Rear racks on vintage bikes?
 

I've got a '74 Raleigh that came with the original rat trap rear rack. I guess some misuse and trying to lug an 8 pound DSLR caused it to bend and warp pretty significantly(clearly overestimated how strong a steel rack from the 70s was).

Looking to replace it soon, but having some doubts about wasting money on racks that will bend or warp. I believe my Grand Prix doesn't have holes in the frame for a rack, so I'll have to build some sort of mount, or purchase a rack that mounts via seatpost. I'll be riding with a messenger bag or two as panniers, and wouldn't mind being able to toss some groceries on, etc.

Any suggestions on putting racks on old bikes? Any favorites?

Was your rack really steel? The old Pletscher racks that were popular back then were aluminum - mine broke as well, but it was due to an almost 100 lb. load.

I'd expect your Grand Prix to at least have eyelets at the rear dropouts for a rack and/or fenders (my '67 GP does). That just leaves the top attachment to the stays. Vinyl-coated P-clips from a hardware store work well with just about any current rear rack.

Might have been one of the old stamped steel Prestube Minor racks, they were steel and not particularly strong.

You can mount just about any modern rack you want on there with P clips. What type of Raleigh is it? If it is a Sports you may have a few issues getting some racks to fit. Pletscher still makes the spring clamp racks in aluminum.

Aaron :)

Jim Blackburn racks attached to the brake bolt. They were very strong and light. I have three of them, unused, hanging on the wall...

Yep, the Blackburn rack is awesome...solid aluminum rod, TIG welded...very solid. I've had one since 1982 or so. Styles available to mount to the brake bolt (the original style), or to brazed on fittings on the seat stays (later models).

I really like the old aluminum Pletscher rack with the spring steel mousetrap, and I have one on my UO-8 commuter. I put a Blackburn MTN Rack on my Schwinn, using P-clips to compensate for the lack of dropout eyelets. (The bike is a Ned Overend Team Issue, and the offroad racing boys evidently don't need no racks or mudguards.) The chain hanging peg on the right seat stay keeps the P-clips from sliding downward.

My big gripe with all modern racks is the lack of that mousetrap feature -- trap plus bungies is a far more reliable cargo retention system than bungies alone.

Pletscher racks can make any bike look cheap. That's the way I feel about them, and I've felt that way since the seventies when I bought my first Jim Blackburn.

I agree, but emphasize the word can. A Pletscher rack is just right for a Schwinn Continental or a Raleigh Grand Prix with its original Huret shifters, ESGE kickstand &c. By the same token it's all wrong for an early 80's Trek.

My Norman Rapide came to me with an early Pletscher rack-- it has a license plate attached to it with corroded screws, and the expiration date on the license is September 1959. So the rack must be from 1958 or earlier. It's probably the most appropriate rack for that bike. Not that I wanted a rack on it --I took it off.

I look at racks and bags for me soon-to-be-completed Fuji Touring Series and my head just begins to hurt...throb...temples.

To start all I want is a black rear rack, something on the light side (aluminum, not steel), and a trunk bag. Panniers later. Dang, there are just SO many choices!!!!!!

Someone tell me what to do! :)

Not sure when you say '74 Raleigh whether you're talking about a ten-speed or a three-speed. If it's the latter, I ordered a NOS chrome Steco rack from the Old Bicycle Showroom in the UK and I love it. Very handsome, suits the bike to a T, and didn't cost more than any comparable racks I saw here (and I didn't really see anything that had a vintage look to fit the style of the bike). They also have similar black racks that are missing a few bits of hardware.

I like the style and functionality of the Pletschers but I have to admit, the texture/look of the aluminum has always sketched me out--wish they made them in other materials/colors.

I do see vintage Raleigh racks on eBay but the prices are outrageous.

Well, I agree, though I admit to using them for years cause back in the day that's all there was. Yes, the Blackburns are really nice!

Blackburns on my '62 Carlton Franco Suisse.

I can't imagine a Pletscher rack failing under an 8 pound load. Thousands of tourists crossed the US with those racks loaded beyond belief. I never liked them, the stay attachment was not very good. The thing that surprised me is that you can still get a new one.

I like these racks: http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Ov...1044157&sr=8-1

They are relatively light and strong and come in black or silver. Not as good looking on a 74 Raleigh as the original rack, perhaps, but they are tougher.

Vetta made some racks that were near copies of the Blackburns, I have both and don't find that there is much of a difference in functionality.

On the right bike, the pletscher just looks the part. But it has to be the right bike.

Totally OT but I MUST see this bike.

Yeah, you're going to want something that attaches to the brake bridge. I've also had some success with attaching racks to the seatpost binder bolt, but also some failures—depends entirely on the bike. (Failures meaning I thought I could attach it there and it turns out I couldn't due to design quirks, not any kind of catastrophic failure mid-ride or anything). Seems to work most reliably on older, cheaper bikes.

The Blackburn racks previously mentioned are great and will stand up to virtually everything you can throw at them (perhaps short of super-fully-loaded touring). If that's not enough for you, Tubus makes a couple racks that attach to the brake bridge. Might be overkill, but they're the best of the best. I love my Tubus, but I got it in well-used condition through a trade—would never have spent that kind of money for a rack.

I would love one of those nitto r-15 racks... but a jim blackburn rack would be cool too....

I love the rack on my '71 Sears. If I take a a chilly early morning ride and wear a jacket, but get warm as the temperature rises, and I can roll it up in there :D

no one has mentioned the wald rear rack. it has a nice vintage look, is made of steel, and mounts to the brake bridge. Works well over 27" wheels. It also holds a mini u lock perfectly!

On another note, can anyone tell me why I can no longer link a picture from flickr?

The Tubus rear racks (the Luna is stainless steel; the Fly is 4130 chromoly) are very light (Fly is 11 ounces) and sturdy. Both use a monostay to secure them to the brake bridge using the brake mounting bolt. Load capacity for both the Luna and the Fly is rated at 18 kg (39.5 pounds).

Here's the Luna on my Waterford:

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7...IMG5045med.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7...IMG5048med.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7...tachmentsm.jpg

I have one of those Wald racks and I cannot get it to fit on a Raleigh Sports. The main problem being that the fender eyelets are low and behind the axle. But I agree that it is a good looking rack.


And as unterhausen pointed out above, thousands of the Pletscher racks made loaded trips across the US. I had one on my 1970's Motobecane that made a trans continental in 1977 and that rack is still around in my parts bin.

Aaron :)

I had a similar experience with a Sports, but with a different rack.

Here's the rack on the Sports. I may adjust it to be more level, haven't decided:

http://fatollie.com/f/1rsr.jpg

Here's how I adapted to the rack bridge:

http://fatollie.com/f/2rsr.jpg

And some little aluminum offsets so the rack would clear the fender:

http://fatollie.com/f/3rsr.jpg

Only the very late Sports have that flat bridge. I know they had them by 1979; can't tell if the '78s or '77s were the same. '76 had the traditional bridge.

My '80:
http://www.jaysmarine.com/sports_brakebridge.jpg

-Kurt

I'm a big fan of the simple Wald rack. It's a bit heavy but super durable and looks nice. Oh, and they are typically around $15.

Yeah, mine is a Nottingham 79. I didn't know that earlier ones didn't have this.