Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - $45 bag drop??

That's what Des Peres is quoting for 2007....$45 per bag.

Searching the RUSA archives, I see it was $10/bag four years ago.

Are there any other options out there for bag drops?

Are there any other options out there for bag drops?

You really do not need a bag drop on the PBP! It is so well supported I can't imagine what else you'd need to bring that you couldn't carry the whole way with you.

Personally, I'd prefer not to carry two sets of clothes in my bag from the start (did that in '03). I used a bag drop in '99 but it didn't quite match up with my sleep stops. I haven't decided for next year.

Various national groups will have bag drops but the vast majority are only at Loudiac. I think Sporting Tours provide more options but only if you are on one of their packages.

I used the bag drops to have complete changes of clothes, replacement batteries, and replacement drink mix. I also stuck in a couple of tubes in each bag in case I needed to re-supply, although I didn't end up needing them. The clothes would have been very bulky to carry, as would the drink mix. I probably could have carried the extra batteries, although they would have been a bit heavier than I wanted. I also stuck in some ready-mixed French meal-replacement drinks.

BTW, the bag drop in 2003 was $35 per bag ( http://www.rusa.org/Images/rusapbp2003bagdrop.pdf ).

Mark W

I'm going to do the non-drop scenario.

Because the bike I will be using is a touring/cyclocross with canti brakes I plan to use this MINI rack and bag from Nashbar (on the rear) for PBP...
http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/small/NA-FRR.gif
http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/small/NA-FTB.gif

Seems we check out the same forums (I'm Dan from SBW)....ha!

You know that that rack is listed as a front rack, right? Although I see no reason not to put it on the back.

I'd rather not bag drop, but here's my quandry: My bike has rack eyelets (good) but no attachment points on the stays (bad) plus it has a "wishbone seat stay" (more bad). I know p-clips can be used on traditional seatstays w/out attachment points...my commuter bike is set up like this, but the only clamp I can find for wishbones is made by Blackburn and it's hard to find. Anyone know of a good homegrown solution for attaching a rack to a wishbone seatstay?

...I could go the seatpost rack route, but I'd rather not switch seatposts (mine's carbon) and I like the stability of a fixed rack better anyway.

Thanks,

Dan

Without a picture of your bike, I'm only guessing what to do. But here are a few solutions that might work, depending on the height of your frame and the exact shape of your stays.

1. Get an Old Man Mountain rack. They have one or two models that attaches to cantilever brake bosses. I think the rack is a bit heavy (loaded touring variety), and it obviously doesn't work if you have sidepull brakes.

2. Find two very large P-clamps and put them around the upper (common) part of the seat stays. Ideally, I would put two of them facing eachother so that one P-clamp sticks on the right and the other sticks to the left (like a p and a q). Attach the struts to the corresponding clamps. For your information, very large P-clamps are made. You might find some in a specialty hardware store.

3. Install a stainless steel angle on the brake bolt attachment (or fender attachment). Then bend the two struts so they reach the angle. Seen from above, the two struts and angle will look like a Y.

Seems we check out the same forums (I'm Dan from SBW)....ha!

You know that that rack is listed as a front rack, right? Although I see no reason not to put it on the back.

I'd rather not bag drop, but here's my quandry: My bike has rack eyelets (good) but no attachment points on the stays (bad) plus it has a "wishbone seat stay" (more bad). I know p-clips can be used on traditional seatstays w/out attachment points...my commuter bike is set up like this, but the only clamp I can find for wishbones is made by Blackburn and it's hard to find. Anyone know of a good homegrown solution for attaching a rack to a wishbone seatstay?

...I could go the seatpost rack route, but I'd rather not switch seatposts (mine's carbon) and I like the stability of a fixed rack better anyway.

Thanks,

Dan

Perhaps a Carradice bag will work for you. No rack is required. If you like, you can use one with the SQR seatpost adapter for quick removal and as a support if you do not have a Brooks saddle with bag loops. There are Carradice bags in all sizes and certainly large enough for a PBP.

If you went the SQR route, you will probably need to swap your seatpost for aluminum, but realistically, you should have no reluctance to do so.

Between my Carradice Barley and my Camelbak, I've never had a need to use a bag drop. Those Carradices can hold a lot of stuff.

Hey Dan!

Yea I've not been back at bikeforums.net for a while (too busy working for Motorola and racking up 15,000 miles this year... Well I still have a bout 400 miles to do :)

Anyway I think some of the suggestions above are good... All you realy need is a clamp that will hold the top of the rack steady as the load is all on the posts connected to the eyelets at the rear wheels. Whatever you use to wrap around the seat-stay area you just want to make sure the metal part is coated with rubber or tape so as not to scratch the paint off the frame... As long as the clamping is secure then the rack will be steady ...

Hope you can make the Olrando 200k this coming weekend!

Oh and yea I initially bought the rack for the front but then I realized when I got it that the posts are on swivels so I can swivle it to mount on the rear... Heck depending, I may get one for the front too probably if nothing else to hold quick-to-get-to food/camera and nice-mounting for the front lights...

I must say that Blackburn customersupport is excellent. If you dig around, you'll find a few retailers selling their monostay rack adaptor for US$10 or so.

Well, I called them uplast week to see if there was a local supplier.....and they said not to worry, they would just send me one, on the house.

Blackburn just got themselves a loyal customer! I wasn't looking for a freebie, nor do I advocate pestering manufacturers for same, but this was totally unsolicited. A nice lagnappe as they say in Louisiana!