Utility Cycling - Rear rack for Motobecane 700HT?

Hello,

I've been looking to install a rear rack + paniers on my Motobecane 700HT (from bikesdirect.com), which would basically make my car redundant. I didn't have any luck so far. I've tried everything from REI and returned it all. I love my bike and buying a new bike will be my very last option if no one here can help solve my problem.

So, has *anyone* been able to install a rear rack on the 700HT? (a seat post mounted rack doesn't count)

Thanks,

Sebastien

Sebastien,

Looking at the website, the issue appears to be that you don't have any threaded eyelets for racks at either the seat stays or the rear dropouts. This puts you in a bit of a predicament. However, there are a couple of solutions.

1) Tubus Rack + QR Adapter + Seat-Stay Clamps (http://www.tubus.com/index/lang/en/rubrik/Spares%20and%20Accessories/)

2) Any Rack + P-Clamps (http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/07/19/p-clamps-are-your-friends/) at the dropouts and for the top stays of the rack

3) Any Rack + P-Clamps (http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/07/19/p-clamps-are-your-friends/) at the dropouts + 31.8mm Seat Clamp w/ Rack Mounts (http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=146_240&products_id=3843) (34.9mm alternate size (http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=146_240&products_id=3844)) for the top stays of the rack.

4) Old Man Mountain Cold Springs or Sherpa (http://www.oldmanmountain.com/Pages/RackPages/RearRacks.html) (comes with QR adapters) + P-Clamps at seat stays or Seat Clamp w/ Rack Mounts for the top stays of the rack

jdmitch: thank you.

jdmitch: thank you.

No problems.

I made it: it is possible to put a rear rack on the 700HT. Old Man Mountain is about the only option. I'm very happy with the result. See pix.

Nice, did the OMM come with the P-Clamps?

No it didn't. I had my LBS do the install. The guy picked the clamps from a drawer before he showed them to me. We discussed whether using the clamps on the square-shaped rear fork was an issue and we both agreed that it should work just fine. It'll probably require some tightening in a while.

Hi Sebastien,
I just bought 700HT too and figured it has no threads for rear rack so this post is helpful.
Do you mind telling me where you got the "Old Man Mountain"? the website says it's out of stock.
is it hard to install it?

thanks

-Murphy

It has to be useful. According to my google skills, no one's done it before.

I got it here: http://www.springcreekrecumbents.com/. I walked in the shop (it's next to my house), bought the rack and the owner installed it for me. It didn't seem too difficult to install.