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I've moved "up" in the world from a three speed to a hybrid Marin for commuting and I do like the increased speed. But I really, really miss having an area up front to put things. My cruiser had a big basket, and while I could probably rig a basket on this hybrid it wouldn't fit very well and would pull down on the handles possibly yanking them out of adjustment if I put enough weight in the basket.
So here's my crazy idea du jour. Why not take a post bike rack designed to fit on the back seat post and stick it on the front of the frame, sticking forward? Isn't that a poor man's front rack?
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Would a standard front rack not work for you?
Who makes one that attaches to the frame? I haven't been able to find any.
Why do you need one that attaches to the frame?
Because the bars already have things on them and the weight of the basket will tilt them forward. Besides, I'm looking for a rack for the front on this one not just a basket. Basically it would be the poor man's version of this front rack:
http://www.dutchbikes.us/images/bikeshow/17.jpg
Check out CETMA (http://www.cetmaracks.com/).
http://www.cetmaracks.com/5.5.jpg
Dayum Cosmoline...now you got me thinking...and that is v-e-r-y dangerous. I have used a lot of fork mount racks over the years. I used to use the Blackburn's now the only ones that fill my bill are the Jandd Expedition (http://www.wallbike.com/jandd/extremefrontrack.html) racks. But I think you may be onto something. Most of the post mounted racks are severely limited in the amount of weight they can carry...the weight suspended from the frame would be much more stable than to have it flopping around on the forks or handlebars.
Aaron:)
Stability is one of the keys. That Monarch rack on the Swedish army bike is designed to take a fully loaded ammo box. One of the ongoing issues I have with racks of all types on the market now is how few of them link to the central frame. They hang off the post or stand on spindly rods attached near the hubs. Not only does this limit their strength, it can throw off balance and create a leveraging effect on the frame. Think of it this way. If you can get more weight tied to the central diamond, it's like holding a hammer next to your chest. Putting weight way out on the edge or attached to things that are attached to the frame like seat posts is the equivalent of holding a hammer in an outstretched arm.
http://www.cetmaracks.com/doublefilebox_sitecopy_small.jpg
http://www.cetmaracks.com/box%20cropped.jpg
Check out CETMA (http://www.cetmaracks.com/).
http://www.cetmaracks.com/5.5.jpg
thats about 5 minutes of welding for me. :D
Problem with those last two racks is that they are attached to the forks and affect steering. Cosmoline is on the right track. It needs to be mounted to the headtube/downtube/toptube to really be effective. I may luck up on some shop time this weekend and will see what I can conjur up. I am thinking along the lines of something that mounts solid just under the top headset bearing with a brace to the bottom of the headtube, with a strap/bracket back to the down tube. Bushman...if I draw it wanna weld it;):D my welding will never be accused of being finish work, but it don't break either;)
Aaron:)
Problem with those last two racks is that they are attached to the forks and affect steering. Cosmoline is on the right track. It needs to be mounted to the headtube/downtube/toptube to really be effective. I may luck up on some shop time this weekend and will see what I can conjur up. I am thinking along the lines of something that mounts solid just under the top headset bearing with a brace to the bottom of the headtube, with a strap/bracket back to the down tube. Bushman...if I draw it wanna weld it;):D my welding will never be accused of being finish work, but it don't break either;)
Aaron:)
if a rack is to be attached on the front, it will have to move with the fork / steering. i can't see the load staying straight and the wheel / bars turning. you'll smack your hands into the back of the load. i also think that a low mounted load on the front is OK - if the load follows the steering it keeps the weight centered over the wheel. if the load does not follow the steering your center of gravity will be off - and i think this will affect steering more than the other option.
also note that those racks get the load down to the hubs, not the frame. remember that eventually the frame transmits all load to the hubs. hanging something off the front of the frame could work - but because the head tube is so small you'll need a very stiff moment connection, as you will not be bracing this to another part of the bike (front fork, for example). i don't think a retrofit of this will work - i think the bike will need to be designed from the go for this to work. the head tube will have to be extra strong, and the rack an integral part of it.
interested in what you come up with though...
Cosmo,
This is the rack I got from these folks (http://www.dutchbikes.us/). I'm going to put it on my current project build.
It has a pressure fit hitch that allows for easy removal.
It's not listed on the website, but if you call them they'll sell you one.
The hitch is designed for a downtube of 1 1/8 inch size. If your down tube is of different size you are going to have to manufacture a new hitch and cold set the rack's legs to fit.
http://homepage.mac.com/awcg/.Pictures/Bike/DutchRack1.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/awcg/.Pictures/Bike/DutchRack2.jpg
Cosmo,
This is the rack I got from these folks (http://www.dutchbikes.us/). I'm going to put it on my current project build.
It has a pressure fit hitch that allows for easy removal.
It's not listed on the website, but if you call them they'll sell you one.
The hitch is designed for a downtube of 1 1/8 inch size. If your down tube is of different size you are going to have to manufacture a new hitch and cold set the rack's legs to fit.
http://homepage.mac.com/awcg/.Pictures/Bike/DutchRack1.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/awcg/.Pictures/Bike/DutchRack2.jpg
Thats way cool. I've been working with those folks on my business...
Is the steering affected (see my post above) when the load stays straight and the weight is off centered pf the steering axis? Its very counterintuitive from my experience with loaded front bags / panniers.
