Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

First of all, let me say that I researched a ton of different racks before finally deciding on the Freedom. The ability to have a "tray style" rack at such a good price point was key for me. Plus I know Saris makes great stuff. In doing my research I've read a ton of reviews. So as part of my review I'll comment on the negative points I've read in other reviews. If you're reading this you may have read the same negatives I have, so let me address it for you. My qualifications: Cyclist for over 10 years and owner of numerous racks. One of the "One Star" reviews I've read states that the bike fell off on a curvy road. That has got to be operator error, plain and simple. I can not fathom how all 3 straps managed to fail at once. That just doesn't happen. "The cradles can't accommodate bikes with 'square' downtubes": My mountain bike has an incredibly large "square" shaped downtube and mine fits just fine WITH ROOM TO SPARE. I wonder what sort of bike this could be that doesn't fit. I'm certain the overwhelming majority of bikes will fit. Lots of people gripe that "the rack doesn't fold". It's pretty clear that it doesn't fold and you knew that when you bought it. Why give the rack a bad review based on your unrealistic expectations? That's like complaining that it doesn't hold more than 2 bikes. It's not a folding rack. Plain and simple. Don't expect it to. "The tightening knobs are hard to turn": I read that so I got my 9 year old daughter to try and she was able to tighten and loosen them. So I don't know how weak of an adult you have to be to not be able to do this. "I could not get my 2 carbon road bikes to fit because the handlebars hit no matter what": I think this is operator error too. They must've had them both facing the same direction because I got 2 mountain bikes with 31" wide handlebars to fit with no problems at all. "Does not work with 29ers": I loaded and carried two 29ers just fine. "Straps are cheap/Straps are plastic and I predict they will fail/Straps require 2 hands to operate/Straps are hard to operate": This is all just silly. Who "predicts" a strap will fail and then counts it against the rack? Based on what expertise are you basing this prediction? Plastic does not necessarily mean "cheap". I've had many racks with plastic straps that sat in the sun all the time and the straps never dried out, rotted or failed. The straps are incredibly easy to use -- again, I showed my 9 year old daughter how to use them ONE TIME and she was then able to operate the straps on her own. What kind of person expects to be able to operate retention straps with one hand? You can't really use a simple plastic ziptie with one hand so why would you expect to be able to do it with this? "The plastic straps scratched my bike's finish": Ya, that will happen when you strap down a dirty/gritty bike. That's not the rack's fault, that's the dirt and grit acting like sandpaper. Try a 10 second wipe down of the area or wrap a $1 microfiber cloth in between the bike and the strap to protect the finish. I have used this rack and have no problems. It is a great rack and a phenomenal value. It is easy to assemble and easy to use. Couple that with a lifetime warranty, made is the USA quality and easy to purchase accessories and spare parts and you have a 5 star winner. Buy with confidence.