Utility Cycling - FRONT Rack

Since my single wheeled trailer failed:

Here is how i converted a rear rack in to a (not-so-sturdy) front rack. It was kind of like a engine swap, you always need a stack of washers (most of my bikes are held together with stacks).

The depth of field is there cause it was dark, and i didn't want to bring out the tri pod.

So, over view:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/diff_lock_cr-v_awd/front%20rack/frontrack013.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/diff_lock_cr-v_awd/front%20rack/frontrack007.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/diff_lock_cr-v_awd/front%20rack/frontrack006.jpg
out of focus:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/diff_lock_cr-v_awd/front%20rack/frontrack001.jpg

Details:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/diff_lock_cr-v_awd/front%20rack/frontrack011.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/diff_lock_cr-v_awd/front%20rack/frontrack009.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/diff_lock_cr-v_awd/front%20rack/frontrack008.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/diff_lock_cr-v_awd/front%20rack/frontrack012.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/diff_lock_cr-v_awd/front%20rack/frontrack010.jpg

There was a crack in the rack so i put (ALOT) of epoxy.
My new stand!
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/diff_lock_cr-v_awd/front%20rack/frontrack003.jpg

Oh and i haven't used an slr nuff!

When it's loaded do you get a pendulum effect with the bike's steering?

Hah! I love it! Very cool indeed.

I suspect that the mounting to the fork is going to cause you problem. I was into making carriers for a while. The weak link was failure of the hardware that held the carrier to the frame. The vibrations cause stress fractures in the weirest places.

Think about how you can improve the attachment to the forks or maybe something that attaches to the handlebars?

You certainly do not want to have the front carrier break loose and flop in front of your front wheel. You would have to use a pencil in your mouth to peck at the keyboard to tell us about your catastrophy.

I was at the hardware store yesterday trying to come up with a way to (cheaply) reinforce the rack to the handle bars some how. The total cost for that set up is like 20cents for the washers and nuts+bolts.

My only worry is that the tire clearance is not enough for the winter, the snow with start piling up and then lock the wheel. But i hope by then i will find a real front rack, the day i built that me and a friend went "front rack shopping" and only found one, and he bought for him self lol.

Oh and i have not loaded it up yet. I want to get a large basket at the front.

Cool set-up. The extra length from a rear rack gives you some flexibility in what you can carry.

I'm using a front rack I picked up for about $13 CDN from Mountain Equipment Co-op. It's a little shorter than your rear rack and it has slightly different mounting hardware.

Because my bike doesn't have proper front rack mounts (which is strange considering it's designed as a touring bike) I've had to fasten the rack to the fender mounts. This causes the rack to sit at a bit of a downward slope and it means I have to be careful to fasten loads securely.

The rack itself is sturdy but the mounting hardware limits how much I can carry on it. I once had the top bolt work itself loose and another time the top bracket snapped.

I was at the hardware store yesterday trying to come up with a way to (cheaply) reinforce the rack to the handle bars some how. The total cost for that set up is like 20cents for the washers and nuts+bolts.

My only worry is that the tire clearance is not enough for the winter, the snow with start piling up and then lock the wheel. But i hope by then i will find a real front rack, the day i built that me and a friend went "front rack shopping" and only found one, and he bought for him self lol.

Oh and i have not loaded it up yet. I want to get a large basket at the front.

Don't worry about the snow clearance. The snow should knock right off just like it does with fenders. The important thing is to make sure the carrier is secure. That is the one really risky thing about front fork mounted carriers. If they let loose or if a bungee cord falls into the wheel, it often leads to a catastrophic crash.

When it's loaded do you get a pendulum effect with the bike's steering?

I loaded up with some drinks up front, and steering became heavy. Is that what you mean?


How can i get rid of this?

I loaded up with some drinks up front, and steering became heavy. Is that what you mean?


How can i get rid of this?

Yes that's what I mean. The extra weight increases the inertia effect in the steering. The only way to get rid of it is to mount a front rack on the bicycle frame itself and not the front forks.

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/6224/duplexmodeldgx9.jpg

Hah! I love it! Very cool indeed.

I suspect that the mounting to the fork is going to cause you problem. I was into making carriers for a while. The weak link was failure of the hardware that held the carrier to the frame. The vibrations cause stress fractures in the weirest places.

Think about how you can improve the attachment to the forks or maybe something that attaches to the handlebars?

You certainly do not want to have the front carrier break loose and flop in front of your front wheel. You would have to use a pencil in your mouth to peck at the keyboard to tell us about your catastrophy.

I've done the same thing with a rear rack on the front fork... They're dirt cheap and easy to come by compared to real live Front Racks. Mine was sitting in my parts pile. I did have the same vision of a loaded rack swinging out over and under the front wheel, so I've got a rope backup for the top bracket.
Then if (give it enough miles, and it's "when") it fatigues it won't toss me through the air, but bang around annoyingly instead.

The attachment screws need to be watched, as well. I've had a couple disappear, although not on a front mounted rack yet. Anytime there's enough room, I'll use a long enough screw to add a nyloc nut on the opposite side. That lets you add extra torque at the fastening point, adds some insurance against loosening, while pulling some of the load off of the threads in the dropouts. And if you use a washer under each screw head, those make easy tightness checkers. Just give them a nudge with a thumbnail every once in a while, and if you can move one around, you've got a screw loose. That's my Max line ritual; poke the washers and scan the tires for glass while the bike's hanging.

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/6224/duplexmodeldgx9.jpg

I am now in love. What a gorgeous, gorgeous bike!

I'm also now inspired to go get a front rack for my Raleigh.

Actually I recently got rid of the front rack on my utility bike, and installed a rear rack instead.
It's longer and lower, and I think more practical overall. Only thing is I had to make a bracket.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x25/coutujean/1dace93e.jpg


The reason I wanted a longer rack was to put a basket on it, otherwise the front rack only reached about 1/2 the depth. The front fork on this bike had both fender and rack eyelets, so that solved that part. It's quite solid, but braces between the handlebar and basket would have been a good thing. Gonna have to strip this bike again though, since I ruined it a few days ago. That's also why the rack is tilted next to the top tube, it was pretty close to level when I first set it up.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x25/coutujean/6afbf228.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/diff_lock_cr-v_awd/dualbong166.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/diff_lock_cr-v_awd/dualbong120.jpg

When it's loaded do you get a pendulum effect with the bike's steering?

I don't think front racks mount level on any but a touring bike. They will either be tilted up or down. Still you should be able to tie down stuff on 'em.

what kind of stand is that.................pretty cool

Since my single wheeled trailer failed:

Here is how i converted a rear rack in to a (not-so-sturdy) front rack. It was kind of like a engine swap, you always need a stack of washers (most of my bikes are held together with stacks)....
A rear rack will fit on the front of many bikes certainly--but it's generally far from ideal.

The problem with using a rear rack on the front is that the further in front of the steering axis that you place a load (or the heavier the load!) the more negatively-stable it makes your bike's steering. Basically you get "wheel flop"--where the steering tends to turn left or right--anything but stay centered.

To minimize this effect, front touring racks carry their (front) panniers down low, where they are roughly centered on the fork blades.
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To minimize this effect, front touring racks carry their (front) panniers down low, where they are roughly centered on the fork blades.
~

Yeah i know. But this is a bit more practical i can just toss my shopping in the front once the rear fills up. And the whole thing cost me 5eu for the basket.