Bicycle Mechanics - rear rack for suspension bike

Hello! If this has been discussed elsewhere, feel free to direct me to the thread.

I have a KHS folding bike with a soft-tail.

It's only an inch or so of travel but I'd like to add a rear rack for panniers and most seem to attach in two places: near the rear axle and somewhere along the seat-tube.

You see the problem here - all the racks I've seen are rigid. I need something that either doesn't attach to those two points or has some kind of fudge factor to allow for the flex.

Any suggestions?

FYI: I have a "rack" now that attaches to the seat post alone but it's designed for a rear pack, not panniers. (no "sides" that come down to prevent a pannier from hitting the spokes.) Perhaps there are some kind of arms I could attach to it that would do the trick? (if I wanted to use the attach points near the rear axle, once again I'd have to design a "fudge factor" in to allow for the flex)

Thanks for your time,
Chris

I can only think of the topeak seatpost mounted racks. I'm not sure what kind of load you intend on carring, there are weight limits.


http://www.topeak.com/products/rack_beam_lead.html

I can only think of the topeak seatpost mounted racks. I'm not sure what kind of load you intend on carring, there are weight limits.


http://www.topeak.com/products/rack_beam_lead.html

Thanks midgie. Turns out I have this rack: http://www.axiomgear.com/racks_seatpost/journey_seatpost.php

I see the Topeak models at the LBS' as well as more Axioms. The Topeak gear seems *much* more expensive but perhaps the quality justifies it...? It's certainly very flexible - the optional side bars are exactly what I need. The Axioms seem much more limited.

Here are a few I'm considering... don't know really what to look for though as this is my first real pannier rack:
http://www.axiomgear.com/racks_seatpost/qr_tracker_lx.php
http://www.topeak.com/products/rack_001.html

Thanks for the input.

Chris

http://www.oldmanmountain.com/white_gallery.htm

http://www.oldmanmountain.com/white_gallery.htm

One point that's hit home with me is that by using the seat post, the pannier/rack gets to experience the same "soft-tail" ride as your toosh does. The axle/brake bolt design - while very slick - means your gear gets all the road bumps. (I'll be carrying camera gear)

Gotta stew on that. Perhaps it doesn't amount to much. (the racks sure are less expensive!)

Thanks,
Chris

Posted in rec.bicycles.misc - input?

_________

Howdy folks!

1st, thank you all very much for your input on rear pannier racks.
With your input, I've narrowed my options down quite a bit.

In seat-post racks, a Topeak QR Beam MTX "V" type
http://www.topeak.com/products/rack_001.html because of the angle. (sits low
over wheel)

Option 2 is a rack that attaches entirely to the rear of the bike, behind
the suspension. (also low C.G.)

My dilemma is: what non-seat-post rack would fit my bike's odd geometry?

I've put a photo of all the mounting points available here:
http://www.ncf.ca/~af895/misc/KHS_rack_mounts.jpg

Any thoughts? I'll keep doing my homework but thought someone here may have
mounted a rear rack on a similar setup. Maybe something that "clamps" around
the seat-stays or brake attach points and bolts to the attach points next to
the axle... ? The Axiom Odyssee looks like it would work but I have no idea
how sturdy it is. http://snipurl.com/foyx (no payload data)

Thanks again. Feel free to just post links to websites of products you know
would work. I've book marked a few already. Tubus look great and have huge
payload but they seem to bolt to braze-ons that aren't present on my bike.

C.

I'd go Old Man mountain and throw some extra padding in. The seatpost racks are only good for 20 lbs

I'd go Old Man mountain and throw some extra padding in. The seatpost racks are only good for 20 lbs

Cool. The OMM's are quite nice. I actually ended up with a Voyager rack that bears some resemblance to an OMM RedRock. I put photos of the install online here: http://www.ncf.ca/~af895/misc/rack.jpg

So far so good! Three attach points - two near the rear axle and one is the threaded boss at the back of the rear shock.

Now I just have to find a pair of robust panniers for it! :)

Chris