Dumb Rack/Fender install question
 

I'm really sorry. I know there are so many threads about fenders, and I have read many after my search, but I'm thinking my question must be really silly.

I have a Cross Check, which I love, love, love. We're going car-free in 7 days (YAY!), and due to other circumstances I'm only just now adding fenders to the bike. I have a rack rear installed already, but I'm afraid I installed it on the wrong eyelet.

The question is: I have two eyelets - which one, the lower or upper, should the fenders be installed on?

Thanks!

Jessica

It will probably be easier to install the fender on the lower eyelet. Otherwise, the fender stay will have to cross over the rack at some point (assuming your rack and fender are basically normal.)

I'd use the lower mount for the rack and the upper for the fenders. This would make the rack sit lower but it would only be a minor difference.

Thank you, lamplight and cyccommute. cyccommute, why would you install them that way? I (mostly) understand lamplight's reasoning, and I'm just looking for the complete answer! Thanks!

I've got both rack and fender on the same eyelet on my bike. I can't remember if it's the upper or lower -- I think it's the upper. I seem to remember reading somewhere that there was some benefit to having both on the some eyelet, but I can't imagine what it was.

Bottom line is- unless the fender stay and the rack crash into each other when the rack is on the lower eyelet, it doesn't really matter. Try it both ways and leave it the way you like best.

Perhaps this is why I couldn't find a straight answer!?! That works. I'm getting my new rack by the end of the week, maybe I'll just wait til I get that (Tubus Cargo, time to upgrade!) to install the rear fender. So I just want to make sure the fender and the rack don't cross over in a weird way? Well, I can manage that. Anything else to worry about?

Thanks, all.

(Are you installing full fenders? If not, disregard the rest of this.)

Getting fenders to sit just right is more important than getting a rack exactly level. You want them to hug the tires, but not rub against them.

Find out which pair of eyelets will get the fenders juuuust right, then then use what's left over for the rack.

As to putting the two together, I would think that if you are going to carry heavy stuff, you will want the rack on its own mounts so as to shorten the screws and lower the "opportunity" for the weight of the load on the rack to sheer the bolts. But that's just me probably being over-cautious. :-)

-Jon

Lower rack = lower center of gravity. But it's not going to make much of a difference. However, it's moot if you are get that Tubus Cargo. It has it's own fender mounts that are better than the bike's mounts. Like this

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/IMG_0270.jpg

The advantage is you can mount the fenders a little higher for more clearance.

Whichever one works best, in terms of crossed support members. In the end, it's nothing to fret over.

(for the record, I have the same bike. At some point I switched them because I thought it would work better, and then decided that it didn't matter.)

I've got my rack and fenders on the same lower eyelight. Rack is much better lower. My fenders can't get to the upper with the rack on the lower. But with my rack so low, the fender needs to be low. I could raise the rack since it's a Delta Universal Mega, but what would be the point of that?

Mounting the rack on the lower eyelet would put the rack a little lower, which is usually a good thing. It may also put the rack a little further toward the rear of the bike, which could also be good if you'll be using panniers. I put mine on the top eyelet just to keep the fender stay from having to cross it, although on my bike the top eyelet is directly over the axle and the bottom eyelet is just hanging off the rear of the dropout. I would think it would be slightly stronger because of this, though it's probably not enough to make any noticeable difference. No reason you can try it both ways and see which you like better!

Cool, thanks all. For now, I've installed the fenders on the upper eyelet, and I'll see what happens when I try to install my rear rack next weekend. I appreciate the advice!

Keep in mind, this could introduce toe strike. (Edit: Not likely unless you have weird geometry.)

Are you talking about a rear rack? I'm not sure I understand how toes could strike a rear rack?

That's why I added that it's unlikely, you'd need weird geometry for that.

I can't offer any info, but congrats on going car-free! :)

Thanks, Pragmatik! I feel so relieved already!