Utility Cycling - The Rack Thread

OK I searched in vain so yes I'm posting a new thread on racks. Hopefully with your help we can get plenty of info in this thread.

Here is the issue I am having, I have a cheap rear rack that does not fully support my grocery panniers, so I am shopping for a new rear rack as well as a front rack for my other bike.

However, photos of racks show only the rack or a pair of panniers with a rack hidden below. It would be awesome if I could get you guys to post a photo of your (mounted) rack, with one pannier on, taken from the unloaded side of the bike. In other words, show us how the pannier is supported.

Fronts & rears, Surly, Jannd, Nitto, whatever you have.

Thanks in advance!

I have a Tubus Cosmo. It's a dual-siderail stainless-steel rack, rated for 40 Kg or 90 lbs.

http://www.brucew.com/images/bikeforums/kit/tubus-cosmo.jpg
Rack only.


http://www.brucew.com/images/bikeforums/kit/tailrider-only.jpg
There are two advantages to the dual-siderails. First, I can mount my trunk bag, and still easily mount the panniers. Yes, you can do both on an ordinary rack, but it involves more cussing and fussing than I'm willing to commit to on a regular basis. Second, the panniers mount lower which significantly improves handling when loaded.


http://www.brucew.com/images/bikeforums/kit/tailrider+panniers.jpg
Now with my Nashbar Townie Basket grocery panniers mounted.


http://www.brucew.com/gallery/albums/portland02/000_0014.sized.jpg
You can kinda, sorta see the backside of the panniers here.


http://www.brucew.com/images/bikeforums/kit/loaded-1.jpg
Loaded.


http://www.brucew.com/images/bikeforums/kit/loaded-2.jpg
Loaded.


Hope this helps!

Thank you, that's excellent, just what I had in mind.

The rearmost strut on my cheap Blackburn angles in instead of being in line with the other struts.
I can tell from the rear photo you probably don't have your panniers making contact with the spokes.

Tsl, I'm thinking about getting the Cosmo. I have a Jandd Expedition which is supposed to be an excellent rack, but it sways when I am carrying panniers and try to stand going uphill. Do you notice anything like that on your Cosmo? Thanks

I can tell from the rear photo you probably don't have your panniers making contact with the spokes.

No, they don't. That was a problem with my first rack on my first bike. Two things happened: 1) I no longer shop at that LBS. 2) I'm very particular about my rack legs now.


I have a Jandd Expedition which is supposed to be an excellent rack, but it sways when I am carrying panniers and try to stand going uphill. Do you notice anything like that on your Cosmo?

No, the rack doesn't sway, but my three-year-old, el cheapo grocery panniers do. See how saggy, baggy they are in the photo? That can turn into sloppy, floppy on the road. The rack is a rock, though. Are you sure it's not your panniers swaying like mine do?

The Jandd Expedition solved all my rack problems on my first bike. It kept the panniers out of the spokes (see above) and it moved them back, away from my heels. I never experienced issues with that rack.

http://www.brucew.com/images/bikeforums/cypress+rack.jpg
Jandd Expedition on my '06 Giant Cypress DX hybrid.

Hey, tsl ... I've got rack envy.

That Tubus Cosmo ... handsome, even stylish, and looks like it could take punishment.

No, they don't. That was a problem with my first rack on my first bike. Two things happened: 1) I no longer shop at that LBS. 2) I'm very particular about my rack legs now.



No, the rack doesn't sway, but my three-year-old, el cheapo grocery panniers do. See how saggy, baggy they are in the photo? That can turn into sloppy, floppy on the road. The rack is a rock, though. Are you sure it's not your panniers swaying like mine do?

The Jandd Expedition solved all my rack problems on my first bike. It kept the panniers out of the spokes (see above) and it moved them back, away from my heels. I never experienced issues with that rack.

http://www.brucew.com/images/bikeforums/cypress+rack.jpg
Jandd Expedition on my '06 Giant Cypress DX hybrid.

Why are you using the Tubus now if the Jandd was all that? I'm very fond of Jandd, but I'm not the sort of consumer who has experience with all models on the market. I use what I have until it busts, but I don't see my Jandd racks bustiing during my lifetime. I have broken a couple of Blackburns.

Why are you using the Tubus now if the Jandd was all that?

Two reasons:


The bike the Jandd was on was stolen. So I can't use it any more.
The Jandd taught me that I really need a rack with two siderails. They don't make one. Tubus makes a lovely one.

Thanks TSL for posting both of those, either one would be better than what I have.
One thing you mentioned is lowering the load making handling better; I am hoping someone will chime in with a Surly or Nitto front rack. I am considering this avenue as well, and believe the Surly & Nitto fronts are superior to the Jandd for load support.

Take a look at the Topeak Super Tourist DX rack. It seems to be quite sturdy so far and is the cheapest rack with dual side bars that I am aware of. I am using it on my Swobo Dixon which is my shopping bike.

Two reasons:


The bike the Jandd was on was stolen. So I can't use it any more.
The Jandd taught me that I really need a rack with two siderails. They don't make one. Tubus makes a lovely one.


Thanks, I need two side rails! I love my Jandds, but...

I carry a lot of boxes. I quit using panniers because they were in the way of the boxes. Bags mounted two inches below the shelf would be sweet. Sorry I asked. :( Thanks for answering though. :)

Jandd Expedition front rack

I think the Surly balances the load more in line with the fork, which is better, while this one would put your
panniers higher and forward. It does have a lower rail for the bags like the tubus rear, making it easier to lash
items to the top. Be careful with weight on the shelf though, weight high and in front of the headset makes
for tricky handling. I would advise against this rack unless you already have a rear rack and still need more
capacity.

