Touring - front rack with shelf

looking for a front rack with a shelf on top for 700c. will be for loaded touring. any recommendations?

Surly Nice :)

Old Man Mountain (http://www.oldmanmountain.com/)Cold Springs - mounts via front axle QR and brake posts. I liked it so much I have one no both my touring bikes:

Here is a pic. (http://thelazyrandonneur.blogspot.com/2007/01/thorn-sherpa.html)

looking for a front rack with a shelf on top for 700c. will be for loaded touring. any recommendations?


Old Man Mountain. I have the Sherpa, but there's another model. Bombproof, very easy to attach and comfortable to use.

I too like a top shelf on my front rack.

The Surly Nice rack seems very good, but is also very expensive ($100+).

Jandd makes the Extreme Front Rack for about $60 and it has a nice top shelf.

I have the Old Man Mountain front rack, which was recommend above, and it is very sturdy, but it mounts through the wheel axle on the quick release skewer (a special, long skewer is required). I did not like this system because it made removing the front wheel tiresome. Also, I'm not sure about the durability of the required long skewer -- my is rusting and bending.

Another option is the Blackburn front rack (model MT-F front mountain rack). I see these on ebay.com about 1 every week or so and they sell for about $15, shipped for about $20 to $25. You can see a picture of one on this old web site:

http://www.bikepro.com/products/racks/black_racks.html

After considering the options above I decided the cheapest way to get a sturdy front rack with a long top shelf was to mount a rear rack there. A number of rear racks will work, so easy to replace them -- you simply need one where the main leg of the rack is angled backwards, not straight down, to give the front brake cable room. I found that the Tioga rear rack (sold at Nashbar.com $20) fits very well. I attached the top shelf braces to the top of my fork with clamps. The rack is very sturdy; I test rode it recently with 30+ pounds (15 on each side) and detected no sway or movement. Here's two pictures to show my mounting of this rack:

Clever idea. In theory the weight should be too far forward, and want to flop the stearing, but if it works what more can one say.

Clever idea. In theory the weight should be too far forward, and want to flop the stearing, but if it works what more can one say.

I thought about using a rear rack up front some years ago, but was not sure it would work. Recently I saw a picture of a touring bike on the Surly LHT usergroup which had Tubus Cargo racks both front and rear, so I thought I would give it a try.

When test riding it with the 30 pounds, I was able to pedal up hill about 20 yards without hands on my bike (which seems typical for me when carrying a load up front on my curvy streets; I've not tried a straight, flat road yet). With hands on bars, I cannot find any difference in control from using lowriders or any of the other front racks I've used. The frame may also have something to do with the stability; it's a Surly LHT and I've found it to ride well under load.

So far I prefer using this type of rack up front because it has larger shelf than most front racks, is cheaper than most front racks, and can be replaced at almost any bike shop, should that be needed, since most all shops carry some type of rear rack.

Hi bwgride.

Very interesting set up. Can you use a low rider rack as well as the shelf rack?
Also have a look at this rack on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=006&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=160095861536&rd=1&rd=1

Hi bwgride.

Very interesting set up. Can you use a low rider rack as well as the shelf rack?
Also have a look at this rack on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=006&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=160095861536&rd=1&rd=1

I have Nashbar's low rider, which is very similar to Blackburn's original design, and I can make it fit I think. Two issues to address. First, the front loop attaching the two low rider sides would not be possible, but one could substitute one of the top rack's support legs (one of the Tioga's legs) for the loop with some work. Second, the low rider sides will not be flush with the fork/wheel as originally designed due to the top rack's support legs. The Tioga's support legs will push the forward part of the low rider away from the bike while the low rider side next to the fork will be inward. I doubt this would cause any problems, but I don't know for sure since I have not tested it. Perhaps a different rear rack or a different low rider may provide a better fit than the combination I have.

I had considered adding a low rider, but with the handling of my current configuration, I saw no benefit.

I've seen that front rack you reference on ebay. Nashbar also sells it. Two differences I note compared to using a rear rack up front is that the top shelf on that front rack is smaller, and that rack is designed to carry less weight so it's not as sturdy as using a rear rack. For me, it would suite what I wanted, but it may, however, work well for others.

jannd lowrider with Bor Yueh front rack. combination system. Redundancy if one fails. Top shelf.

probably lighter than either jannd extreme and surly nice.

The Surly Nice rack seems very good, but is also very expensive ($100+).

If you like the Surly Nice racks, buy them here: http://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_STOR20.cgi?Action=List&SubCategory=Accessories:%20Racks-Bicycle

$80 each, delivered to your door. I purchased both of mine from them. No affiliation, other than a happy customer. The Surly front rack is a bit heavy with the mounting hardware, but I like having the shelf.

looking for a front rack with a shelf on top for 700c. will be for loaded touring. any recommendations?

