If a picture speaks a thousand words, then this image of a cyclist perched on a bike rack that's hanging onto nothing more than four suckers on a car's rear window has me sold.

I don't bike. But I do know a few friends who are hard-core cycling fiends. So, these SeaSuckers could well provide the answer to grappling with conventional rooftop or rear-end bike racks that are so frustrating to install.

A spinoff from SeaSucker's marine products, the big difference here is in the built-in pump. It helps the rubber vacuum cups stay in place, so your precious $7,700 Scott doesn't take a diving crash off your vehicle's rooftop.

SeaSucker claims there's enough suction force to allow people to climb up the sides of buildings, though I doubt our intrepid boys at CNET will be taking up that challenge anytime soon.

Installation is almost idiot-proof. You moisten the underside of each cup, put them in place, then work the pump button to suck the cups down. To remove, you lift a tab and this releases the air. As a guide, when the red line on the pump button starts to turn visible, it's time to top up the pressure within the cup. This happens after it's been attached for a while.

Compared with a decent set of conventional bike racks that might go from $80 to $150, these SeaSuckers are rather hefty investments, costing $146.99 to $629.99.

In fact, the company appears to have a sucker for just about anything, from mobile phone holders to fishing rod holders. Though like most vacuum or suction cups, you'll need a perfectly smooth surface for this to work best.

(Source: Crave Asia via Gizmag)