Commuting - Disc break cargo rack on non-disc break bike

Just heard from my LBS. The Topeak Super Tourist I ordered seems to be out of stock everywhere.

They told me they could get the disc break version and that it would attach fine... Any thought on this? Will it work? Will it look strange?

Just heard from my LBS. The Topeak Super Tourist I ordered seems to be out of stock everywhere.

They told me they could get the disc brake version and that it would attach fine... Any thought on this? Will it work? Will it look strange?

fify ;)


The short answer is it will look fine either way. The Topeak racks that are disc compatible have built-in spacers that push the vertical legs outward from the dropout eyelets, whereas the regular rack legs go directly to the dropout eyelets.
Links might be better than my feeble attempt to write...
It looks like these are the racks you are referring to.

Non-disc:http://www.topeak.com/products/Racks/SuperTouristDXTubularRack

Disc: http://www.topeak.com/products/Racks/SuperTouristDXTubularRack_disc

As a side note, there are many other racks out there, so don't feel constrained by your LBS. That particular Topeak is a nice rack for sure, but others exist.

The disc version will work but it will create a wider bike. This increases aerodynamic drag and reduces your ability to squeeze through gaps. It may put more stress on the bolts, but I'm not sure of that.
Disc racks are a hack to solve the problem of mis-located disc brakes. Personally I would hunt around for a normal rack.

I'm guessing you're looking at that particular rack because of the Topeak slide-lock top bag interface and the dedicated lower side rails for panniers. Either rack will work perfectly and look like a great rack. Some bikes ( not just disc brake models) have more clearance issues than others. In our shop we'll often shorten the disc brake standoffs for an optimal fit for the bike being outfitted, regardless of what kind of bike its being put on. Assuming your LBS is a decent shop - discuss any concerns and they'll take care of you.

I would be fine with it. Yes, it will be a little wider, but by what, a inch or two? You'll never notice that. Plus, if you ever buy a bike with disc brakes, you won't have to buy a new rack.

The disc version will work but it will create a wider bike. This increases aerodynamic drag and reduces your ability to squeeze through gaps. It may put more stress on the bolts, but I'm not sure of that.
Disc racks are a hack to solve the problem of mis-located disc brakes. Personally I would hunt around for a normal rack.

The rack isn't any wider than the pedals and handlebars are...? And the aerodynamic drag has got to be pretty minimal...

My girlfriends' Novarra Safari came with a disc specific rack (and disc hub wheels), but is equipped with rim brakes. I can take a picture if you'd like an idea of what that looks like. The rack doesn't have any make or model on it, and I've never spotted the same one online, so I don't know who makes the one she has. The previous year model Safari had disc brakes, and I guess they didn't bother changing over the production lines wheels and racks.

The rack should attach fine, and it won't look very strange. It looked a little odd to my eyes at first, but I doubt my girlfriend even noticed, and most folks wouldn't either.

You could also just hack off the extender.

I found the non-disc version on an online vendor's site. Assuming they actually ship it quickly, it should be at my LBS around the same time my bike arrives there. So, problem solved! I'm glad I went this route instead of using the "wrong" version.

The rack isn't any wider than the pedals and handlebars are...?

I think his point is the the bike is wider where it's more of a PITA (toward the ground and in the rear) which can be an issue when hitting some cyclepaths/single-tracks. the width of the handlebars doesn't matter in certain situations that much because the additional width is elevated off the ground.