Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

rear rack mount inside dropouts?

Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

rear rack mount inside dropouts?

Old 10-13-11, 09:18 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
saddlesores's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Thailand..........Nakhon Nowhere
Posts: 3,646

Bikes: inferior steel....and....noodly aluminium

Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1050 Post(s)
Liked 337 Times in 227 Posts
rear rack mount inside dropouts?

the title says it all. strange question, no? of course the rack
struts should mount outside of the dropouts to avoid interference
with the chain.

but is there any other reason NOT to mount inside the dropouts?

i'm moving old piece parts to a new frame (BMC alpenchallenge AC01).
outside mounting is not happy. a ridge along the dropout prevents
the strut fitting on the upper eyelet. lower eyelet is too close to
the skewer to mount the rack.

i suppose i could try cutting/trimming the rack strut, or make a
triangular aluminum spacer. perhaps bending the strut to get the
approach angle different. however i'm living in a small town in china
with NOTHING. everything must be mail-ordered....tires, tubes, nuts
and bolts....everything. want to keep it simple and not make any
changes i can't unmake.

aluminum racks are generally spaced about the same as a bike frame, so
must spread the struts out a bit to mount. or in my case squeeze them
together about the same distance.

so. other than avoiding chain rub, and the fact that it's traditional....
everyone mounts a rack on the outside of the dropouts.....is there
any reason NOT to attach the struts inside the frame? the upper
eyelets are high enough to provide ample chain clearance.
saddlesores is offline  
Old 10-13-11, 09:57 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,505

Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter

Mentioned: 139 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5681 Post(s)
Liked 2,386 Times in 1,320 Posts
There are two good reasons to mount racks, fenders, etc. outside the dropouts.

First of all, few bikes, and no derailleur bikes I've ever seen have enough clearance between the inside of the right dropout and the outer sprocket. That distance is kept to a bare minimum so as to have the minimum asymmetry in rear hubs.

On IGH bikes there probably be enough room, but one argument against mounting inside the dropout is safety related. If a screw fails, and a brace gets loose, outside mounting somewhat reduces the chance of the now free leg jamming into the wheel. It's no guaranty, (I speak from experience), but at least it should help.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site

An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.

Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.

“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN

WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FBinNY is offline  
Old 10-14-11, 11:59 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Gaseous Cloud around Uranus
Posts: 3,741
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 37 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times in 7 Posts
If the brazeon is high enough or your gears are small enough,I see know reason not to do it.If the chain clears,it clears.

I would try to get a stovehead or some type of round headed bolt to use,just in case your chain tries to jump up,it doesn't hang on the bolt head.

Mount the bolt head in.If the brazeon is threaded,use a jam nut on the outside,so it doesn't come loose.If it's not threaded,use a nylock nut,double nut or some type of Loctite on the nut.

Chances of it causing a problem if it comes loose are slim......unless your backpedaling at the time and run it thru the cassette.Guess you could rip the brazeon off if you tried.

It's going to be close quarters in there,I think you'll here plenty of rubbing going on if it comes loose before something bad happens

Last edited by Booger1; 10-14-11 at 12:02 PM.
Booger1 is offline  
Old 10-14-11, 12:13 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
himespau's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,547
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4183 Post(s)
Liked 2,903 Times in 1,776 Posts
I had a lock nut inside the dropout one time to keep my rack on as the threads seemed stripped on the eyelet (or at least the bolt kept working it's way out easily, I don't really remember). It cleared the chain, but I had a couple of times when the chain got dropped outside the small cog (bent hanger) and it got wedged but good between the nut and the cog. Was a real bear to get out as I couldn't get my wrench on the nut enough to turn it with the chain wedged there and the wheel didn't want to come out of the dropouts with everything all wedged up. Got real greasy that day before I made it home.
__________________
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?), 1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"





himespau is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Juan Foote
Bicycle Mechanics
8
09-10-16 08:49 AM
jefnvk
Touring
31
06-16-16 08:15 AM
randomguyy
Bicycle Mechanics
5
07-17-14 08:17 AM
jonmchan
Bicycle Mechanics
15
11-26-13 12:38 PM
KB12
Bicycle Mechanics
20
03-27-12 09:34 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.