It's a beast. It will make your bike noticeably heavier. But it's nice if you need a big front rack. The bracket
didn't line up with my fork's low rider mounts. so I used p clamps. Five points of attachment make it super
strong, three would probably be plenty. I love the way the v-brake just fits in the frame of the rack.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr147/Rod_Smith/IMG_2883.jpg

Thanks qmsdc15 for posting that;
I did note that the Surly does offset back which would be good for the handling. Nitto makes one that does the same thing, they must be on to something.

Hi

I was thinking about making my own rack, maybe brazing it to the frame. Does this sound like over-kill?
Not tried brazing recently, can it be done with a DIY aerosol and cheaply bought bits?
If I could get one like the one in the pic from tsl, I am in the UK and have not see many good racks.

G

Here is the issue I am having, I have a cheap rear rack that does not fully support my grocery panniers, so I am shopping for a new rear rack as well as a front rack for my other bike.

I have a set of Sunlite Grocery Getters with a standard Jandd rack. The rack is definitely too short, but it was the only rack the LBS had at that time. I like the grocery getters, but the rack must be replaced.

If I could get one like the one in the pic from tsl, I am in the UK and have not see many good racks.

The Tubus? It's made in Germany, and it was a guy in Ireland that turned be on to them when I saw it on his bike.

The world is smaller than you may think.

[QUOTE=tsl;9594361]

The Tubus?

QUOTE]

Hi

I googled it and it is available, buts its almost £100 !!

I got the bike for free, just spend a few pounds on new parts etc.

G

When I got mine two years ago, I also found something similar in aluminum (rated for only 20Kg) for £44.95 at some outfit in the UK. Look around online.

[QUOTE=tsl;9594361]

The Tubus?

QUOTE]

Hi

I googled it and it is available, buts its almost £100 !!

I got the bike for free, just spend a few pounds on new parts etc.

G

I just googled the Surly and Nitto front racks. After seeing the prices on the alternatives mentioned here so far, I'm feeling better about my purchases of Jandd Expedition racks, front and rear.

I have a "Pickup" frame-mounted front carrier on my Dutchbike.
http://www.workcycles.nl/workbike/bicycles/accessories/pickup-frame-mounted-front-carrier.html

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2579/3883173897_d852667623_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2622/3883965698_e172f7dcb1_b.jpg

andy

Another ride,another rack...
Front: Tubus Ergo http://www.tubus.com/en/lowriders/ergo
Rear: Tubus Logo http://www.tubus.com/en/rear-carriers/logo-expedition

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3521/3705516236_85a26c2379_b.jpg

Tatfiend wrote:
>> Take a look at the Topeak Super Tourist DX rack. It seems to be quite sturdy so far and is the cheapest rack with dual side bars that I am aware of. I am using it on my Swobo Dixon which is my shopping bike.

Tatfiend: I am seriously considering buying a Topeak Super Tourist DX for my Trek commuter bike.
But I'm worried that the non-horizontal "doglegs" might cause my grocery panniers to slide around along the bottom. Do you have any problems due to the doglegs not being horizontal?

Here's a pic of what I mean:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3580/3358547469_396a8bb734.jpg

See how the dogleg is angled upwards instead of being flat?

Thanks for any input/feedback!!

I really want to have the Topeak work for me since it's so much cheaper than the Tubu$
The only other inexpensive dual-rail rack that is long like the Topeak/Tubus is the MassLoad CL-476
http://nordicgroup.us/bicycleluggageracks/rear/#Massload_CL-476
But I want a black rack and prefer Topeak, since my LBS carries all their trunk bags.

not the greatest photos. the rack is rated for 154 lbs.

117506

117504

117505

http://westwoodcycle.ca/product/axiom-journey-rack-36830-1.htm

Researcher, if you grocery panniers are like mine with a hook on the bottom of the elastic cord, just put the hook at the front of the dog leg at the joint and you should be good to go.

Aaron:)

Oh really? Thanks.

Yeah, my panniers are the Jandd's with the hook you mention.
http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FGBP

Currently I use these on my Jandd Lite Duty rack and hook them in the little joint/nook you mention.
The setup works pretty well, but I'm getting heelstrikes. And I will need the 2nd set of rails because I'm mounting a Wald rack on the rack soon.

My thinking was: maybe with the Topeak rack being longer than my Jandd, I might have to position my pannier hook onto the dogleg, and not the little joint. But you answered that question.


Q2: do some of the other pannier types out there hook onto the dogleg?
Or do they all go into the little nook, and the dogleg is only to prevent the pannier from flapping into the spokes?
I ask because I saw some webpage showing how to add a rope clamp to the dogleg, to prevent a pannier from sliding back and off?

Maybe I just need to order the darn thing and stop worrying?

Thanks again :giver:

@researcher...another thing you might do is put a small cable clamp on the dog leg to stop the hook from riding up it, or even a couple of them and let the hook grab between them. They are relatively cheap and available just about anywhere.

Aaron:)

http://www.westcoastnetting.com/photos/Cable_Clamps2.jpg

Thanks wahoonc,

Yeah, I saw mention of these somewhere else, for the same purpose.
I think I'll order the Topeak rack tonight and pick up some of these little cable clamps if my panniers slip.

Appreciate the info!