Touring - General question about mounting racks

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA
Boondock
10-31-07, 12:14 PM
Why don't rack manufacturer's make racks that mount directly to the axles of the wheels? Other than ease of removing/installing wheels?

The axles of the wheels "feel" all the weight of the bike, rider and gear. So why attach 'racks and bags' and stuff mounted on top of racks, in a way that the weight is attached secondarily at some small braze-ons on the frame?

RadioFlyer
10-31-07, 12:59 PM
umm, you answered yourself :)
Other than ease of removing/installing wheels?

If you're running airfree tires, then no problem, otherwise, headache that's easily avoided.

That's one reason I run airfree on my single-speed commuter... horizontal rear exit drop-outs make changing a tire a nightmare with fenders.
vik
10-31-07, 02:25 PM
Why don't rack manufacturer's make racks that mount directly to the axles of the wheels? Other than ease of removing/installing wheels?

Old Man Mountain (http://www.oldmanmountain.com/) does just this. I have 4 of their racks and am quite happy with them.

http://www.oldmanmountain.com/images/csr_giant4.jpg

MichaelW
11-01-07, 12:01 PM
Quick-release axles are hollow and are designed NOT to stick out each side of the frame. There is nothing to support the rack. Some axle-mounted rack designs use a specially strengthened quick-release spindle.
I used to use a cheap rack on a solid-axle; the hole is larger than the axle to avoid catching on threads but this provides some wiggle room. A frame-mounted braze-on fitting is more secure.
BigBlueToe
11-02-07, 08:35 AM
Does Old Man Mountain provide quick-release axles for their racks that rest on these, the way Bob trailers do? I was just looking at the OMM website, but a bunch of their links don't work.