Over the years I’ve come to like those tiny French front racks. They weigh next to nothing, look cool and, even better, they can support a front bag, if so desired, as long as it’s not too heavy. Their biggest virtue, however, is that they bolt onto pretty much any bike.

I am familiar with the ones made by Spécialités T.A., as they came on a few bikes I’ve bought in the past, mounted to MAFAC calipers. But there are more, from different brands. As the asking prices for T.A. racks on eBay tend to border on the ridiculous, I look for them at swap meets and parts markets and, somewhat to my surprise, I find other models.

This is what I’ve found so far. Number 2 is the venerable T.A.-rack, but the others? Any idea who made those?




Number 3 is probably Japanese. I have found one before on a Shimano Tourney caliper, which is currently on my Ronnie Hearse:




Number 4 sits out way in front, which could be an advantage when using a long bar stem, but I don’t know what brake caliper would fit. Number 1 is my favorite. It is really tiny and is the only one I have that seems to work with side-pull calipers.

If you have any information on who made these, or other brands that I’m not aware of, I’d be much obliged if you posted them here.