jpmagikx

Hello all!

This is my second thread on these forums. The first was over at single speed/fixed gear, and they told me that this forum might be able to provide more answers than they could. My situation is as follows: I have recently gotten into cycling (not competitive, just commuting), and I find it to be very enjoyable. The bike I rode up until now (and still have with me) was a geared bike, but it was old and heavy, not to mention about 8 things needed to be replaced to make it ideal for me. So, in short, I decided to go with a single speed, fixed-gear bike from BikesDirect.com (Motobecane Track). It's a beautiful bike. Unfortunately, I didn't realize when I purchased it that it doesn't have any eyelets for mounting anything anywhere. Duh, it's a track bike, I know. I suppose the very reason that I got this particular bike was for its sleekness and simpleness in design - no fancy bells and whistles, just the bare essentials to move on a bike, which I like.

However, as I will be using it as a commuting bike, I figured that having a rack of some sort would be a nice addition. Much to my dismay, but not surprisingly, not having eyelets reduces my options of good, sturdy racks by about 95% (as far as I have seen). My roommate has a CETMA 5-rail, which looks and sounds awesome, but a) it's a little expensive at $120 and b) the wait times I hear can be pretty long, not to mention unpredictable.

So I come to you all. Do you have any rack suggestions for a bike with no eyelets (preferably a front platform that mounts at the bottom to the wheel skewers like the CETMA)? I know that's really specific, but that would be my ideal setup.

Or is there any way that I can get this rack to fit on my bike? I'm doubtful, but hopeful.
https://www.amazon.com/Minoura-King-C...4950759&sr=1-1

Lastly, someone over at the other forum mentioned that I may not even need a rack, something that I hadn't thought of before. Since I will really only be lugging around some books, a laptop, and maybe the occasional groceries at most, do you all feel that a rack would indeed be a good idea or that a good bag would suffice?

I'd really appreciate any and all input. Thanks!

Barrettscv 

These will work: https://www.oldmanmountain.com/Pages/...rontRacks.html

See: https://www.oldmanmountain.com/Pages/...nt_gallery.htm

SkyDog75

You can use p-clamps or other similar devices to clamp onto the forks and provide a mounting point for a rack. Check out option #4 on THIS PAGE.

Burton

Personally I find a backpack more practical than a rack or panniers for anything short of all out touring. I have a half dozen racks including the Cold Spring from OMM referenced in one of the other responses, and still use a couple of backpacks as a first choice for grocery shopping or running errands. The choice of backpack depends on what's being picked up.On a long tour a driving under the sun all day with a backpack might be too warm , but for local stuff it gives me better balance, is easier on what's being transported (think eggs) and lets me leave all racks off the bike.


Backpacks are available in a variety of sizes and many have a padded compartment specifically for a computer. If not -you can simply pick up a padded sleeve for a laptop or iPad and use that with the bag.

Grim

Looking at the bike on bikes direct it appears there is no fender eyelet on the dropout. That rack you posted is designed to mount off them. You would have to fab some sort of brackets to mount off the axle but it would be less the optimal.
Personnaly I had looked at the single speeds and the Fantom cross Uno was my favorite as a more utility bike. Has full braze ons including mid fork.

Medic Zero

I like racks, panniers, and large saddlebags now, but I've made do with just my courier bag at times, especially when I get a new steed and haven't set it up for hauling cargo one way or another yet. My Chrome Metropolis is truly cavernous, I can fit three classes worth of books and binders in it, or a watermelon, 1/2 gallon of milk and other groceries. It's not only waterproof but it will keep cold things cool and hot things warm for some time. As expensive is the Chrome is, it may well be the cheapest solution for you. I just spent $130 on a Zimbale (18L?) saddlebag, & IIRC another $80 on a quick release bag support and as much as I like it, it's a little small for school books. There are bigger saddlebags, but they cost even more and look to be unwieldy off the bike.

The OMM Cold Springs was mentioned. I also have an Old Man Mountain, Cold Springs model front rack. Super tough, fits my Ortliebs just fine, nice having the deck. But this too is pricey, especially if you don't have panniers yet. Mine mounts to brake bosses as well as through a rear length skewer in the front. I'm guessing your bike lacks brake bosses on the fork though. I don't know if there is an alternate mounting method for them, but you probably could jury-rig something like P-clamps from the attachment point to your fork. Also, as much as I swore by my Cold Springs for years, I'm starting to like nicer looking things and the OMM isn't exactly pretty like my new Nitto Big Front Rack I just put on my commuter taking over daily driver duties from my tourer.

Something I have yet to try that might be appealing to someone in your situation is a porteur style rack, I'm pretty sure I've seen some that either mount solely to the handlebars, or are integrated into the handlebars themselves. You could get the bag off your back and put in it one of these racks, and if/when you wanted, put your bag on your back on your way home and fill up the rack with groceries.