Ok I'll do the Nitto/Riv thing

http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/baggage_racks/20108.html
http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/baggage_racks/20020.html
http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/baggage_racks/20075.html

I've got a Surly Nice Front Rack on my LHT, and I like it, though I havn't done any touring with it yet. It went on well, and is made extremly well.


Gabriel

I've got a Surly Nice Front Rack on my LHT, and I like it, though I havn't done any touring with it yet. It went on well, and is made extremly well.


Gabriel


Holy cr@p!!! Have you guys noticed that both Surlys weigh over 1200 grams?!?!?!(On average).

Holy cr@p!!! Have you guys noticed that both Surlys weigh over 1200 grams?!?!?!(On average).
Well, I did say it was a bit heavy.:D When you ride around town with a big ol' heavy U-lock strapped to the front rack, the rack by itself doesn't seem that heavy after awhile.

Well, I did say it was a bit heavy.:D When you ride around town with a big ol' heavy U-lock strapped to the front rack, the rack by itself doesn't seem that heavy after awhile.


Oh, i hadn't noticed.
Anyways, i just checked, and my RedRock rear+Sherpa front weigh 1050 grams, which is less than one Surly Nice.
I wonder why they decided to make a rack that heavy. I mean, i know the Surly mentality favors utility over style, but unless they're designed to second as aircraft carriers, i don't understand this at all.
I'm sorry, i'm in the late stages of becoming a weight weenie when it comes to my commuter/tourer, so i've been noticing these things...:D

I'm sorry, i'm in the late stages of becoming a weight weenie when it comes to my commuter/tourer, so i've been noticing these things...:D
No need to apologize for weight weenie-ness, just slow down a little before you blow by me on the hills - you're making me look bad.:D

Take a look at the Nitto front rack sold online by Rivendell:

http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/baggage_racks/20075.html

http://users.techline.com/tomn/rivendell_front_rack.jpg

http://users.techline.com/tomn/Nitto_Front_Rack.jpg

Very sturdy. I had mine powdercoated black to match the read Tubus.

Tom

I have a question for those that use the OMM Sherpa rack. Can you use the mid-point mount on it, or does it only allow for high-mount panniers? I realize that the OMM racks generally cater to mountain bike and off-road tourists, so it would make sense to keep the loads high, but when I go out on paved roads, I'd prefer lowering the panniers because it makes the bike feel more stable to me. Racks like the JANDD Extreme front rack can do this.

I only ask because, well, I'm planning on getting a tourist with a front disc brake, and I like the utility that a top shelf presents on the front rack :D

these are all good rack ideas. thanks so much. i guess the reason i am looking for a front rack with a shelf is mostly do to space. i'm not a tall person and ride a 49cm frame. i do not wish to have a handlebar bag which rises above the bars. and since there isn't a whole lot of room to go the double-stem route, i am thinking about having the handlebar bag sitting on the shelf. now my only concern is being able to secure the bag to the shelf properly, but also being able to remove it quickly and easily. is there anything out there like this?

Holy cr@p!!! Have you guys noticed that both Surlys weigh over 1200 grams?!?!?!(On average).


I'm far more concerned that it not fall apart on me while riding down a dirt washboard of a road in the middle of nowhere. Light is nice, but lightweight is NOT a good thing. I'm pretty sure my Surly rack will survive anything I can ever imagine throwing at it.


Gabriel

I have a question for those that use the OMM Sherpa rack. Can you use the mid-point mount on it, or does it only allow for high-mount panniers? I realize that the OMM racks generally cater to mountain bike and off-road tourists, so it would make sense to keep the loads high, but when I go out on paved roads, I'd prefer lowering the panniers because it makes the bike feel more stable to me. Racks like the JANDD Extreme front rack can do this.

I only ask because, well, I'm planning on getting a tourist with a front disc brake, and I like the utility that a top shelf presents on the front rack :D

ask the guy(s) at OMM. Channing's his name, i think. Word is he's very helpful and will be glad to answer your questions.

I'm far more concerned that it not fall apart on me while riding down a dirt washboard of a road in the middle of nowhere. Light is nice, but lightweight is NOT a good thing. I'm pretty sure my Surly rack will survive anything I can ever imagine throwing at it.


