Rear baskets, anyone?
 

I can't find much information or pictures about it so i want to see if how anyone use rear baskets on your bike and your thought about it.:)

Like this? http://www.topeak.com/products/baskets/MTXBasketRear

If you get a rear basket, or front for that matter, I would recommend some kind of net to go over it and some bungees to help hold certain items in place that may require a little assistance. Wouldn't want to put something in your basket with no added protection, hit a bump, and your special purchase go flying in the road and smashed. What I like about Topeak racks is you can get a bunch of different packs, bags, and baskets to go with it so you do not need to change the rack or get anything special. I really like the idea of making a universal rack for all packs, bags, panniers and baskets. Really convenient and a breeze to switch out your carrier for different situations.

Dear Markmakarm:

I like rear baskets, but most adult cyclists in America do not use them. It looks too much like the baskets paperboys used on their route. I like mine becuase it has the weight in the rear of the bike, it holds lots of cargo and if I have a large load the top is flat and I can tie down a large box on top of the rack. I do not like the collapasable rear racks as they seem a bit flimsy. I also think that motorists give me more room becuase my bike is wider due to the rack. My rack was made by Wald an American manufacturer.

John

I don't know if this qualifies, but I've got an old milk crate bolted to my rear rack and it works great. Like UptownJoe mentioned, I have a couple of bungee cords to hold some of the bigger stuff in. If you are going to be carrying anything big on a regular basis, I would suggest you get a solid rear axle. The QR axles tend to bend/break if you hit any bumps at speed 20 to 30# back there.

It absolutely qualifies in my eyes.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=201863 I have a milk crate,its lashed on with old innertubes,but a wire one would be good too.

I have the wald fold out baskets. Great for grocery carrying.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/...2d47e3ca_z.jpg

Quit the load you have there friend. I bet you have some strong legs!

I used to have the wald fold out baskets on my bike. I used to throw my work boots and lunch on one side and my backpack on the other. I would strap a small bungee across the top to prevent bounce-outs but i was not expecting the bottom to give out which it did. I lost my work boots when the bottom popped out after a pretty hard bump. I didn't know it happened till many miles later and when i went back my boots were already gone. From then on i put a small carabiner clip on the bottom to make sure it didn't pop out again. I stopped using them after i got some panns. I didn't like the weight and the noise they created. Even when unloaded they were pretty heavy.

I use a milkcrate. Works great for either groceries or a backpack.

I have a Wald folding basket on my bike. I don't use it a ton but it's nice in case I want to pick up some soda or something.

I have a homebrew basket setup, using a basket we already had and some stout zip ties. The rack is a cheap Nashbar LDT rack. I just gave my commuter bike a sponge bath today, so here are some fresh pics I was planning to post today:

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w...514_120751.jpg

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w...514_120810.jpg

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w...514_121020.jpg

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w...514_121039.jpg

I've been using this basket setup for a couple of weeks, and find it ideal for grocery trips, as well as piling in bags from work (teacher). The basket itself is very lightweight, and doesn't make any rattling sounds when loaded or empty. I already had the cargo net. I think it is branded Bontrager.

Eventually, I want to get some panniers, but it will be quite some time before I have that kind of money saved up.

I've used both a wire in-basket and a large Wald basket that I zip-tied to the rear rack.
I gave them up when I bought panniers - I can't use both at the same time on my rack.

BTW, the in-basket was a legal sized basket from Staples. Unfortunately, I couldn't find one on the Staples website.

Thank you so much everyone, now i decided to use Bontrager folding baskets on my bike.This things really useful for commuting and grocery shopping!:thumb:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_L...ocery%2003.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_L...ocery%2004.JPG

Wald folding baskets are great!
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_U5cslSOI4D...0/IMG_0315.JPG

Adding a Pletscher mousetrap rack would make them perfect.

Marc

I've got the Topeak basket for my bikes with Topeak racks, and I have milk crates that I can bolt on to the ecodeck of my Big Dummy when I want extra basket capacity in addition to the freeloaders.

I have a medium sized Wald basket I bought from Rivendell zip tied to the top of my Tubus Cosmo rack - it has rails below the platform as well, so I'm able to both use panniers and the basket at the same time. I like the Wald basket because it's perfectly sized to hold a twelve pack of cans of...whatever you like that comes in a twelve pack. Along with a nicely six pack sized rack on the front, I am always prepared.