Touring - Front rack for Novara Randonee

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thomasclarke
03-02-06, 12:34 PM
Just purchased a 2006 Randonee from REI.
Came with a noname rear rack...
How do I tell which front rack will fit the existing front fork eyelets?
Thanks..

cyccommute
03-02-06, 12:44 PM
Just purchased a 2006 Randonee from REI.
Came with a noname rear rack...
How do I tell which front rack will fit the existing front fork eyelets?
Thanks..

Front racks are usually a universal fit. Just about any front rack should work. REI carries the Delta Front loader which are relatively cheap but ugly. The Tubus Tara is my favorite. It's gorgeous but expensive ;)
thomasclarke
03-02-06, 12:56 PM
Also when I shop for panniers how will I know if a particular
brand will work with rear rack since it does not have any brand markings? Thanx

cyccommute
03-02-06, 03:36 PM
Also when I shop for panniers how will I know if a particular
brand will work with rear rack since it does not have any brand markings? Thanx

Again, they are a universal fit. There are some slightly hinky brands out there in terms of fit and attachment but they are few and far between. About the only problem I could see is that some of the rear racks are made of a larger diameter tube than others. Tubus, for example, uses a 10 or 11 mm tube while most other racks use rod that is around 8 mm in diameter. There are occasionally fit issues if the pannier has a hook type attachment but it's not usually a problem with most racks.

One of the best attachment systems I've seen, and used, is the Ortlieb. Go to your REI and look at the bags (I'm not saying buy them since they are very expensive...very nice but very expensive) and see how they attach to the rack. Try and find something that uses a similar attachment mechanism. I used to lose bags all the time on rough roads but the Ortliebs will stay on no matter what you throw at them.
dbuzi123
03-02-06, 05:24 PM
If you get arkel pannels, or use their hook kit you can space the hooks so that they fit well. Their system allows for a lot of adjustability. I know the rack on the randonee has oversized tubing so if you plan on sticking with it you need to take this into account. I got some panniers from MEC and exchanged their hooks for the arkel ones and it works really well, adds a bit to the price though.