Tandem Cycling - taking a picnic - suggestions?

With our new Trek T900, we would like to be able to ride in the forest preserve and take a picnic lunch. I was thinking that this Topeak explorer rack and MTX Trunk Bag DXP might be a good combination; probably more storage than I need but I would rather have too much than too little.

Here's a link to the items:
http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-TA2026-B-Explorer-Bike-Rack/dp/B000FIE3WI/ref=pd_bxgy_sg_img_b

Does anyone have thoughts on how easy/difficult it might be to install this rack, or whether this is a good solution?

I also thought about a handlebar bag, but figured it would be easier to steer with the weight in the back instead of on the handlebars.

The rear racks that quick release onto the seatpost work fine for up to 20lbs of cargo and are much easier to get on and off.

The rack you're looking at shouldn't be hard to install, (unless you have a disc brake and an issue with clearence) if you want to leave it there permanently.

As merlin, mentioned, spacing on these racks is the key. My guess is that the one pictured is too narrow, especially for a new tandem. On my daughter's new C-Dale comfort bike, even though it had V-Brakes, I had to buy the disk brake version of that same rack in order for it to fit properly. There is very little outward flex in the rack in order to spread it enough to fit widely spaced dropouts.

About a year ago I bought these at Nashbar for something like $20. They work really well with that type of rack and give you lots of space for easy day trips.



Unfortunately they are now $40, but I'd say the value is still good.
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_166967_-1_200350_200282_200350

Topeak makes a disk brake rack that works with the MTX line of bags. I have the rack on our Cannondale 2 2008 Tandem and my Gaint Yukon too.

For the last few years we pretty well have kept our trunk rack bag on the tandem year around.
Ideal for stowing extra gear/clothing and if you do some light shopping.
Picnic lunch would be nice, but just leave the bottle of wine at home . . .
The legs on most alu or steel racks are 'spreadable' and should fit or get a rack that attaches to seatpost.
Enjoy the picnic!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Picnic lunch would be nice, but just leave the bottle of wine at home . . .
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem


Better yet PicNic at a winery!

Thanks for the replies everyone!

Maybe I need a primer in bike rack design. For the rack I mentioned that looks like it attaches about the rear axle, what dimensions would I need to evaluate in order to determine if I wanted to get the regular or disc-brake version (assuming that I would get the disc-brake version simply because it is wider)?

We use a Bob trailer. Cooler fits on there and everything else besides.

Andy:

I have a set of the panniers shown above. I have the black set. They are a little smaller than I needed for my commute and I've never used them. PM if you have any interest. I'll make you a deal.

Does anyone have thoughts on how easy/difficult it might be to install this rack, or whether this is a good solution?

Good solution - Maggi and I use the Topeak Explorer stuff on our Trek T2000 and love it
Difficult install - On your bike, perhaps, depending on your level of tinker-ability!

Here's a link to another T900 with a rear rack. http://www.jtgraphics.net/trek_t900.htm Scroll down till you see the pic of the bike leaning against the rail in front of the ocean. Note that the rack is slanted forward such that the front of the rack is two or three inches under the stoker's saddle. That's what you get with a short stoker seat tube and supplied hardware with most racks.

As it happens, that works fine for these folks as they have a bag that attaches using cloth straps of some sort. But it won't work for the Topeak system, since the bag simply slides in a track and has a catch to clip on to the front of the rack. It's a much handier and more secure system that eliminates "bag sag", but requires the front of the rack to be clear of the stoker's saddle.

Solution: Get an extra set of the metal straps that are used to attach the rack and bolt them together to make a longer set of straps. (You'll need to cut off the twisted ends on one set, then round the corners and smooth any burrs.) The rack can then both sit level and be clear of the stoker's saddle so the catch works.

Hint: Your local bike shop probably has extra straps laying in a drawer somewhere.

Onegun's approach is most likely to succeed. The Topeak rack actually assumes you have
eyelets down at the rear above the axle and does not attach to the axle at all. IF you don't
have any eyelets, there is a workaround I have seen recently that involves P clamps on the
seat stay down at the bottom near the rear axle. At the other end, the very short seat tube
on the T900 makes Topeak's rack problematic. In order to get enough clearance behind the
stoker's saddle you will need some kind of extension. I was looking at a Blackburn rack a few
days ago and it came with extenders for the mounts at the saddle end so, as Onegun says
these are available. The mounts assume eyelets on the top of the seat stay, again P clamps
can sometimes be used to simulate eyelets, depending on clearances and manner of frame
construction. Very long extensions on the seat stay end of the mount will make the rack
less rigid, but still adequate for 10# or so. The mounts at the seat tube are slotted flat metal
that has a 90D twist, subbing a length of non-slotted strapping will increase the rigidity. Lowes
and HD have aluminum stock 1/16 thick by 1/2" wide that is easy to deal with.

I have the same Topeak rack on my non disc hybrid. The tubing is thicker and stronger than any of the Blackburn racks on my tandems. The rack is also heavier. The steel extentions are around 8 inches long. On my bike my braze on outlets are approximately 14.5 inches vertical off the horizontal axis of bottom bracket.......the rack is level. I'll soon switch this rack to my small sized tandem because we use panniers quite a bit.

Sometimes rack fit can be problematic. I broke down and just had the dealer take care of it on my Santana Arriva.

We use a Topeak seatpost rack and trunk bag. Ours get swapped to the mountain tandem for some of our woods adventures, or gets removed if needed for some of our rides with no appreciable distance from home.

Merlin mentioned these racks earlier. They work well and are very easy to install. The 20 pound limit sounds about right.

The way the bag attaches, it's a rail mount design. For us, say we ride to have a pizza or buy some girl stuff at Ulta, like the other night. The tandem can be parked and locked, then the bag is unlatched by the push type release and slid from the rack, allowing us to easily bring our stuff into the store or restaurant.

Topeak make three versions of the rack, one uses a straight support, one angles upward and one downward. They also offer several bags and even panniers that work with their rack.

This working for us. Enjoy your picnic. BTW, the trailer with cooler sounds pretty sweet for a picnic or other rides , possibly to the beach..

PK