shawnbeonkey

I just picked up a lovely 1964 Chicago Schwinn cruiser with the intent of installing a rack to it and using it as something to grocery shop with. Only problem is, up until now I've never biked with the intent of carrying large loads and so I'm not really on the up-and-up when it comes to these things. Ideally, I'd like some sort of rear rack that I could hang a pannier from, perhaps even one on each side to maximize my grocery-carrying capacity, but looking at the back of my bike, I'm not at all sure how I could go about doing this. Here is a picture of the back wheel and seat of my bike, if anyone has any recommendations for certain racks (as well as installation techniques), it would be very much appreciated! Of course, if it turns out that my bike really isn't suited to rear racks, I'm not averse to the idea of something like a handlebar basket—it's not my first choice, but it's not at all a bad one! I've got an ape hanger setup up front and if anyone has any good recommendations for apehanger handlebar baskets that could carry at least a bag of groceries, I'd love to hear them!

bicyclridr4life

Wald 535 Twin Carrier. The "big boy" of bicycle baskets. waldsports dot com

skidder

The dropout are of the rear wheel seems to have a screwhole where you could attach a rack/basket set-up (look at your pic, the area between the two struts for the fender connect to the axle). Then all you'd need to do is attache the rack/baskets to the seat stays in the area right below the seat post clamp. The Wald baskets would work, but they're kinda heavy, and you probably don't want to have them there all the time. Wald also sells a set-up with removable baskets so you can take them off and still have a rear rack for cruisin' around.

wahoonc

Wald

They make racks as well as baskets. The Raleigh has a Wald rack with the folding baskets.

BTW plan on putting black 535's and a 257 on the Schwinn, it will look better than the current silver ones.

Aaron

shawnbeonkey

The Walds look gorgeous! Definitely something right along the lines of what I was looking for. Now, I just have a few more questions.

With regard to installing a rack to the seat stays, there aren't any screwholes nearby. How would I go about securing the rack to these seat stays?

Also, those 535s look amazing and are definitely something I want to get. But, do they install on top of a separate rack? I'm looking for something where I can have a rack installed permanently, and then I can remove the baskets/panniers from them when I won't need to be carrying things so I don't have that extra weight. Wald looks like an ideal brand, and I'm hoping that the 535s will fall under the sort of usage I'm looking for, so if there are any specific independent Wald racks by themselves that would install on my bike fairly easily, I would very much appreciate that.

wahoonc

The Wald 535's are a one piece unit. They attach to the seat stays with a clamp. I typically put a bit of old inner tube around the stays to keep the clamp from slipping and to protect the paint.

The Wald rack I use is the 215 along with the 582 baskets FWIW they ARE NOT quick release. I usually attach mine with hose clamps and zip ties.

Aaron

shawnbeonkey

The 215 rack with the 582 set of baskets looks PERFECT! The lack of Quick Release is actually a plus in my book—it might take me a little longer to remove things, but that means it'll also take thieves a little longer to remove things.

I've gone ahead and ordered both pieces, I'm very excited to get started with this! Thank you so much.

shawnbeonkey

Actually, one last question about that Wald 215...it installs at the brakestay, right? I'm a little concerned, seeing as my bike as no brakestay. It does have a fender bolt as seen here, would it be attachable there? I was planning to buy some p-clamps to use in lieu of seatstay screwholes, but if the 215 won't attach to seatstay screwholes anyway, I have no need for such clamps. I guess what my question is, is will the 215 attach within that fender bolt well enough?

wahoonc

It should mount there just fine. You may need to bend the bracket a bit to make it fit.

Aaron

SquidPuppet

Your bike is a 1964? That's unfortunate. That is the ONLY year model that will not accept racks. No racks, of any kind, from any manufacturer will work. Give me your email address and I can help you unload that worthless old Klunker.