Commuting - Wearing out a rack!

I've had my OMM red rocks rack for about 2.5 years now, I tend to use one Carradice Super C pannier for commuting. Since my old MTB commuter doesn't have upper eyelets and even the lower eyelets are not designed for serious racks (they're way too close to the seatstays and also are positioned right on the smallest cog such that I had to shave off the screw or else it'll hit.)

Anyway, I've already put a hole in one of the alluminum stays that go vertical. I've already worn out the top stay down to bare metal. The problems of commuting offroad. Just wondering if there are any panniers out there that are designed for off road touring/commuting, something that has a clasp (the Carradice ones are great but they need to be kept clean) on the bottom instead of a simply arm? The arm on mine hasn't failed but it isn't as secure as it could be and from my commuting off road, it is very harsh on the rack. Most of the panniers I've seen use either one or two clasps on the top and a simply arm on the bottom to keep the pannier from sliding forward. It'd be cool if there was one with a more positive clasp to them...

Jay

I've already put a hole in one of the alluminum stays that go vertical.

This doesn't sound like a very good idea to me.

Why not get a steel rack. If you are using the bike for commuting and freighting, weight shouldn't be that big of a concern.

Sounds like your bike frame and rack dont agree with each other. Al is fine as a material for a rack, but a solid 4-point mounting system is a must.
Did you tap the seatstay, or are you using a nut and bolt. This may put too much crushing force on the tube. You could probably alleviate the problem with a nylon washer.

The Carradice mounting system is probably not quite as solid as Ortleib. The latest system looks to be better than their older models, and you can upgrade the hooks easily. Carradice are pretty home-made, so there is nothing to stop you devising your own super-tough bottom catch, eg some form of anti-sway "doorhandle" that rotates to clamp the rack.

This doesn't sound like a very good idea to me.

I didn't do it on purpose.. I swear! :) Just the friction and all the bouncing of the pannier on the rack is wearing out the aluminum stay such that I've worn the rack down to the hollow shaft. The problem is that I commute off road on fire roads, but unmaintained NJ fireroads, which means tons of rocks, the kind mountain bikers would call "babyheads" so my rack is always bouncing because it only has a little arm on the bottom of the bag which isn't that secure for off-road use. It is just meant to keep the bag from moving forward into your pedalling legs....

My rack's upper mount is through the brake pegs. There is a 90deg arm that connects to each side of the rack. It's not the rack that is the problem, it's the constant barrage from the panniers that is wearing out the rack.

I know that OMM will repair the unit when it brakes and I've gone to taping the stays with electrical tape but it doesn't last that long. I'm going to try some rubber bushing like material to see how long that lasts..

Mountain bike commuting is harsh on everything.

Jay

It might be worth looking at different panniers. I use Altura, which have Rixen & Kaul fixings at the top and an adjustable 'door-handle'.

Thanks, seems like another UK brand..

What size top bar do the fixings prefer? The OMM is 3/8" tubing.

any pictures of the Rixen and Kauf fittings, they use two for the top and one on the bottom, that is adjustable fore and aft I presume? I've done a Google search on Altura and found some UK stores, but all of them seem to have photos of just the bag from the front.

I was checking out the orkney 50 rear since I tend to buy full size touring panniers and use just one for commuting.

Jay

Originally posted by Jay H
Thanks, seems like another UK brand..

What size top bar do the fixings prefer? The OMM is 3/8" tubing.

any pictures of the Rixen and Kauf fittings, they use two for the top and one on the bottom, that is adjustable fore and aft I presume? I've done a Google search on Altura and found some UK stores, but all of them seem to have photos of just the bag from the front.

I was checking out the orkney 50 rear since I tend to buy full size touring panniers and use just one for commuting.

Jay

Not Altura bags, but the same fixings. The rail hooks adjust by secure inserts to different tubing diameters. Has your rack got the fourth 'dog-leg' strut? My previous rack didn't whilst the Blackburn exp 2 I'm currently using does, and makes for slightly less movement.

Yup, I believe it does, here's a picture

http://www.oldmanmountain.com/Images/red_rock_web.jpg

Here's the link for the description:

http://www.oldmanmountain.com/red_rock_details.htm

I wonder if anybody actually makes off-road specific bags, if those R&K fittings are adjustable and secure, they should put on on an adjustable rail on the bottom of the pannier to keep the bottom securly fastened.

Jay

An off the wall idea - how about sewing some velcro on the rear of the pannier using short lengths to form a sandwich over the struts?