Touring - Nashbar Front Rack Users

Before I get referred to the search page, I would like to see a picture of it mounted. Can anyone help me? Thanks.

Wow, I went to look it up on Nashbar's site to see if it was different than mine. I found four. Which one were you looking at?

Jerry H

I have the platform front rack, non-panniers, or whatever you want to call it. I snapped a few pictures so you could see it, in case that's what you're looking for. Tried to get some of the mounting points, too.

http://www.loominess.name/media/IMG_1081.jpg

http://www.loominess.name/media/IMG_1082.jpg

http://www.loominess.name/media/IMG_1083.jpg

http://www.loominess.name/media/IMG_1084.jpg

http://www.loominess.name/media/IMG_1085.jpg

http://www.loominess.name/media/IMG_1086.jpg

Note that there's a 15 lb. weight limit. It's not a workhorse, but I find it handy since I have a front suspension, and a number of racks wouldn't play nice with that. This works fine as long as you don't overload it, but note that it connects at the break mounts, so I really make an effort to keep within the limits on this. A little six-pack cooler, sometimes. My picnic basket fits nicely on there, but might actually tip the weight limit if I put too much food in it.

Thanks Rob! Thats exactly what I was looking for. I do understand the weight limit and this rack would only hold my sleeping bad, pad, and tent. Maybe a few other things. Mainly for s24o, and weekend trip specific stuff, no panniers.

I see someone has already posted pics..... I'll second that though this rack is handy, I'd be extremely careful about overloading it -mine seems sturdy enough, just that the mounting is obviously dependent mostly on the brake boss bolts and threads.

Thanks Rob! Thats exactly what I was looking for. I do understand the weight limit and this rack would only hold my sleeping bad, pad, and tent. Maybe a few other things. Mainly for s24o, and weekend trip specific stuff, no panniers.

That sounds like a lot of stuff, but if it's all lightweight, then it may work. Keep in mind the rack is only about 8.5 inches long. Much of the stuff I put on it hangs over the edge. That just means I have to secure it good, but it sounds like some of the things you're talking about putting on there could be twice as long as the rack and flexible. That could be trickier to mount.

I'm not trying to talk you out of it. I love this rack, and I don't know what your other options really are if you have a front suspension and/or lack good mounting points for a full rack. And the price on the Nashbar one is great. I just don't want to mislead you into thinking it will do more than it can.

Mounted on my old Stumpjumper.
http://images.tribe.net/tribe/upload/photo/bb7/6a9/bb76a90f-0a2f-4841-bf28-345bb042ae52

http://images.tribe.net/tribe/upload/photo/77a/902/77a90207-7ed2-49ab-8cf0-c0f84d51c010

Mounted on my new X-Check.
http://images.tribe.net/tribe/upload/photo/a15/90d/a1590da3-c432-4844-92f0-1b31f672b29f

http://images.tribe.net/tribe/upload/photo/efe/e79/efee79a8-14af-480b-a641-1952da1aa0c5

It's a good rack and I've had no problems with it at all. I've put more than the stated weight limit of 15 pounds on there and it was solid. I wouldn't load it up with 40 pounds of stuff for an all day ride, though. The only thing that can be tricky is the fork crown bracket. I had to bend it quite a bit to get a proper fit on my new bike. It's was tricky to bend it so that it didn't interfere with the hanger cable for my front canti's, but still kept the rack levelled.
My fave feature of it is the reflector tab, which I repurposed and mounted my headlight on. Keeps the light lower, so you get better definition of road contour than having it on the bars.

The only thing that can be tricky is the fork crown bracket. I had to bend it quite a bit to get a proper fit on my new bike. It's was tricky to bend it so that it didn't interfere with the hanger cable for my front canti's, but still kept the rack levelled.

My fave feature of it is the reflector tab, which I repurposed and mounted my headlight on. Keeps the light lower, so you get better definition of road contour than having it on the bars.

I just put one on my Jamis Aurora, primarily as a headlight mount and holder for a large battery pack and tool bag (6-8 lbs. total). The old Schwinn Mod headlight looks like it was meant to be there and the 12W flood bulb illuminates the road like a 15W intermediate bulb would on the handlebar. It works so well I'm thinking of installing a 6W flood bulb for 5 hour run times and looking around for a 7.5W or 8W MR11 flood bulb as I think the resulting 3-1/2 to 4 hour run times would be ideal. Anybody out there know of one?

I'll get a pic together as soon as I put the finishing touches on it, probably next weekend. The snow is over 2 feet deep in my backyard and 3-4 inches deep in the street which doesn't see too many snowplows. I'm using the 4-6 week period where riding here is difficult even with studded tires to finish a retrofit with barcon shifters on a wider Salsa Short and Shallow bar.

