I finally got a rear rack today!
10-05-08 | 07:46 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
I finally got a rear rack today!
Today I went from this :
to this :
REI had a nice sale this weekend. I added a Topeak MTX DXP Bag and MTX explorer rack for $85. Next weekend I want to make some "kitty litter" plastic panniers for large loads, such as groceries. I was using a camelbak to haul everything, but it did not fit my clothes well so I often arrived at work quite sweaty with no change of clothes. With the new bag I can carry my tools and work clothes in the middle and documents/laptop in the side panniers. I can also run more errands on the bike.
I also finished this :
last week and it is a blast! I have started MTBing because I can no longer play rugby due to a healing severely herniated disc. Notice the dork (Fred) vest in the background that I wear when I commute.
Please comment!
--Israel
to this :
REI had a nice sale this weekend. I added a Topeak MTX DXP Bag and MTX explorer rack for $85. Next weekend I want to make some "kitty litter" plastic panniers for large loads, such as groceries. I was using a camelbak to haul everything, but it did not fit my clothes well so I often arrived at work quite sweaty with no change of clothes. With the new bag I can carry my tools and work clothes in the middle and documents/laptop in the side panniers. I can also run more errands on the bike.
I also finished this :
last week and it is a blast! I have started MTBing because I can no longer play rugby due to a healing severely herniated disc. Notice the dork (Fred) vest in the background that I wear when I commute.
Please comment!
--Israel
Last edited by daaxix; 10-06-08 at 07:52 PM.
10-05-08 | 11:04 PM
#2
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
Way cool! Don't forget to move your blinky from the seat stem to the back of your pack.
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi 
"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
10-06-08 | 12:50 AM
#4
Human Powered Vehiclist
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: Pacific Northwest
Great move, I also have the Topeak trunk and rack setup and I just love it! The quick release on the Topeak bags is what reallys sold me on them, it makes removing and attaching the bag to the rack a breeze!
10-06-08 | 06:59 AM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 1
From: Miami, FL
Bikes: 2007 Giant Cypress DX, Windsor Tourist 2011
Thumbs up for the Topeak MTX system. That's what I use and I love it. Very convenient and it's so easy to get the bag off the rack. The only complaint I have is that the Topeak bags are not water repellent. It's a minor thing since you can treat them yourself with supplies obtained from a camping supply store, but still, it's a complaint of mine.
10-06-08 | 08:10 AM
#8
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
/__________________\
Last edited by daaxix; 10-06-08 at 10:56 AM.
10-06-08 | 07:55 PM
#9
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
I like gears to much to single speed/fixed gear it. I have a lot of climbing on the way to work, then home it is very fast and downhill (i.e. 25-30 MPH in some spots). Around here most of the SS/FG crowd are hipsters who like to try to kill me!
10-06-08 | 08:49 PM
#10
Thread Killer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,845
Likes: 0
From: Marfan Syndrome-Clyde-DFW, TX
Bikes: Fuji Touring Xtracycle, Merlin Road, Bacchetta Giro 26 (Sold), Challenge Hurricane, Cruzbike Sofrider
I swear they used to make just the track to mount on any rack you wanted. That must have been before they really ramped up with all the different racks and everything. Anyone have any idea if they are still available or if I just need to get the cheapest topeak rack I can find and do some surgery to make my own?
10-06-08 | 11:21 PM
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
From: USA
However, they do have the "Fixer Six" LINK which is the QuickTrack base plate & latch used on the MTX bags. It is sold for their MTX Basket, but you should be able to bolt an existing trunk bag to the Fixer Six plate and then slide and latch your existing bag to a QuickTrack rear rack. They do not list a suggested price; this might be a special order item.
If you are handy and have access to some shop facilities, you probably could make some rails. Unfortunately, I have not seen any 45 degree aluminum extrusions or such in the local hardware store or hobby shop (ideas or sources anyone?). Easiest might be thin plywood ripped on a circular saw set at 45 degrees (or whatever the QuickTrack rail's angle is) for the rails. You would need flathead bolts countersunk flush to attach the rails to the rack or more likely glue/screw them atop another sheet of plywood which would mount on the rack. Then you would need to waterproof it with marine varnish or the like. Alternate ways of getting angled rails would be a router and other materials might be some plastics. Or maybe you could precisely bend metal sheet with a sheet metal brake. And then you would still need to modify the front of the rack for something the latch would catch on.
Unless someone comes up with a source for similar dimension rails, buying an MTX rack and either using it or cutting off the top section and bolting it to another rear rack would probably be a lot easier.
Edit: The "Fixer Six" is available on Amazon for $12.95 LINK.
Last edited by Giro; 10-07-08 at 12:38 AM. Reason: Link to buy Fixer Six
10-06-08 | 11:46 PM
#12
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
I can not find any QuickTrack rails to retrofit on a non-MTX rack on ToPeak's site or in their 2008 catalog PDF's.
However, they do have the "Fixer Six" LINK which is the QuickTrack base plate & latch used on the MTX bags. It is sold for their MTX Basket, but you should be able to bolt an existing trunk bag to the Fixer Six plate and then slide and latch your existing bag to a QuickTrack rear rack. They do not list a suggested price; this might be a special order item.
If you are handy and have access to some shop facilities, you probably could make some rails. Unfortunately, I have not seen any 45 degree aluminum extrusions or such in the local hardware store or hobby shop (ideas or sources anyone?). Easiest might be thin plywood ripped on a circular saw set at 45 degrees (or whatever the QuickTrack rail's angle is) for the rails. You would need flathead bolts countersunk flush to attach the rails to the rack or more likely glue/screw them atop another sheet of plywood which would mount on the rack. Then you would need to waterproof it with marine varnish or the like. Alternate ways of getting angled rails would be a router and other materials might be some plastics. Or maybe you could precisely bend metal sheet with a sheet metal brake. And then you would still need to modify the front of the rack for something the latch would catch on.
Unless someone come up with a source for similar dimension rails, buying an MTX rack and either using it or cutting off the top section and bolting it to another rear rack would probably be a lot easier.
However, they do have the "Fixer Six" LINK which is the QuickTrack base plate & latch used on the MTX bags. It is sold for their MTX Basket, but you should be able to bolt an existing trunk bag to the Fixer Six plate and then slide and latch your existing bag to a QuickTrack rear rack. They do not list a suggested price; this might be a special order item.
If you are handy and have access to some shop facilities, you probably could make some rails. Unfortunately, I have not seen any 45 degree aluminum extrusions or such in the local hardware store or hobby shop (ideas or sources anyone?). Easiest might be thin plywood ripped on a circular saw set at 45 degrees (or whatever the QuickTrack rail's angle is) for the rails. You would need flathead bolts countersunk flush to attach the rails to the rack or more likely glue/screw them atop another sheet of plywood which would mount on the rack. Then you would need to waterproof it with marine varnish or the like. Alternate ways of getting angled rails would be a router and other materials might be some plastics. Or maybe you could precisely bend metal sheet with a sheet metal brake. And then you would still need to modify the front of the rack for something the latch would catch on.
Unless someone come up with a source for similar dimension rails, buying an MTX rack and either using it or cutting off the top section and bolting it to another rear rack would probably be a lot easier.
