Commuting - Cracked

I noticed a not-so-small crack in the welded joint of my seat post-mounted bike rack today. I noted it and pretended that nothing will happen so bad that I die.

About two miles into my ride home, I hear this sound..."Voob, voob, voob..." like my tire rubbing the frame or something. Then, "Crash!"

All my goods were plopped on the street. At least I did such a good job of bungie-cording that it all remained intact, one solid piece in the road.

I left the broken rack on the side of the road (no trash cans nearby), strapped my goods on my back and headed for the train station with my trusty MARTA card.

I will have to ride using Mr. Backpack for a while. But I am flexible!

Damn, that's one more thing I can break this month. :eek:

Chris

I hope you go back to properly dispose of your trash, lack of a trash can is not sufficent reason to leave junk on the side of the road.

Andre

That is a fascinating thing about cracks in bikes - especially in the mountings of rear carriers.

Once you see a crack, you rarely have more than a few hours riding before the piece breaks completely in two.

Seatpost racks are the stupidest thing since sliced bread. They provide stacks of leverage on that weld, require massively thick bits of metal to support a tiny load, and there is a potential for seatpost failure.
Their weight/load ratio is very bad, but they are chosen by people on lightweight bikes.
Much better to get a bike with threaded rack eyelets and attach a proper rack. A 3-point Tubus Fly can carry more, and weighs less than any seatpost rack.
If you dont have eyelets, think about upgrading to a Brooks B17 saddle with a Carradice saddlebag. The total weight/load ratio beats a lightweight saddle with a seatpost rack.

Pete,
Sorry to hear about your misforture. :(

Was this a Delta seatpost mount rack? That's what I have.
I guess that's one more thing to add to my weekly checklist. :rolleyes:

If my memory serves me correct those types of racks have a mx cary load weight of about 15 lbs. Get a Blckburn EX 1 or MTN rack. The EX 1 you can haul up to 35 lbs.

Seatpost racks are the stupidest thing since sliced bread.

Obviously, you have never seen my wife butcher fresh bread...then you would appreciate the pre-sliced stuff! :) Perhaps if there is a place for pre-sliced bread, there is also a place for seatpost racks...although as you point out, for only light loads.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune, Pete! Better luck with your next load bearing contrivance!

Originally posted by Andre
I hope you go back to properly dispose of your trash, lack of a trash can is not sufficent reason to leave junk on the side of the road.

Andre
That's a good idea, Andre. Thanks! ;)

I don't remember what the brand name was. It was supposed to carry 25 lbs. It lasted about 2 years.

Like Michael W. said, a proper arrangement with eyelets for mounting a rack would have been best.

I think these things were designed for mountain bikes ridden only on the weekend. Everyday commuting really took everything out of that rack.

Backpacks are underrated for bike commuting. I started using one recently, and I like it better than using racks for modest loads. In addition to carrying work or errand loads, it's nice to be able to have my pump, on-the-road bike tools, etc. all right there in the bag without having to transfer them from bike to bike.

I don't like backpacks because they make it too hot in summer. I'm with Hunter on this one. My Blackburn MTN rack has served me pretty well.

Chris

Yeah, Blackburns are OK! Messenger Bags are good too, even in summer

Gee, my blacburn rack regularly carries 50-60 lbs of engineering books. I wouldn't even think of one of those seatpost racks.:(

Sorry about your loss, Pete.

I have a Cyclepro rack, but it ends up holding less than my messenger bag during commutes (4-5 lb on the rack, the bag weighs in at 12 lb). It does hold a lot of weight when I go shopping, though. I paid $25 for it at an LBS in Lawrence, KS.

Do you have mounting eyelets on your frame? Some racks come with metal straps to go around the chain stay and the seat stay in lieu of the frame eyelets. The mounting bolts for the rack tighten the straps around the stay tubes.

Jonathan

Jonathan,

That was my problem. At the LBS where I bought my bike (which had no eyelets), the only solution they provided me was a seatpost-mounted rack.

I like your mention of another way of fastening a rack to a bike without proper fixtures.

Sportsmans guide has a KILLER DEAL on a superb backpack. It is a Swiss rifleman's pack from WWII. It is waterproof!! Yes it is used but in GREAT shape. These packs were made to last, and last, ans last. I have one and it is still in superb condition. They are asking a whole $10 for them.
Go to http://sportsmansguide.com/ for more info then enter FX1M-54653 into the Order from any catalog area. no pic of it but you can find one if you look.
Performance also has a hydration/back pack on sale for $50 it is the Atlas Fast pack. 1564 cubic inches with a 60 oz. bladder. Killer little pack, but the Swiss Pack is bigger.

I guess the Swiss Army will be getting rid of their bikes soon. These have racks that can take some heavy abuse.

My commuting bike had fender eyelets, but no threads for the top of the seatstay. My LBS brazed on some threads for about $20, and the rack is much more secure with 4 mounting points.