Touring - how to find a 29er with bosses for racks front and back

:mad:I want to buy an aluminum frame 29er with rack bosses front and back. I can't find one. I would like to take my next tour on gravel roads. Does anyone know of a 29er set up for touring?

Why not just use a touring bike?

:mad:I want to buy an aluminum frame 29er with rack bosses front and back. I can't find one. I would like to take my next tour on gravel roads. Does anyone know of a 29er set up for touring?

What is the official definition of a 29er? If it is just mountain bike hubs/spacing--135mm rear, 700c (630mm) rims with mtb handlebars and shifters, you could buy a new Nashbar aluminum touring frame for $200, outfit it with mtb handlebars and shifters and you would have a 29er. :) Alternatively, you could buy a new Surley Long Haul Trucker frame in sizes 56cm and above for $400, outfit it the same as above, and you would have a 29er, but it is steel, not aluminum.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=6000130&subcategory=60001176&brand=&sku=11723&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Frames%2FBikes

http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=15158

Or you could just buy any 29er you want without bosses, and outfit it with racks from Old Man Mountain.

http://www.oldmanmountain.com/Pages/RackPages/RearRacks.html

Nearly any 29 inch mountain bike frame would have thread mounts in the dropouts for the rear rack for the rear rack. And the connectors at the top of the rack can be mounted in various ways.

The bigger issue is the fork but Rock shock makes a 700c 50mm travel fork for hybrids that looks like it has all the mounting bosses. This should fit on nearly any 29er frame. That has the right length head tube.

http://storesense4.megawebservers.com/cycletofitness_com/-strse-1419/RockShox-2008-i-dsh-Ride-700c/Detail.bok

It claims it's not intended for 29er or cyclocross but I think it would work for touring on gravel roads. It's not meant for heavy duty off road duties.

The only problem I see is getting the right fork. Nearly all modern frames have at least the threaded rear rack mounts on the rear dropouts. You can rig the upper mounts in various ways.

Here is a 700c front fork which might work for non heavy duty off road chores.

http://storesense4.megawebservers.com/cycletofitness_com/-strse-1419/RockShox-2008-i-dsh-Ride-700c/Detail.bok

You might consider the ultra light off road method with no racks using a light bed roll lashed to the handle bars and large seat bag and a 10 pound or less backpack.

Get an old 27 inch steel frame bike and put 700c wheels on it. There is usually enough clearance for 38-45mm tires.

Rock shox makes an inexpensive 700c front fork with 50mm travel that would work for touring on a 29er frame. But it is not intended for hard off road use. Any 29er frame should work. Most have rear rack dropout mounts. The upper rack mounts can be done in several different ways.

Or consider the rackless ultralight method using a large seat bag, a light bed roll lashed to the handlebars and a 10 pound or less backpack. Also, a frame bag is really the awesome. This method makes for the most fun riding. By the way that is Jay Petervary with his Great Divide bike race set up with a 29er carbon fiber Orbea mountain bike.

Sorry for the multiple posts. The system was acting like they didn't work so I made multiple posts thinking that the first two didn't go through.

ask in a mtb forum or over at mtbr.com... you're getting a lot of misinformation here

http://www.gunnarbikes.com/rocktour.php

The Motobecane has front and rear rack/fender bosses but the issue is finding a rack that works with the 29" wheels. I had to fabricate a set of plates to raise the rack to clear the tires.

Get an old 27 inch steel frame bike and put 700c wheels on it. There is usually enough clearance for 38-45mm tires.

Are you sure? I have an old Nashbar touring frame that has 27" wheels, but I don't think it would take large tires with 700c wheels. There isn't much clearance left with the 27" x 1.25" Continental Gatorskins I have on there now.

The Motobecane has front and rear rack/fender bosses but the issue is finding a rack that works with the 29" wheels. I had to fabricate a set of plates to raise the rack to clear the tires.

What type of bag do you have on your rack? Thanks

"I want to buy a steel frame 29er with rack bosses front and back."

I fixed your post for you. Go with the Surly.:)

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=179026&highlight=it%27s+a+pugs+life

What type of bag do you have on your rack? Thanks

Sorry I never replied to this. Good thing someone else bumped this thread.

The bag on that Moto is an Ambico camera bag that I sewed some straps onto and it works perfectly. It's definitely not waterproof but has nice organization and plenty of room. Best of all, it cost me $2.00 at a trift shop.

Came across a bike for this today. It's sold as a all round bike. Clarence for 29er tyres. eccentric b.b for single speed / fixed / internal gear hub, deralier hanger and cable guides, bull compliment of rack bosses front and back. Singular peregrine http://www.singularcycles.com/bikes.htm

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/2636901433_e07576ee80_o.jpg

The Singular 29er is lovely but the site says- FYI-

Unfortunately we are unable to sell our framesets to North America at this time.-

Hmmm may be I should start exporting them to you guys over in North America then. :)

Two words:

SALSA

FARGO.

Not steel, but it has bosses. Frankly, I'm not really sure why anyone would WANT an aluminum frame for touring. That's some Cannondale BS right there, kid.


Now go lookie on the googlator console.....

Kona Smoke 2-9 with an Old Man Mountain front rack. The front rack mounts to the quick release and vbrake studs. The load sits kind of high, but it really wasn't bad at all for approximately 300 miles.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a261/catskillscooby/Kingston2Wanakena/FishingArea2.jpg

Singulars are now available in the US. I did a short write up of mine here. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=497417)

Watch out for the eyelets... many 29er frames (Niner, etc) have nothing at all. This recent thread (http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=478658)on mtbr.com might help.