Bicycle Mechanics - bicycle touring rack

Hi,

I'm looking for a rear rack that clamps to the seat post which can be used for carrying panniers. This is a non-suspension bike so a rack with stays that clamp to the drop-out eyelets would be fine. Anyone know of such a beast? Thanks!

Are you sure you want a rack that mounts on your seat post?
It wouldn't be as strong or as stable as a "standard" type and may even have a higher center of gravity, which is always a bad thing for bicycles.

I don't have much choice in this case. It is an unconventional frame design and there are no other mounting options. The top of the seat tube is quite low so center of gravity/stability should be a minor issue. I do have eyelets on the dropouts, so my ideal would actually be a seat post clamp combined with conventional stays dropping down from the platform to the eyelets, which would help with the weight distribution...



Originally posted by pat5319
Are you sure you want a rack that mounts on your seat post?
It wouldn't be as strong or as stable as a "standard" type and may even have a higher center of gravity, which is always a bad thing for bicycles.

I was just checking out some winter clothing at REI (http://www.rei.com), and i noticed that they had this style of rack, you may want to check them out...

...that's what I had in mind. Thanks!


Originally posted by webmaster
I was just checking out some winter clothing at REI (http://www.rei.com), and i noticed that they had this style of rack, you may want to check them out...

Originally posted by digha
my ideal would actually be a seat post clamp combined with conventional stays dropping down from the platform to the eyelets, which would help with the weight distribution...


Did you ever find such a rack? I have been looking for something similar (although I would need clamps to attach to my seatstays since I don't have dropout eyelets), but all I've found so far are regular racks and ones that just attach to the seat post.

Performance Bicycle (performancebike.com) has a seatpost rack with pannier mounts. It is their item number 00-0041D, and is on offer this month for $34.99. I am not on their payroll, honest! (I just placed an order for a few other items, including a rack duffel, and I recalled seeing the rack.)

As for using a rear rack on a frame with no dropout-level eyelets, try this: All frame racks come with two plastic-coated metal clamps that you can use to attach the rack to the top of the seatstays in the event that your bike has no high-level eyelets (and most do not.)

Well,

If you purchase such a rack, you can obtain a second pair of those clamps, and attach the bottom of the rack to the bottoms of the seatstays in the same manner as the tops.

Vous y'êtes?

You can take the supplied metal clamps to your LBS, and see if they have any spares they can give... or sell to you. Also, check out the "Nut & Bolt" supply stores... the ones that cater to commercial and industrial customers... I've found such clamps in various sizes... for mounting conduit, I believe, in Nut & Bolt suppliers.

you may want to check out a seat post clamp made by GT called a "monostay" adaptor...

Check this site out. They have some different means of attaching racks.
www.oldmanmountain.com

Have a look at the replacement seatpost clamp at the bottom of this page. It's won awards from the Uk press and should allow a conventional rack to be used...

http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/acatalog/SEAT_POST_CLAMPS.html

[QUOTE=If you purchase such a rack, you can obtain a second pair of those clamps, and attach the bottom of the rack to the bottoms of the seatstays in the same manner as the tops.[/QUOTE]


I've not had good luck using two pairs of seatstay clamps for holding a rack. The clamps aren't nearly stable enough to suit me. It seems like the last time I tried it, the rack slid down and interferred with the cassette. I've been satsified as long as either the top or the bottom of the rack is positively anchored to the bike frame, but I never carry more than about 5 or 10 pounds of stuff on my bike.