Gabriel


You're right, lightweight isn't a good thing. But i'm sure there's a middle ground between feather weight and aircraft carrier. I'm pretty confident that OMM didn't put keeping the weight down as a top priority. First of all they went for lower weight limits than the Surly. Second they used aluminum. Most of all, i believe it's just a better design. Cause Nittos are made of steel as well, and they are not as heavy as the Surly Nices. In fact, they are almost half the weight.
Anyway, looks like Surly just set bombproof design as a top priority, at the expense of everything else. Which is fine. And if it works for you - great. I, personally, don't like it.

these are all good rack ideas. thanks so much. i guess the reason i am looking for a front rack with a shelf is mostly do to space. i'm not a tall person and ride a 49cm frame. i do not wish to have a handlebar bag which rises above the bars. and since there isn't a whole lot of room to go the double-stem route, i am thinking about having the handlebar bag sitting on the shelf. now my only concern is being able to secure the bag to the shelf properly, but also being able to remove it quickly and easily. is there anything out there like this?

Yes, a rack bag like these (would be a much better fit than strapping a handlebar bag on the rack):


http://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30&action=details&sku=BG6616

http://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30&action=details&sku=BG2556

well, rack bags that i have seen do not appear to be as convenient to open while riding, like a handlebar bag. also, i have not seen a rack bag with a map holder or a good way to attach one, a feature on most if not all handlebar bags. i had thought of a rack bag, but those two reasons sort of push the rack bag out of the picture for me.

I do not wish to have a handlebar bag which rises above the bars. and since there isn't a whole lot of room to go the double-stem route, i am thinking about having the handlebar bag sitting on the shelf. now my only concern is being able to secure the bag to the shelf properly, but also being able to remove it quickly and easily. is there anything out there like this?


Check out the Ostrich handlebar bag and connectors at velo-orange.

http://www.velo-orange.com/oshabag.html

it appears that it is attached to the stem at the headset and also has some supports that attack to the brake bosses? it looks like you could just lift it off of the headset/stem supports for easy removal. unfortunately, i don't like how the bag opens towards the rider. i feel like this would make it very difficult to find something in your bag as you are riding. it also does not mention how water resistant it is. i see that you can get a rain cover, but tjat would obstuct views of a map when in use. i do kind of like the classic look of the bag though.

it's close, but not quite there...

It is knock-off of a Giles Berthoud handlebar bag. I was really hot for a Berthoud bag, that is why I bought a rack with a top deck. I ended up matching my Arkel panniers. But I still like the idea of a front bag that is below the handlebar.

Tom

Ah I see. Sort of like matching up with what Ken Kifer did (scroll down for pictures...no, not the first one, keep scrolling down):

http://kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/bags.htm

He didn't like the instability of setting a handlebar bag up with no support.

One minor point to raise is that for any of you who are interested in making your own frame, but lack the tools etc... racks are a very approachable project. Benders are 5 bucks and up. You can braze with a regular propane or Mapp torch, you can cope with a single file. Compared to frames where you have 500-1000 in frame prep tools alone...

I have a question for those that use the OMM Sherpa rack. Can you use the mid-point mount on it, or does it only allow for high-mount panniers? I realize that the OMM racks generally cater to mountain bike and off-road tourists, so it would make sense to keep the loads high, but when I go out on paved roads, I'd prefer lowering the panniers because it makes the bike feel more stable to me. Racks like the JANDD Extreme front rack can do this.

I only ask because, well, I'm planning on getting a tourist with a front disc brake, and I like the utility that a top shelf presents on the front rack :D

You only get the upper mounting position. Channing at OMM is very helpful as was mentioned here and the OMM products are great - I own 3 of there racks. The hassle of the QR mount is way over stated and really is a non-issue. When installed the rack would have to shear the QR skewer to fail at that point and that would require a lot of force - the same is true of a conventional rack, but we'd be talking about the bolt holding the rrack to the braze-on.

I wonder why they decided to make a rack that heavy. I mean, i know the Surly mentality favors utility over style, but unless they're designed to second as aircraft carriers, i don't understand this at all.

It works quite well getting a 50 lb bag of Kerr's Pinks home. :)

Thanks for the info, vik. I hope that the OMM isn't as unstable as the other high-mount racks I've used :o

Does anyone have the answer to the question below, is it possible to mount panniers in the middle of the OMM Sherpa, or do they have to mount up on the shelf?


I have a question for those that use the OMM Sherpa rack. Can you use the mid-point mount on it, or does it only allow for high-mount panniers? I realize that the OMM racks generally cater to mountain bike and off-road tourists, so it would make sense to keep the loads high, but when I go out on paved roads, I'd prefer lowering the panniers because it makes the bike feel more stable to me. Racks like the JANDD Extreme front rack can do this.

I only ask because, well, I'm planning on getting a tourist with a front disc brake, and I like the utility that a top shelf presents on the front rack :D