Touring - Front Rack Compatibility

I just had a bike shop tech tell me that a set of Axiom low rider front racks weren't compatible with my '08 Fuji because I had cantilever breaks on the front. I was a little shocked at this because I figured my bike was built for touring, how could it not support a pretty common set of racks. Does my bike shop have no idea about front racks or is this a common problem?

Any advice would help...

Pictures would help, but generally speaking there's no reason your brakes should interfere with mounting a rack. This is especially true for low rider racks.

this does not compute. pic's?

I just had a bike shop tech tell me that a set of Axiom low rider front racks weren't compatible with my '08 Fuji because I had cantilever breaks on the front. I was a little shocked at this because I figured my bike was built for touring, how could it not support a pretty common set of racks. Does my bike shop have no idea about front racks or is this a common problem?

Any advice would help...

Is he trying to mount them upside down:wtf: There should be no issue with the brakes at all since the lowrider mounts about 4" below the brake bosses. Before buying them, you may want to read what this guy (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/3056988352_4eec1f6f96.jpg) has to say about them and how he had to kludge them so that they worked properly. They may be cheap but they look like a poor design to me

http://www.modernbike.com/images/Product_Images/main_IG2126175326.jpg

The lack of stabilizer means that they can twist around on you and the very last thing you want is a bag twisting into the front wheel:eek::eek::eek::eek: And the little open pipes sticking up towards you look like a great way to do a tissue biopsy:eek:

If you don't like the hoop over the wheel, there are better, more stabilized options out there. This one (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Blackburn_Low_Rider_Custom_Front_Rack/5300001495/)

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/blackburn%20custom%20lowrider.jpg

Would resist twisting better (although not completely) and this one (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Blackburn_Low_Rider_Standard_Front_Rack/5300001494/) is an old but proven design

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/blackburn%20low%20rider.jpg

Nashbar sells a knock off for $14 (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Product_10053_10052_167572_-1___)

Tubus lowriders are much more expensive but well worth the cost with a better design and higher capacity.

I wondered if that is what he had done. Oh well, I can just get them online for cheaper anyhow. Thanks for the advice and the links, you guys are great!

FWIW, Blackburn's lowrider custom probably won't work for your bike because, IIRC, the mid fork boss does not go all the way through your fork.

It's easy enough for you to check first.

FWIW, Blackburn's lowrider probably won't work for your bike because, IIRC, the mid fork boss does not go all the way through your fork.

It's easy enough for you to check first.

Am I missing something? I assume the OP was looking for a rack that doesn't need a fork boss, which neither the Axiom nor the Blackburn need. EDIT: I meant the _second_ Blackburn linked, the Low Rider Standard, not the Custom!

In any event, I spent some time this morning looking into the very same issue; I have a Cross Check and although I can get the Axiom cheaply, I'm worried about it's integrity w.r.t. twisting. For an extra few bucks (or pounds in this case), I think the Blackburn is the way to go.

Am I missing something? I assume the OP was looking for a rack that doesn't need a fork boss, which neither the Axiom nor the Blackburn need. EDIT: I meant the _second_ Blackburn linked, the Low Rider Standard, not the Custom!

In any event, I spent some time this morning looking into the very same issue; I have a Cross Check and although I can get the Axiom cheaply, I'm worried about it's integrity w.r.t. twisting. For an extra few bucks (or pounds in this case), I think the Blackburn is the way to go.


You are or I am, I never saw mention of fork bosses in the OP but they stated the brake bosses were a problem.