Commuting - Rear Rack on a Trek 7.3 FX?

I had some trouble installing a Delta Megarack Universal on my 7.3 FX this evening. The arms that attach to the braze ons on the seatstays are too short to get the rack perfectly level, it's close but leaning forward slightly. Anyone else put a rack on their 7.3? If so, what make and model? Does it fit well?

I did. It was a Trek bike rack. I don't know what yours looks like, but mine had two sets of arms from the front of the rack to the bike, one set longer than the other. At first it looked like the rack was going to be leaning forward, but the LBS where I bought it said I was supposed to bend the arms downward. I did, and it works. The arms shouldn't bear any load, they are just to stabilize the rack.

If you want I can take a picture this weekend.

I couldn't get the supports on an Axiom rack around the brake on my 7.2fx, so I ran them to the seat post clamp. Had to replace the quick release with a nut for more room.

I did. It was a Trek bike rack. I don't know what yours looks like, but mine had two sets of arms from the front of the rack to the bike, one set longer than the other. At first it looked like the rack was going to be leaning forward, but the LBS where I bought it said I was supposed to bend the arms downward. I did, and it works. The arms shouldn't bear any load, they are just to stabilize the rack.

If you want I can take a picture this weekend.

I had to do the same thing, on my 2006 7.2 fx.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa177/nasiralpharia/bicycles/d100_0343.jpg

I'm using a Tubus Locc rack. It has lots of adjustments w/arms, etc, so was easy to fit on my FX 7.5, which I am fairly sure is the same as most other FX 7.x bikes (excepting those with carbon seat stays?). The Tubus Cargo is the same as the Locc I think, minus the Abus U-lock mounts (I have an Abus U-lock, so thats why I got a Locc). They are great racks, lightweight yet very sturdy, and can carry a lot of weight.

Here is where I got mine: http://www.thetouringstore.com/TUBUS/TUBUS%20HOME/TUBUS%20HOME%20PAGE.htm


Best prices in the US, great service (owner's name is Wayne, he is very happy to help you with questions about Tubus racks and mounting them).

Bend the darned things!

it's not the angle of the bars connected to the seatstays, it's their length. they're too short such that i only have one set of bolts/nuts connecting them to the rack. if i used both sets of bolts/nuts, then the rack would be slanted so much that i couldn't use it. maybe i should go with a seatpost rack?

it's not the angle of the bars connected to the seatstays, it's their length. they're too short such that i only have one set of bolts/nuts connecting them to the rack. if i used both sets of bolts/nuts, then the rack would be slanted so much that i couldn't use it. maybe i should go with a seatpost rack?

Seatpost racks are kinda flimsy, and/or can't hold much weight, from what Ive read.

If cost isn't an issue, I would go for a Tubus rack. You won't be sorry you did. They have quite a few models which should work. Mine is mounted perfectly level. I would bet if I put a leveling tool on it, the bubble would be in the center :D

It's angled foward... does this keep you from being able to strap a bag to it? Or is it you are looking to put panniers on it and thus angled isn't going to work?

You could just get a couple cheap brackets and a set of bolts and extend the front connectors some. Just a couple bucks at walmart in the hardware department... but then you'd probably want to paint em all black so they don't stand out too much.

Bend the darned things!

+1 I had to 'custom' bend my seat stay brackets to make it work. Actually, now that I look at it, I just took one, put it in the center and bent it so it fit around the v-brakes. Good luck!

I use a Blackburn Explorer rack on my 7.3 FX. It fits well. It came with two pairs of stabilizer arms, one longer than the other. I used the longer pair but I still had to put a downward bend on each one (as other posters suggested). The rack works fine and is very sturdy.

If you decide to try the bend method, maybe cut a couple pieces of coathanger (or something sturdier thats disposable) to the same length as the arms. Then experiment with the bending to figure out where and how much to bend, while holding against rack. If you bend the arms too many times trying to get it right, might weaken the metal?

Go to your local bike shop and ask if they have any longer straps. I've had to do this a number of times. They reach in a big box of them and show me what they have. I've also had to bolt two together in the slots to extend them or create my own 90 bend in the vise. I always ask how much and they say just take them and they don't know me from adam.