It only tapers to the rear (purely aesthetic) and standard tubing was used up top... by integrating the rack into the frame it really stiffens everything up.

I took this picture after this rack had been in use for a good long while; this bike parks outside in all kinds of weather on a daily basis and I usually see it parked outside my friend's office every day.

This is his winter "beater"... in the summer he has a custom built Arvon rando bike he has been riding for close to 20 years, which matches his wife's newly refinished Arvon rqando bike (she rides here year round) as well as a racing tandem and a triplet.

Re-building this nice old Nishiki cost less than buying a modern bike with a 3 speed and it is a much nicer frame... was nice to tweak it out with a custom rack and, bottle braze ons, and low rider mounts up front.

We seem to do a lot of this kind of work... taking bicycles that people already love and making them just a little more love-able.



At some point I plan to take my faithful touring bike and replace all the Blackburn racks with custom made integrated ones and then give it a new coat of powder.