breakaway9

I have a somewhat bizarre idea I thought I would throw out and see if anyone has any ideas.

I have a Topeak explorer rack. I have the small Topeak bag that fits the rail system for that rack. I have a "round town" pannier always mounted incase I need to stop and pick something up at the store. I am seriously considering ditching my messenger bag and picking up an Arkel Commuter pannier bag. I really wanted to get the two rail Topeak rack but seeing as how you can't get the version for non-disc brakes in the US (NICE MOVE THERE TOPEAK!!!). I am at a loss. When the panniers are mounted it is very difficult to slide the trunk on, thus the reason for the second lower set of rails (in case anyone didn't know, which I didn't until recently). So I had an idea, what about JB Welding a lower set of rails onto the existing Explorer rack? I am not sure how strong JB Weld is and would not be happy about my laptop falling off the rack in traffic. I could renenforce the welds by lashing some strong wire or something around the joint, functionality is more important than looks at this point.

I thought about just buying a Tubus or something with a second rail but then I lose the functionality of the quick disconnect trunk. I also thought about maybe trying to remove the rail from the topeak and fashion it onto a rack with a second rail already... Or perhaps just make a sliding unit if I can.

Any thoughts or ideas???


I am really surprised a company like Topeak dropped the ball on this item.... This two rail rack has been advertised for years and still isn't available... sad....

bugly64

I wondered about that too. That's why I am going to get a Tubus Logo rear rack, but I have three trunk bags that are Mtx.

exile

I don't know anything about welding, so if you're capable try it. I think your talking about the Topeak Super Tourist DX(?) with the second rail. I think the Topeak Super Tourist regular does not have that second rail. I guess before you put a laptop in it if you do weld; put something else in their with similar weight and see how it holds up for a couple of rides.

I do agree with you about the availability of the Super Tourist DX. A UK store could ship it to me but it would cost around $60-70 dollars if I remember correctly ($35-40 for the rack, and the rest in shipping charges, and thats with the Euro to Dollar conversion). I wonder if buying one with the Disc Mount would make any difference in handling or stability if you don't have disc brakes? It definetly would be a lot cheaper.

Good Luck figuring it out

ultramagnetic

Found the Super Tourist DX for sale by a U.S. source here.

Get it and put the current one Craigslist or ebay.

Or a local welder or framebuilder might be able to add some tubes to your current rack.

breakaway9

Nice, I looked and looked and couldn't find a US source, thanks, it's on order...

I will probably just throw the other on my utility Bike or my wife's bike so I can slap the trunk on either of them if need be...

breakaway9

Nice even though their Web site said they were in stock they are completely out of stock... back to the drawing board....

jmichaeldesign

https://www.harborcountrybike.com/Pro...CK1050&click=2

Try that one.