adamperry

I'm looking for a strong, cheap, light-weight rear rack for my bike, mostly for getting groceries (which, depending on the time of the month, might be -a lot-).

Apologies, in advance: I'm sure that this has been discussed at length on this wonderful forum, which I've reaped many benefits from before, but here I am posting because it's really hard to Google an answer to this question:

I've got a recent aluminum Raleigh MTB (does it matter the model?), with disc brakes and factory "braze-on" bosses on the rear stays near the seat post, and also near the rear axle. What can bolt onto the frame that I have, without using the seat post and/or the rear axle, or foolhardly clamping onto some tubular section?

When Googling the subject, I mostly find people who don't have "braze-on" eyes. Which makes sense, but that's not a problem that I have.

In my research, it seems that a regular rack (whatever that is) won't clear the rear disc brake caliper. It also seems that both Topeak and Axiom have racks that accommodate the disc brakes, as do a number of other (both more expensive, and scary-looking) brands.

But, these all expect to bolt to the rear axle/stringer. And I don't want to do that, because it seems like a needlessly-complicated mechanical connection: Wheel/frame/rack seems ridiculously complicated compared to Wheel/frame and Rack/frame.

I mean really: Some racks attach to the axle and the seatpost, some racks attach to the axle and cantilever brake mount, some attach to the rear stays and whatever else they can grab with P-clips.... It's a lot like Taco-Bell: Three hundred combinations from only six ingredients.

Meh! I think I have a bike that is perfectly suited for a zero-sacrifice rack that can actually stand a solid load without breaking anything, using "braze-on" bolts at the top of the rear stays (which already exist), and nut+bolt at the bottom-rear bracket near the axle with existing holes (do these count as "braze-on" as well?), but not -using- the axle.

Perhaps a better, and more-simpler question is this: Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Axiom DLX Streamliner Disc Cycle Rack, Black Does this rack do what I want? Must this Axiom rack mount to the axles, or can I nut-and-bolt (or tap-and-thread, to save a few grams -- which is not at my level of riding) it to the existing lower holes?

It already wraps around the disc brake caliper (to the rear). It already attaches to the "braze-in" bosses on my upper stays. (I keep putting "braze-in" in scare-quotes, because there is no brazing on aluminum....) And according to anyone I can find that has already used it and written about it, they simply use the rear axle -- always -- for the bottom half of the rack support.

I don't want to use the rear axle, though: I've got two pair of perfectly cromulent holes already in the rear bracket of my bike, and I want to mount it there if for no other reason than to save me a juggling act when I'm getting groceries, I've got a seriously flat tire, and everything is going wrong: As a practical matter, I want the rack to be a part of the bike frame, not a part of the wheel assembly.

So is anyone using the Axiom rear rack with disc brakes with other than the rear-axle as a support member? Are there any other budget-oriented, relatively-light racks that might do what I want (and I recognize that I'm asking a lot)?

Am I completely off-base? Barking up the wrong tree?

I just want to spend my money wisely, and get the strongest, most-frugal rear rack that I can to cart groceries with without hackery.

The Pedalphile

If your frame has mounts for a rack then you're good to go your rack will be part of the bike only. Looks like the one you linked will mount up just fine and is set back (so you don't kick your bags) which is nice. Really, the only reason to get a topeak rack is if you're going to use their accessories that mount with the track. I use the topeak setup to ride to work but I just have a trunk type bag for lunch most of the time. Don't think topeak makes bags that i'd say are big enough for a big grocery run.

Leebo

Strong, cheap & light pick 2. An old mt bike saying. Grocery runs? Look for some Wald metal baskets.

Hub Spanner

I had a hard-to-fit bike and I got great, personal telephone and email support from Wayne at TheTouringStore.com, Ortlieb Panniers & Packs, Tubus Racks, Lone Peak Packs.

FLJeepGuy

I can recommend the Topeak racks from long-term, personal experience. I have the Topeak Explorer Tubular Disc Rack on two of my bikes, and can attest that it mounts to the frame only and does not interfere with the rear axle or quick release in any way. This of course assumes your frame has the appropriate mounting holes near the dropouts as well as the braze-ons up top. The rack is very secure, stable, and if you use their MTX bags, allows quick on and off of the bag via its slide and clip system.

bmthom.gis

well I will give you some good news...those mounting points near your wheel are already threaded.

alan s 

Your bike is "rack ready." No need to use the axle. Take it to a shop and find something that fits. I use the Topeak rack because I like their trunk bag. If you have an REI nearby, they stock many brands, including Topeak.

mwl001

I'll second Topeak just because I like their system and it was an easy install as well. As for the disc/non-disc rack type, I can tell you the only thing that matters is where your calipers are located. On the chain stay? Any rack will work. On the seat stay? You probably need the disc-specific rack if it's available, or be prepared to modify whatever you buy to accommodate the caliper.

If you're going to use panniers, make sure you buy a rack that will keep them out of your wheels.

Phoenix 6.0

Topeak explorer disc here on my Trek 6500. I like it so far

dynaryder

Yes it does. Some bikes have the disc caliper mounted in the traditional location on the seat stay,many bikes these days are now mounting them on the chain stay. If your caliper is on the seatstay,you'll need a disc-specific rack that moves the left mount outwards away from the caliper. If your caliper is on the chainstay,you can just use a regular rack.