Nice Tubus rack on the back...
I can't really answer that yet. To properly fit it to the bike in the pics I would have to shave the downtube shifter bosses (they get in the way of the rack's legs). It's going to be part of a 29er cargo bike I'm in the process of building.
I've not read anything about handling yet, but I have read that it makes for a much more stationary loading platform, especially when using a double legged kickstand. With a fork mounted rack, the rack does not stay level when the wheel is not pointed forward. With this rack it does, so one could have an open tackle box, for example, on the rack without fear of spilling the contents.
{edit} Thanks. That's a Tubus Fly rack. It's been really good. One thing that I like about it is the top attachment point is the brake boss as opposed to two legs and bosses on the seat tubes. Makes it very easy to attach to road frames.
Close up of the attachment point (http://homepage.mac.com/awcg/.Pictures/Bike/Rear-Brake-Boss.jpg)
I would think a tall stem would help to keep the handle bars out of the way of a tall load. Look at the pic of the yellow bike above.
{edit} Thanks. That's a Tubus Fly rack. It's been really good. One thing that I like about it is the top attachment point is the brake boss as opposed to two legs and bosses on the seat tubes. Makes it very easy to attach to road frames.
Close up of the attachment point (http://homepage.mac.com/awcg/.Pictures/Bike/Rear-Brake-Boss.jpg)
I have the same rack. Used it last year on a CF / Steel LeMond and liked it. I haven't migrated it to my IF yet... not sure I will as I'm planning a tour with my low rider front rack and my Carradice SQR rear bag.
I do have to get a spare mounting piece (the rod that gets bent to meet the frame), as I don't want to keep bending that piece.
I would think a tall stem would help to keep the handle bars out of the way of a tall load. Look at the pic of the yellow bike above.
I could see that working. Pretty hot setup, if its stable.
(thinking I could use this on my Surly XC which is currently my FG / SS town bike)
There is a company called Old Man Mountain that makes a front rack that will mount on both suspension and rigid forks. They are very popular with the touring crowd that have converted their mountain bikes into touring bikes.
I hope this helps.
http://www.oldmanmountain.com/Front_Rack.htm
I do have to get a spare mounting piece (the rod that gets bent to meet the frame), as I don't want to keep bending that piece.
I might have a spare. When I get home, I'll root through my parts bin and see if I can dig it up for you.
Mike, I was going to chime in about the frame-fixed front racks available through Dan at Dutchbikes.us. They work beautifully on the Azor city bikes; handling is superb. Bar interference isn't really an issue because Dutch utility bar/stems put essentially nothing ahead of the steer tube as on bikes common here. I do worry about fitting these racks to lighter bikes, because to keep the mount from slipping you have to tighten the compression bands ***reeeeaaallly*** tight. I fear it would buckle butted tubing.
Mike, I was going to chime in about the frame-fixed front racks available through Dan at Dutchbikes.us. They work beautifully on the Azor city bikes; handling is superb. Bar interference isn't really an issue because Dutch utility bar/stems put essentially nothing ahead of the steer tube as on bikes common here. I do worry about fitting these racks to lighter bikes, because to keep the mount from slipping you have to tighten the compression bands ***reeeeaaallly*** tight. I fear it would buckle butted tubing.
Hey Todd, thanks for chiming in here. Its nice to hear someone with real world experience on this.
Makes sense for the handling on a Dutch style bike...
Should I want something like this (which I do) on a lighter bike, I'll be going with a CETMA style rack. I think the OP needs to weigh his options and his frame type...
thats about 5 minutes of welding for me. :D
I knew I shouldn't have dropped metal shop.
i know this isn't what you were looking for but maybe it will help http://frontofthepack.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_29&products_id=134
there is also a smaller version of the same thing but i think that that really wouldn't be what you're looking for.
kyle
my racks, let me show you them. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/thaticktockman/Bikes/schwinn60/schwinnbox0005.jpg) Course, it'd probably be a pain finding one, but they're around if you spend the time looking.
Your bike has cantilever brakes, I think? In that case, this Nashbar front rack will work for you. I have one and like it. I paid significantly more than the $7.49 they want for it now!
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=6000112&subcategory=60001079&brand=&sku=17192&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Racks
I've moved "up" in the world from a three speed to a hybrid Marin for commuting and I do like the increased speed. But I really, really miss having an area up front to put things. My cruiser had a big basket, and while I could probably rig a basket on this hybrid it wouldn't fit very well and would pull down on the handles possibly yanking them out of adjustment if I put enough weight in the basket.
So here's my crazy idea du jour. Why not take a post bike rack designed to fit on the back seat post and stick it on the front of the frame, sticking forward? Isn't that a poor man's front rack?
I went with Jandd expedition front and rear on my Peugeot PX 10. They fit well on a 650B wheel configuration. I could have gone for a more "period" look but I decided to get readily available racks.
As some of you know, I'm seriously thinking about setting up a utility cycling business, and improving racks is a major interest to me. I've been thinking about how to attach a porteur front rack to the frame, and though I'm not there yet, I'm confident I'll get there. I also want to make sure it'll clear a lowrider rack, so that people can use panniers too.
Scroll down to the "Worksman Low Gravity" bike- note that basket/box is attached to the frame, not the forks:
http://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/indbikes.html
How does one learn metal work skills these days? Is there a place to go to study for a few months, to learn some useful skills?
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