Utility Cycling - New '6-pack' front rack...

I know it is only boarderline "utility" since this rack only carries one thing well but I wanted to share because A) I'm excited about what I made, and B) someone else might see these pictures and adapt the design to carry something other than beer.

These pictures are of the rack in primer and only test fitted onto the bike. I will be spraying the rack with black "truck bed liner" and getting it on a bit straighter. I'll also be riding it to the liquor store to pick up a full six pack as the test pack is empty. :(

The construction is welded steel angle iron and steel rod with U bolts to attach to the handlebars and micro-u bolts (from cable clamps) used to adjust the platform height and level. Total cost was about $20 in materials and about 2 hours of labor. I am considering pop-riveting a piece of plastic onto the base of it so it can be used to transport something other than booze but we'll see if that ever happens.

Comments, questions, or snark about what kind of beer I drink are all welcome.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_1182.jpg
The rack.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_1183.jpg
U bolts attach the rack to the handlebars.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_1184.jpg
Washers welded to the upright supports.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_1185.jpg
With no solid platform, this rack does little but support a 6-pack.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_1186.jpg
I attempted to get a closeup showing the micro-u bolts and how they allow the rack to be adjusted. Sorry so blurry.

Why would you transport anything other then booze? ;) Looks nice, good work. All it needs now is a bottle opener attached. :)

All it needs now is a bottle opener attached. :)

I already added a bottle opener under the seat. (sorry the pic isn't great but that is a beer opener sticking out)

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0438.jpg

This is crazy but I really like it. If only I drank beer.

Well, color me green with envy. I really need to get a welder.

I wonder how difficult it would be to slightly modify to a double wide for those days that 12-packs are on sale or two of your fave 6-packs. Seems that if you moved the mini-u's to the front that wouldn't be too difficult. Of course, I suppose that would just be more of a portuer (sp?) rack then.

Only modification I would make would be to turn those u-bolts around on the top. But then, I typically worry about sharp pointy things that may turn into scar-makers in the event of an accident. Don't need an unexpected vasectomy after all. Come to think of it, I've had personal experience in how combining beer and cycling can lead to bike-related scars. Course, that was much more than 6 :innocent:

Locate a milk crate, and make the rack fit the crate, and then it is vastly more flexible. Then you can carry 4 gallons of milk or 2 or 4 6packs. Or a 6 pack of beer and a bag of chips, and a bag of dog food. Stout is a good, but FAT TIRE ALE * is best as you know.

* I am not an owner of Fat Tire Ale, nor an investor in the company, but I'd be happy to invest in a case or two. Call me an admirer of their product.

This is crazy but I really like it. If only I drank beer.

A lot of things come in glass six packs. Outside of cycling, I'm a home brewer so I have a capper for these bottles. For a fun community ride I may bottle some gator aide in plain brown bottles and use this rack. That should turn some heads.


Well, color me green with envy. I really need to get a welder.

I wonder how difficult it would be to slightly modify to a double wide for those days that 12-packs are on sale or two of your fave 6-packs. Seems that if you moved the mini-u's to the front that wouldn't be too difficult. Of course, I suppose that would just be more of a portuer (sp?) rack then.

Only modification I would make would be to turn those u-bolts around on the top. But then, I typically worry about sharp pointy things that may turn into scar-makers in the event of an accident. Don't need an unexpected vasectomy after all. Come to think of it, I've had personal experience in how combining beer and cycling can lead to bike-related scars. Course, that was much more than 6 :innocent:

If you like to build stuff you absolutely should get a welder. I don't get to use mine much these days but it is by-far my favorite tool. I use the Northern Industrial MIG135 (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200332691_200332691) and although I doubt you'd want to use this for fabbing up race car roll cages or airplane parts, it has done everything i've ever asked of it. Here are some pics of a bike trailer axle (super-hardcore) that I welded up with it-

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0387.jpg
bolts with their heads cut off and some square tubing
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0388.jpg
holes drilled to weld through
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0389.jpg
welded
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0390.jpg
and ground smooth again

In the design phase, adjusting the size to carry somethign larger should be pretty easy to do. If it gets much wider I would probably use a different method for adjusting the bars running from the rack to the front axle though.

I think many of us who drink and ride have at least some beer-related cyclign scars. On Halloween 2008 I competed in an alleycat race that turned into a drink-fest before heading home. I was cycling alone down a greenway/MUP (safely away from cars) and i fell and broke my cheek bone and did nerve damage in my face that is still not fully healed. Drinking is fun, alcohol consumption is fun, but if one is done in excess the other should be done sparingly.

