Cyclist5463489

I have a mnt bike that has a rear rack mounted on it. Also i have big feet (44 eu sized shoes) when ever I put on any panniers my heel always strike the bags. are there any diy solutions or items I could buy/order somewhere?

jimc101

Sounds like the frame you have has a short wheel base, if so, you will struggle to get any rack to give enough clearance, would be looking at a bike designed for touring with a long wheel base, rather than an MTB, which if modern will be short wheel base.

Have you tried using the adjustor's on the pannier to mount it further back? most panniers can be adjusted fore and aft to bring the pannier closer or further away from the seat tube. Haven't seen any solutions out there, but the more heavy duty the rack, think Tubus Logo or Surly Nice allow you to fit the pannier a long way back.

For your feet, size 44 isn't big, it's only a UK 9.5 / US 10 which is pretty much an average size.

Cyclist5463489

Actually, I'm closer to a 45 than a 43, so US 11. but I'll look into those options too (surly and tubus) Yeah, my rack is fairly heavy duty. Rated for 45 lbs. And yes, it is a mnt bike (though hard tail) thanks for the info.

oh and the panniers I use are the Jandd shopping bag ones (no fore aft adjustment) or my Jannd mnt panns, which are adjusted as far back as they can go. still have that same heel strike problem though

dabac

Get a length of, say 8 mm (1/3") steel rod. Bend into an U of the same width as the current rack. Mount extender to current rack using hose clamps.
Can't find a rod? Pick up another rack from a dumped bike. Cut the "legs" off, or whatever you need to get the deck of the "new" deck to fit the old rack. Mount with hose clamps.

Cyclist5463489

The way I'm seeing that is it'll just raise the rack huh? not really back as well...

FBinNY 

Usually when I see this problem, I try one of two methods before resorting to more extreme measures.

In many cases a rack can be pushed back by lengthening the straps leading to the seat stays, but this will give you very little extra room at the bottom, so is only good if you need another 1/2" or so. Don't push the rack back so far that it's way off level.

The other option is to shift the hooks supporting the panniers forward thereby shifting the bags backward. Some panniers allow this and all you'll need is a drill to make the new hole in the upper brace.

If neither option is available, you can extend the rails with a length of steel bar hose clamped to the rail with a pair of hose clamps. Make sure the two are well separated so the cantilevered extension can't tilt down. You might have to bend or otherwise modify the extension or pannier hooks so the bag sits level, but I'm sure you can figure that out.

Far and away, the cleanest method is shifting he hooks forward, so see if that's possible before going to jerry rig solution.

Cyclist5463489

I'll give that a try, thanks!

HillRider

As noted, your feet are only a bit on the long side of average so I'm wondering if you have your cleats (assuming clipless pedals) mounted rather far forward on your shoes or if you are using short toe clips on flat pedals.

DCB0

I have size 49 feet and have successfully used a rack with panniers on my road bike with ultra-short chainstays and I was able to ride without heel strike. My solutions:tilt the rack back a few inches by sliding the adjustable stays all the way out, and slide the panniers all the way back so the rearward hook is as close as possible to the back edge of the rack.

I do not have very large panniers, though, so that may have something to do with it.

MichaelW

In avoiding heel-strike, you also have to account for crank length and pannier profile.
Tall guys should be riding long cranks but this makes heel strike even worse.
Panniers should have a heel cutout profile. If they are square cut, they need to be shifted further back, so far that the weight extends beyond the rear hub and the bike gets very tippy when loaded.
A Tubus style extender plate at the lower eyelets is probably your best bet.

fietsbob

DIY, involves making a strut to go at the bottom ,between rack and bike.
you can shift the rack back more, or up higher to clear your heels..
and another strut change up top..

you might also be able to change the hook location, on your bags,
to move them Forward, so as to shift the bag back,
or so bag is turned off level so as to make space. front lower corner rotates back, rear upper corner up/& forward

shopping panniers are rectangles, there are other choices that cut the lower front corner
so as to have the clearance then.

I go shopping with my Ortlieb roller top bags, put them on the check-out counter first.
they fill those.. some stores give me $0.05 credit for not using a take-out bag.

Spld cyclist

Maybe this? https://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FREXP

I haven't used this one, but Jandd has a good reputation. Pricey but cheaper than the Surly and Tubus racks suggested above.

Cyclist5463489

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll be able to test some of em' out this coming Wednesday. That's my next day I'll be using panns.

dabac

Nono. Lay the U flat, along the "deck" of the rack. Open end forward.

Cyclist5463489

Oooh, thanks! now i can picture it

bud16415

This is the only pic I have of how I moved mine back about an inch. The rack mount (black) is partially hidden behind something else in this photo but should show you the bend I made in the very bottom of the main rod. Bending the rod forward until it is touching the front hook will lower the rack and move it back about an inch. In my case both lower and back were a good thing.


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Cyclist5463489

Looks like I'll be using street shoes till next month (my pedals are Shimano PD-M 324's aka campus pedals) and just use the platform side instead of clipless... Thanks for all your input in this issue. I'm sure I'll be able to get those tubus extensions or a different rack by then.