SF made messenger racks for the front wheel?
08-21-06, 11:04 AM
#2
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Looks perfect for carrying pizzas and 12 packs--a big concern on this forum. 
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08-23-06, 12:05 PM
#8
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Nice rack....
But.... The ad copy is just opinion-- and misinformed opinion at that-- masquerading as fact. Blackburn has done studies, as opposed to sitting around thinking up ad copy, that prove that a high rear rack and low-rider front rack are the most stable combination for loaded touring. The low center of gravity on the front rack is essential to minimize the destabilizing effect of the weight on steering. I know these racks aren't designed for touring, but the principles of physics still apply. With these racks, the center of gravity is high-- above the wheel-- and thus, this rack is inherently less stable than a low-rider front rack, despite whatever opinion the manufacturer expresses. Physics trumps ad copy in the real world, although ad copy may sell racks despite physics.
Unless the front rack is attached to the frame, rather than the wheel, a rear rack is inherently more stable than a front rack. And a low front rack is inherently morer stable than a high front rack. That's physics.
Anyway, nice rack, and it surely works better for pizza than a low-rider.
But.... The ad copy is just opinion-- and misinformed opinion at that-- masquerading as fact. Blackburn has done studies, as opposed to sitting around thinking up ad copy, that prove that a high rear rack and low-rider front rack are the most stable combination for loaded touring. The low center of gravity on the front rack is essential to minimize the destabilizing effect of the weight on steering. I know these racks aren't designed for touring, but the principles of physics still apply. With these racks, the center of gravity is high-- above the wheel-- and thus, this rack is inherently less stable than a low-rider front rack, despite whatever opinion the manufacturer expresses. Physics trumps ad copy in the real world, although ad copy may sell racks despite physics.
Unless the front rack is attached to the frame, rather than the wheel, a rear rack is inherently more stable than a front rack. And a low front rack is inherently morer stable than a high front rack. That's physics.
Anyway, nice rack, and it surely works better for pizza than a low-rider.
08-23-06, 05:58 PM
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Nothing against, Cetma, I own one of these. Recently took it off.
My bike doesnt have rear rack mounts, so i thought this might be a good option. I couldnt get used to it. It was heavy at around 5 lbs, and I never used it.
Might be good option for someone, but I just couldnt get used to it.
Its made well and sturdy though!
jeremy
My bike doesnt have rear rack mounts, so i thought this might be a good option. I couldnt get used to it. It was heavy at around 5 lbs, and I never used it.
Might be good option for someone, but I just couldnt get used to it.
Its made well and sturdy though!
jeremy
08-23-06, 07:38 PM
#10
Banned
I could have used one of those things today, but it only would have saved me one trip. Problem being the freight has to come off the bike when you lock it up. Put me in the "maybe" category. Most of the time my 3800 cubic inch chrome bag is big enough, and when it its like today Im usually screwed anyway, I could have filled a small car with the boxes I hauled for one client this afternoon. With my bag and one of those I could easily haul 100lbs though, beats the 50lbs I can do now, although occasionally I will just put a box on the bars and ride like that. Pay off time would be about 20 deliveries.
Last edited by pedex; 08-23-06 at 09:05 PM.
08-23-06, 09:02 PM
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I had an old Moulton F-frame with 16" wheels and a front rack mounted to the frame. This put the luggage at roughly the same height as in normal lowriders. I loved that rack! Bromtons also have the low, front mounted frame. Genius! Currently I have a folding bike with 20" wheels, that sadly did not come with frame mounts for a front rack. So I have fitted a small front rack to the fork, but it's still pretty good. With 20 lbs of groceries strapped on top I start to notice a slight change to the handling, but still not bad. If I mounted panniers on this rack they would be even lower and no doubt I would notice the weight even less..
08-24-06, 04:18 PM
#12
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Originally Posted by Blue Order
Nice rack....
But.... The ad copy is just opinion-- and misinformed opinion at that-- masquerading as fact. Blackburn has done studies, as opposed to sitting around thinking up ad copy, that prove that a high rear rack and low-rider front rack are the most stable combination for loaded touring. The low center of gravity on the front rack is essential to minimize the destabilizing effect of the weight on steering. I know these racks aren't designed for touring, but the principles of physics still apply. With these racks, the center of gravity is high-- above the wheel-- and thus, this rack is inherently less stable than a low-rider front rack, despite whatever opinion the manufacturer expresses. Physics trumps ad copy in the real world, although ad copy may sell racks despite physics.
Unless the front rack is attached to the frame, rather than the wheel, a rear rack is inherently more stable than a front rack. And a low front rack is inherently morer stable than a high front rack. That's physics.
Anyway, nice rack, and it surely works better for pizza than a low-rider.
But.... The ad copy is just opinion-- and misinformed opinion at that-- masquerading as fact. Blackburn has done studies, as opposed to sitting around thinking up ad copy, that prove that a high rear rack and low-rider front rack are the most stable combination for loaded touring. The low center of gravity on the front rack is essential to minimize the destabilizing effect of the weight on steering. I know these racks aren't designed for touring, but the principles of physics still apply. With these racks, the center of gravity is high-- above the wheel-- and thus, this rack is inherently less stable than a low-rider front rack, despite whatever opinion the manufacturer expresses. Physics trumps ad copy in the real world, although ad copy may sell racks despite physics.
Unless the front rack is attached to the frame, rather than the wheel, a rear rack is inherently more stable than a front rack. And a low front rack is inherently morer stable than a high front rack. That's physics.
Anyway, nice rack, and it surely works better for pizza than a low-rider.
BlueOrder -- all that is dependent on the trail (determined by the front end geometry) of the bike. For most high-trail bikes (touring bikes are almost universally high trail), yes, this is true. It's not surprising that Blackburn comes up with that result, because that's a big market for them -- front cargo rack porteurs is a nearly non-existent market in the US.
But if you design the bike for a front load, it can be very stable - in fact, the same bike would be UNstable with a rear load.
This is a good read: https://kogswell.com/PRtest.pdf
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