Touring - Front Racks

I am looking for a good inexpensive front rack to go on my Randonee. I am looking for one with a top deck that I can put a sleeping bag or a tent on it to help distribute the weight more. I would like to get a Surly Nice rack but they are expensive. I am also looking at the Jandd rack.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RKBAJI/ref=s9_simh_gw_p200_t2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0HK86QW0X3591ZNVWXD9&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Are there any other out there worth sub $150 range.

I was looking at front racks earlier and was thinking that a deck on the front would be nice. Those were the two that I found, I preferred the Jandd. I didn't like the Surly because of the weight. My touring bike feels heavy enough without the heavy racks. I ended up with a Tubus Tara.

How about this one for $69

http://store.interlocracing.com/lhfrpara.html

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/ird_2090_7347393

You said sub $150 but I think all the racks are mostly below that price range? If you're going on extended, long tours or plan to tour every year for many years, I'd go for a Tubus or Surly rack. If you're just doing occasional tours though, more lightly loaded, then something from Jandd or Blackburn would be fine.

Thanks, all, for the interest. The rack is spoken for.

How about this one for $69

http://store.interlocracing.com/lhfrpara.html

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/ird_2090_7347393

Now that looks suspiciously familiar. Anyone know if they're identical?
http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FREXT

Now that looks suspiciously familiar. Anyone know if they're identical?
http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FREXT

not suspicious.. just rebranded I would think. pretty common in the bike world.

Now that looks suspiciously familiar. Anyone know if they're identical?
http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FREXT
This is like one of those find-the-differences puzzles in the paper. To me, they do NOT look identical. Unless the viewing angles are playing tricks on me, one has a small bend in the rear leg, and one does not.

curious if anyone knows of a light minimalist front rack for securing a small stuff sack that can connect anywhere between fork crown, cantilever bosses and mid fork mounts? I tried a Nitto type chromed rack from Velo-Orange that connects to drop out eyelets and cantilever bosses but it appears to take out all the shock absorption in the curved fork. Nashbar makes a rack that is supported by cantilever bosses but I wonder how secure that is over time.
Thinking of the kind of load a compressed stuff sack would have, no more than 5lbs.

curious if anyone knows of a light minimalist front rack for securing a small stuff sack that can connect anywhere between fork crown, cantilever bosses and mid fork mounts? I tried a Nitto type chromed rack from Velo-Orange that connects to drop out eyelets and cantilever bosses but it appears to take out all the shock absorption in the curved fork. Nashbar makes a rack that is supported by cantilever bosses but I wonder how secure that is over time.
Thinking of the kind of load a compressed stuff sack would have, no more than 5lbs.

I've got the nashbar rack, I've had no issue with it and 5lbs would not strain the rack.

I have that Nashbar one on my folder (=commuter). I don't actually use the rack very much, but it seems sturdy enough for 5 lbs, depending how well the load is secured. If it's shifting around a lot I imagine it might fatigue the metal, but otherwise I think it would be fine.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3247/2472946490_2e2e0c57d0_b.jpg

I really like the Old Man Mountain racks (http://www.oldmanmountain.com/Pages/RackPages/FrontRacks.html). I've got several Cold Springs and Sherpa racks on my bikes.

I've torture tested them for coming up on 9 years and have had zero issues with them. I've got Surly Nice racks and Tubus racks in my parts bin and I use my OMM racks instead.

They are made in the USA as well by some really nice guys in Santa Barbara, CA if that matters to you.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3041/2296157519_b534e2ae34_o.jpg

I own the Jandd Extreme. I had problems with it hitting the downtube while turning. I had to bend the rods on the rack where the screw goes into the fork eyelet to shift the rack upward. Bending it allowed me to turn more before it hit the downtube, but it still hits it. I ended up wrapping my downtube with a wide rubber band to protect it while touring last summer, but it was irritating.

I do like the flat platform in the front. I strapped my sleeping bag there. I don't know if any of the other similar racks have the same issue hitting the frame.

I've got the nashbar rack, I've had no issue with it and 5lbs would not strain the rack.

thx for feedback, looks like it's the one.

thx for feedback, looks like it's the one.

Weight capacity is 15 lbs.
The deck is the size of a 6-pack:thumb:

I'm running the little Nashbar flat top rack that mounts the the brake bosses and a Nashbar low rider rack. I think I have about $30 invested in the two and they've done just fine.

I have a surly lht and also have there surly nice racks both front and rear I don't care if me bicycle is heavy or not.Surly bike needs a surly nice racks I think anyway.
Cost was not to bad for both 225.00 tax and all.

curious if anyone knows of a light minimalist front rack for securing a small stuff sack that can connect anywhere between fork crown, cantilever bosses and mid fork mounts? I tried a Nitto type chromed rack from Velo-Orange that connects to drop out eyelets and cantilever bosses but it appears to take out all the shock absorption in the curved fork. Nashbar makes a rack that is supported by cantilever bosses but I wonder how secure that is over time.
Thinking of the kind of load a compressed stuff sack would have, no more than 5lbs.

Well for $5 and a trip to the hardware store, I built this rack. Just some 3/16 Aluminum stock, some threaded rod, some nuts, and a can of paint. I just bent the aluminum stock into shape, just JB Weld to hold it together along with some bolts. I've had 15 lbs on it in a stuff sack.

Picture is here:

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b106/VT_Bent_Rider/Fargo/IMG_0973.jpg

140962

Brian

I'm running the little Nashbar flat top rack that mounts the the brake bosses and a Nashbar low rider rack. I think I have about $30 invested in the two and they've done just fine.

That combination works fine for me too. I just keep my handlebar bag on the rack though. How much room you will have to put stuff on it depends on a few factors including frame size, handlebar height, and your choice of handlebar bag and mounting hardware. In my case not much would fit there with a large handlebar bag, a smallish frame, and my bars 4-5" below the saddle. That said in my case it very nicely replaces the handlebar bag mounting hardware. I use the bag's shoulder strap to hold it in place. The bag rides a bit lower, but is still very accessible while riding and is very easy to grab and take along when going into a store or whatever. The rack weight about the same as the stock mounting hardware that came with the bag.

Nice work Brian,

And also I've seen several people take standard moderate size rear racks and with a little ingenuity, apply them to the front. If I can find the photo of the one a gentleman displayed on this forum a while back, it was really simple but ingenious and held some God awful amount securely.

Let me throw in a plug for the little-known Racktime TopIt model. Lightweight, and has a usable platform similar to the Nitto Mark's rack.