Originally Posted by
wilcha
I recently picked up a beat up 1989 Trek 1200 road bike to take to college with me. I've fixed it up and now I'm trying to go about getting a rear rack installed (I've got a milk crate lying around, so I'll probably end up just using that on top for now). The basket/crate will be used mostly to just tote books and a few groceries and such. I will admit, I am a pretty novice rider and have had to google maintenence and order parts up to now as the local bike shop near campus is closed for a couple of weeks, so there's really nobody around here that I know to ask.
My bike does not have braze-ons and after searching through several pages of threads, basically I've discovered that I should probably get a Tubus adapter kit. I see that the adapters should "work with most Tubus racks" but I don't have the money for a $100-200 Tubus rack. Will the adapter work for a cheaper rack from another brand? Am I missing a different viable option here? I know there's thread after thread on the topic of racks for bikes with no braze-ons, but it's been hard to wade through thus far.
Thank you for any replies to help this beginner learn more about biking.
The Tubus adapters work on other racks just fine. I have 2 bikes with two different racks using Tubus adapters on both the top and bottom of the racks. I also have the Tubus adapter on the top rack stays of a Tubus rack. There really isn't much difference.
Originally Posted by
AlmostGreenGuy
I don't know. I just use them for the top of the rack. My rear dropout has mounting holes for a rack.
P-clamps work for the top rack stays just fine. The top rack stays don't carry much load and they really don't need much more than relatively light p-clamps like the kind in your picture. However, if you are going to use p-clamps for the lower mount, the kind you used are too light for the job. There are some heavier duty ones out there which are cheaper than the Tubus but the Tubus would carry a heavier load then even those.
Originally Posted by
wilcha
Do the p-clamps give enough support for the entire rack? There's no braze-ons for the top or the bottom part of the rack to attach.
See above.
Originally Posted by
slcbob
P clamps rock for the top attachment to the seat stays. But if you don't have eyelets on the dropouts for the bottom attachment, things can get pretty dicey with any weight in your load. Something that attaches to the axles is the next best, the Axiom link earlier is looking pretty solid.
One of the advantages of the Tubus adapters is their ease of use over p-clamps. Since they have a separate bolt holding the clamp on to the seatstay (in either the rack stay or lower rack mount), they are easier to clamp the rack to than p-clamps. The rack can also be removed...leaving the adapters in place...if you don't want the rack for some reason.
Racks that mount to the quick release are the least convenient mounts to use. When...not if
...you have to change a tire, it's just more stuff you have to fiddle with.
The rack is hard on the quick release skewer too. I have an Old Man Mountain rack that has a bent quick release. I never put more on the rack than a winter commuting load (maybe 15 lbs). The Old Man Mountain skewer is really long so you can get some serious leverage on the ends but any bicycle quick release skewer is still pretty light for putting much load on it.