I will likely cut off some of the 'extra' threads on the u-bolts and add 'acorn nuts' to cover the exposed ends.


Locate a milk crate, and make the rack fit the crate, and then it is vastly more flexible. Then you can carry 4 gallons of milk or 2 or 4 6packs. Or a 6 pack of beer and a bag of chips, and a bag of dog food. Stout is a good, but FAT TIRE ALE * is best as you know.

* I am not an owner of Fat Tire Ale, nor an investor in the company, but I'd be happy to invest in a case or two. Call me an admirer of their product.

A) You get 10 super secret bonus points for using Courier New in your post. Best. Font. Ever.

B) Sticking strictly to New Belgium beers, 1554 is more delicious than Fat Tire.

C) On many bikes (including this one) there simply isn't room for a milk crate over the front wheel without interfering with the handlebars or putting the cargo's weight so far in front of the front axle that steering would be dangerously 'wonky' once a load was put into the crate.

So, how do CETMA Racks and Torker Bicycles (of Torker Cargo-T fame) deal with this problem (weight, clearance, wonky handling)?

And I prefer Palatino Linotype, yes, its slightly more feminine/androgynous than Courier New, but better proportioned, not so INDUSTRIAL.

But thanks for the points all the same...

... If you like to build stuff you absolutely should get a welder. I don't get to use mine much these days but it is by-far my favorite tool. I use the Northern Industrial MIG135 (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200332691_200332691) and although I doubt you'd want to use this for fabbing up race car roll cages or airplane parts, it has done everything i've ever asked of it. Here are some pics of a bike trailer axle (super-hardcore) that I welded up with it

This runs off household electricity??? I had no idea there are electric welders! How does one learn welding? What metals to use, safety, etc? I don't mean building frames, but little things: racks, brackets, etc.

Adam

So, how do CETMA Racks and Torker Bicycles (of Torker Cargo-T fame) deal with this problem (weight, clearance, wonky handling)?

I've never ridden a bike equipped with either of those racks but I imagine the steering does get wonky. It did with my first [larger] welded rack when it was loaded down.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/FrontRack4.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/FrontRack2.jpg


This runs off household electricity??? I had no idea there are electric welders! How does one learn welding? What metals to use, safety, etc? I don't mean building frames, but little things: racks, brackets, etc.

Adam

Yes, many wirefeed welders will run on a standard 115v household outlet. (Some need a 220V outlet like an electric oven or dryer uses)

I taught myself through experimenting, talking to experienced welders online, and more practice.

I only weld steel. My welder can do Aluminum and Stainless with some modification but steel is so cheap and easy that I haven't ever converted it.

The biggest expense in welding is not so much in the welder itself but in all the things you need to buy to weld with- A welding helmet (I highly recommend an auto-darkening mask) , welding gloves, at least 2 angle grinders (one with an abrasive disc and one with a wire wheel), a hacksaw and a bunch of blades or a metal cutting bandsaw, a drill press (the best tool for putting holes in what you are welding), etc. You also need a place to weld that isn't cluttered with flammable material and has good ventilation (garage w/ open garage door). If you have any specific questions I'm happy to offer my two cents.

Nice rack!

A bike specifically designed to carry a load above the front wheel is said to handle much better than a regular bike fitted with front rack. Apparently it's the fork offset. Kogswell's Porteur/Randonneur frameset can be equipped with one of three different forks depending on intended use. http://www.kogswell.com/KogswellPR.pdf

although soon this thread is going to crash my photobucket when you folks view it...

Some new pics after a coat of truck-bed liner...

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_1187.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_1188.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_1189.jpg

I didn't notice previously that you've got that mounted on a singlespeed. Extra kudos for that. If it were a converted multigeared bike with a derailleur hanger, you could've fashioned a nifty bottle opener with a bit of fileing on the back of the hanger. I did so on my fixed gear, though I have to confess that I usually drink canned beer while working on the bike, so have only used it a time or two.

In the spirit of "Home Improvement" and MORE POWER!, I daresay someone should come up with the dirty thirty rack. I suppose it would be constructed of zip ties, duct tape, and wishes.

I didn't notice previously that you've got that mounted on a singlespeed. Extra kudos for that. If it were a converted multigeared bike with a derailleur hanger, you could've fashioned a nifty bottle opener with a bit of fileing on the back of the hanger. I did so on my fixed gear, though I have to confess that I usually drink canned beer while working on the bike, so have only used it a time or two.

