustable and each adjustment type is enumerated so you can always dial in different settings and return to previous ones with precision (there's a central 'window' that shows all the setting values). I'm not sure if I really feel the benefits of having my feet closer to the board thanks to the elimination of a true baseplate but perhaps thats because I'm not a heavy park/pipe rider other than hitting tabletops and kickers.

The only drawback is that they lock you into the world of Burton since they're the only ones who make ICS boards (that interface with EST). I haven't looked this season yet so maybe that will change as board manufacturers start to license out the ICS technology--but I'm not holding my breath.

FYI I spoke with Thule's service guy today and he said that they don't have a measurement table for the little slide thingies on the Aeroblades for the X3 nor does he expect that they will. You just line 'em up so they attach to the rails properly and try to keep the load bars centered...

[rpiopio]

Sard. Does it feel secure enough that you'd be able to load 4 boards on there? 2 up and two down?