From Scrap Metal to RealRack: How One Mountain Biker's Idea Became a Business
Every great idea starts somewhere. For RealRack founder Liam, it started in his garage, with a Subaru Impreza, some scrap metal and a problem that needed solving.
A love for mountain biking and a problem worth solving
Liam's passion for mountain biking runs deep. So deep, in fact, that he moved from Australia to New Zealand to spend more time doing what he loves.
But there was one problem. Getting his bikes to the trails wasn't nearly as easy as riding them.
At the time, Liam drove a Subaru Impreza. It was a perfectly good car, and he couldn't justify buying a bigger vehicle simply to transport his mountain bikes.
Unfortunately, the bike rack options available for smaller cars left a lot to be desired.
Traditional two-prong racks weren't particularly bike-friendly, often causing scratches and damage during transport. Roof racks had their limitations, and the vertical bike racks on the market were heavy, bulky and largely designed for bigger vehicles.
Liam knew there had to be a better solution.
The first RealRack was built from scrap metal
Rather than settling for what was available, Liam decided to build something himself.
He gathered his bikes in the garage, collected some scrap materials from work and started experimenting with a simple question:
"What's the least amount of material I can use to safely carry my bikes on the back of my car?"
That question became the foundation of the very first RealRack.
There were no fancy designs or expensive materials involved. Just a mountain biker with a practical problem and the determination to solve it.
The finished product wasn't exactly a showpiece. In Liam's own words, it looked terrible.
But it worked.
It was lightweight, practical and designed specifically around the needs of someone who loved mountain biking but didn't drive a massive vehicle.
And as it turned out, Liam wasn't the only one looking for something different.
From a homemade rack to a business idea
Once Liam started using his homemade bike rack, something unexpected happened.
Other mountain bikers began approaching him, curious about the unusual design.
"That's an awesome idea!"
"Why hasn't anyone thought of that?"
"Where can I buy one?"
The questions kept coming.
What Liam had built purely for himself was attracting attention from people who were experiencing exactly the same frustrations.
There was clearly a gap in the market for a lightweight, practical vertical bike rack that didn't require a large vehicle.
And that was the moment a homemade solution started looking like a real business opportunity.
Refining the idea and bringing RealRack to life
With growing interest from fellow riders, Liam decided to take his original design further.
He began refining the concept, improving the materials and developing a rack that could be manufactured and sold to other mountain biking enthusiasts.
But throughout the development process, the original goal remained the same.
Create a rack that was lightweight, strong, easy to use and adaptable to different vehicles.
That philosophy helped shape the RealRack range available today.
Starting at just 10kg, RealRacks are over half the weight of many other vertical bike racks on the market, while accommodating bikes weighing up to 25kg each.
With innovative mounting options, including tow ball compatibility, RealRack also challenges the idea that you need a large SUV or ute to transport multiple bikes.
It's a product built around making mountain biking more accessible and convenient, without unnecessary weight, bulk or complexity.
Built for the ride, not just the journey
What makes the RealRack story different is that the product wasn't created in a boardroom or dreamed up to fill a product catalogue.
It came from a genuine need, experienced by someone who simply wanted to spend more time on his mountain bike.
From the first rough prototype made with scrap materials to the refined racks available today, Liam's vision has always been about finding a smarter way to transport bikes.
And while RealRack has evolved significantly since those early days in the garage, its purpose hasn't changed.
You shouldn't need a bigger car or a heavier rack to enjoy the sport you love.
Sometimes, all it takes is a bit of scrap metal, a good idea and someone willing to give it a go.
And that's exactly how RealRack began.
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