This bike was running a 7-speed internal gear hub [no derailleur hanger though] with drop bars before I put the townie bars on and switched it back to SS. I drink more bottled beer than canned simply because i home brew and so I drink a lot of my own beer. I can kill a box of PBR light with the best of them though.

Got any pics of the filed derailleur hanger?

I want to build me one! I just learned how to weld. Nice choice with the LBC Milk Stout, my fav. I'm a homebrewer out here in Western MD. Nice work!

Kinda awesome. :thumb:

PBR. Now you are speaking my beer tongue. Fat Tire is quite tasty also btw.

Comments, questions, or snark about what kind of beer I drink are all welcome.



Locate a milk crate, and make the rack fit the crate, and then it is vastly more flexible. Then you can carry 4 gallons of milk or 2 or 4 6packs. Or a 6 pack of beer and a bag of chips, and a bag of dog food.

1. Gotta agree with Fat Tire about the greater flexibility and utility of a suitable sized plain jane basket for hauling beer or anything else.

2. I suggest altering the orientation of the u bolts and wing nuts on the handlebars so that the projections do not point towards you. The added injury producing potential in even a simple accident with the current arrangement should be obvious.

1. Gotta agree with Fat Tire about the greater flexibility and utility of a suitable sized plain jane basket for hauling beer or anything else.

Since it's a SS and my apartment is at the top of a hill I'm not sure I'd want to carry much more weight than a 6 pack of beer on this bike. I use my WIKE cargo trailer or my multi-speed biek with a rack and panniers for the heavy jobs.


2. I suggest altering the orientation of the u bolts and wing nuts on the handlebars so that the projections do not point towards you. The added injury producing potential in even a simple accident with the current arrangement should be obvious.

I covered the points with acorn nuts http://www.hillcofasteners.com/images/products/acorn_nut_high_crown.jpg so there is a greatly reduced chance for injury if I hit something. I agree that there are other (better) methods for attaching racks to handlebars but the U-bolts are what I had in my parts box at the time.

Sounds like Ryan doesn't really want to carry four gallons of milk over his front wheel. I imagine he has a geared bike with a bigger rear rack for hauling bigger loads. I know he has a trailer.

Every bike in your garage doesn't have to be a heavy hauler. Orange single speed (fixie?) should be ridden with a courier bag big enough to carry a case of PBR anyway. I don't care how funky the college town you live in is, this rack is much hipper than a milk crate. Putting PBR or even Fat Tire Ale on it would be trying to hard. Kudos on selecting the excellent regional microbrew.

It would look a lot better with full bottles, but I guess consumption of refreshments was necessary during the construction process. For carrying empties to the recycling center, a bigger rack would make sense. Haha

I guess you really should rebuild it with the u-bolts pointing the other way, if that wouldn't require too much work.

Kudos on selecting the excellent regional microbrew.

[off topic] Mrs. HandsomeRyan and I drove up to Lancaster yesterday afternoon to eat at the brewpub and enjoy their beers on tap. I can honestly say that it was well worth the 3 hour round trip; great food and amazing beer! I would rank their IPA (Hop Hog) as "just okay" but their Milk Stout and Strawberry Wheat are [IMHO] the finest examples of each style I've ever consumed. If anyone in the Northeast/MidAtlantic likes Left Hand or Duck Rabbit Milk Stout- the Lancaster is a must-try. I can't really compare the Strawberry Wheat to anything else but it has a clean refreshing strawberry flavor and it is filtered so folks who are squeamish about drinking cloudy beer need not worry.

The Mrs. and I picked up matching "Got Milk Stout" shirts to wear when we ride our tandem if it ever unfreezes here.[/off topic]

Anyone who is OK with cloudy beer, check out Franklin's in Hyattsville, Md. A few blocks from the East Coast Greenway.

Got any pics of the filed derailleur hanger?
Took me a bit to get up the gusto to take some pics in the frigid garage, but here you go. I didn't want to file too far, as I wanted to keep the hanger integrity intact in case of future need. However, even with only 1/8" or so of a lip, it works surprisingly well. Looking at it today, I realized that it probably wouldn't be as easy to do on a vertical dropout, and one would likely need to cut all the way through the bolt hole at 7:00 and 10:00.

Now if only I had had a bottle to place up there for scale...

http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/sturmcrow01/Bike%20Pics/DSC_5310small.jpg

http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/sturmcrow01/Bike%20Pics/DSC_5311small.jpg

Very nice work, Ryan! I don't have the tools or patience to build a nice rack like that, but here (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Product_10053_10052_167593_-1___)is my solution (for a bike equipped w/ canti studs):

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4277980742_cf74d151a5_o.jpg

home made front racks are good fun