thank you for the suggestions.

*i'm not planning on front bags, but would just have the option later.
will be "retiring" in thighland next year. plan is to take one or two
week trips in thai/cambo/laos every 6 weeks or so....interspersed
with touring thighland on a motorbike.

*not into "bikepacking", not really interested in camping with cobras
and landmines, but can see the utility of losing the rear rack to
get through narrow jungle trails. a couple water bottles on the
fork would leave more room for a huge frame bag in the 23" frame
with no sloping top tube.

*no wires, no dinohub, no lights/electronics. crown/blade will
be same as in the photo. lugged style wouldn't match the frame.

*there are rear racks available here in our china with a locking
removable (maybe not so) secret stash compartment. regardless,
i shall keep my sunglasses securely on a leash.

*i likes the idea about threading the crown holes! thanks! now
that you've brought it up, maybe thread the rear hole for the fender,
and braze on another eyelet on the front of the crown to mount
the center rack strut! (previously i had been installing starfangled
nuts in the bottom of the fork tube for extra bolt-on spots)

*and seeing as labor and materials are so cheap here, i could have
the guy (or just the local guys near my apartment) fabricate
some custom "anyhoo" cages (cromoly? alu rod?) imported stuff
is tooooo expensive! those salsa and blackburn cargo racks
are like $30 each and don't seem all that useful.

*great idea about the better mini rack! why stick with the tiny
minimally useful production models? maybe something about
10" wide (which would protect the fork-mounted h20 cages), with a
raised railing around the platform, and with some tiedown points
so's i can use a motorcycle 6-hook mesh bungee to secure gear,
and also integrate a brake stiffener into the rack.


maybe we should have a contest? y'all could submit ideas for
mini racks, we take a vote, and i'll have local dude make the
winning concept?