I'm even sewing up a custom mini trunk bag for it. I won't likely finish that project for another month though.

That sounds like a lot of stuff, but if it's all lightweight, then it may work. Keep in mind the rack is only about 8.5 inches long. Much of the stuff I put on it hangs over the edge. That just means I have to secure it good, but it sounds like some of the things you're talking about putting on there could be twice as long as the rack and flexible. That could be trickier to mount.

I'm not trying to talk you out of it. I love this rack, and I don't know what your other options really are if you have a front suspension and/or lack good mounting points for a full rack. And the price on the Nashbar one is great. I just don't want to mislead you into thinking it will do more than it can.

Thanks, all of the equipment that I would put up front is made for backpacking really, so its pretty lightweight. The tent is a small, lightweight 2 person tent, and the sleeping bag probably weighs an lb or 2 max. I tested this load on my rear rack yesterday, only allowing 8 inches of space and it worked out very well.

Also, could it be mounted on the rear as well? I would imagine that it would need some modification.
Thanks

Also, could it be mounted on the rear as well? I would imagine that it would need some modification.
Thanks

I can't imagine it would be worth the effort. There are so many racks designed to be used on the back of the bike that modding a rack that has a relatively low carrying capacity seems like a bad use of time and equipment. Although how difficult it is probably depends on your bike. Looking at mine, I see how the rear breaks are at a nice angle, so my first thought is that without some major modding, the rack would sit at a steep angle, making it difficult to use. And I'm not sure what you'd connect the center support to, although I would expect you'd find something. In the end, though, it seems like you would end with a rack that might not even support the weight it was originally rated for. You might be able to make a better rear rack from scratch if you didn't want to buy one. If you just wanted a lightweight rack in the back, you might consider a seat post rack. But for any type of touring purposes, I would favour a full, rear rack.

Thanks, I was just wondering. If I were to mod it, it would be for saddlebag support.

Here are the pics I promised of the old Schwinn Mod Headlight on the Nashbar Front Rack.

Here are the pics I promised of the old Schwinn Mod Headlight on the Nashbar Front Rack.

Neat. I'm wanting to mount a light underneath the rack, so I don't lose the rack surface for other items. I'm just hoping I have the tire clearance. I also thought the bottom side of the rack would be a good place for a battery pack. Of course the more stuff I hang off of the rack, the less weight I can really put on top. But as it is, my handlebar-mounted light is blocked by whatever I put on the front rack, so that's not much good either.

I works great on my 20" downtube folder. I put a couple of brackets on each side of the front hub with a hole for the pannier hooks, very cheap too only 7.99

Thanks.

I've had one a couple of different bikes over the last few years and just love it. As people said, its not a workhorse but its a great little rack for when you need to carry lighter items up front.

What is the foot/pound torque on the front brake bolts???

I'm trying to mount the front rack on my 1985 stumpjumper and it fits great over the canti bosses, but how do you secure it to the fork crown? I don't seem to have anything that is the right shape and can mount underneath the front rack and make that L-shaped jog to the fork crown. Are you guys just bending old reflector mounts or something? btw, the front bag that Nashbar makes to go w/ the little rack is terrific. It really holds a lot of stuff and is better than a handlebar bag, imo, for keeping sunblock, lip balm, snacks, etc.

I'm trying to mount the front rack on my 1985 stumpjumper and it fits great over the canti bosses, but how do you secure it to the fork crown? I don't seem to have anything that is the right shape and can mount underneath the front rack and make that L-shaped jog to the fork crown. Are you guys just bending old reflector mounts or something?
Mine came with a flat piece of steel that I bent to fit.

BTW: This rack has worked out to be much better for mounting my large handlebar bag (Nashbar Elite Handlebar Bag) than the normal hardware. I wrap the shoulder strap around the stem and clip the ends to the bag to hold it in place. It is more out of the way, but still just as accessible; and very secure, but still quick to remove to take with you.

have been using the Nbar front rack on my urban ride for several years...

carries a six-pack perfectly!

:-)

Mine came with a flat piece of steel that I bent to fit.

BTW: This rack has worked out to be much better for mounting my large handlebar bag (Nashbar Elite Handlebar Bag) than the normal hardware. I wrap the shoulder strap around the stem and clip the ends to the bag to hold it in place. It is more out of the way, but still just as accessible; and very secure, but still quick to remove to take with you.

I've done the same a few times. With inline brake levers and lights, I had to take off the bag mounting plate. I was tempted to go the extenda bar route ala topeak bar xtender or minoura, but the Nashbar rack works out fine and has a lot of uses.

Another thing I do with my big handle bar bag is put it on my rear rack like a pannier using the velcro mounts and then weaving the strap through the rack as a safety.