Utility Cycling - Wald Folding Baskets

Please provide comments and advice if you have used these. What's the best way to attach them? Would zip ties be strong enough? The clamps which came with them don't seem to hold them on very tightly. Does the black paint hold up or should I just get the zinc plated ones? ......

mounting hardware capable of at least 20lbs (case of beer, cans) so thats what I used.

Black paint is a year old and holding up well, I recently saw some black folders on a schwinn that were twenty years old, still looked pretty good. Had anodized paperboy basket on last bike, no problems, it is about looks as both seem to be durable.

I used a few small pipe clamps per side to mount them which works much better than the supplied hardware. Mine are in black and after two years, they still look great. I love them . . . always there if you need them and super durable.

The black paint does fine. As already noted the stock clamps are fine but small hose clamps are MUCH better.

Amazon is a good place to buy them due to their return policy, free shipping & no sales tax.

No issues with mine, I have a couple of pair. No clue how old the oldest pair are...maybe 20 years? I have black and they are still black. I use small hose clamps and zipties.

Aaron :)

http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/1658/2826631600066886751S600x600Q85.jpg

My girlfriends zip ties are holding strong after a year. I think there's 4-5 on each basket. Paint looks good, but there was a spot where the sections joined, and the hinge thing scraped paint off. This allowed it to rust at the joints. We dabbed it with heavy grease and now it's good. You can't see the scraped spot unless you know what to look for.

I always assumed these would excessively rattle? Is the foldability feature that useful ( as opposed to permanent side baskets or a single large basket on top of the rea rack)?

They may rattle, I wouldn't notice due to heavy traffic noise or riding on gravel road noise. But I think if they are solidly attached and clipped shut they don't rattle. I use a velcro strap to help keep mine closed.

I like the fact they fold flat so I can toss a set of saddle bags over them if need be. A large basket on top of the rack puts the weight up too high for my tastes. All the fixed baskets I have seen are of a different size. I don't know why the folding baskets are so popular, but Wald has been making them for close to 40 years.

Aaron :)

I always assumed these would excessively rattle? Is the foldability feature that useful ( as opposed to permanent side baskets or a single large basket on top of the rea rack)?

They rattle if they're not attached to the rack right (and despite what people say, the included hardware works just fine for most racks, and is whole heck of a lot more secure than zip ties.), and sometimes when they're open and empty. Folded up, not so much.

Folding is nice because the bike is easier to carry, store, lock to things, whatever. It also means you can abuse the sides of the basket to fit things that are just a bit too long inside.

I had some on an old mtn bike I used to commute on. They worked well, but were heavy and were somewhat noisy. I used hose clamps to secure them to my rack. If I remember correctly I was able to haul some pretty heavy stuff in them.

has any one tried the bell bicycle brand folding basket? its sold at walmart. 19.95 looks the same key word looks. i love hose clamps they work great.