TheRealNicola

I'm thinking of getting a rack, but am having trouble deciding which type of rack to get. My bike doesn't have any eyelets or anything in the back for a rear rack so i'm thinking a front rack would be easier to find and install. But i'm unsure of the weight capabilities of a front rack (not like i'm going to haul tons of stuff). I did something that might work for the front, Cetma racks, just eyeballing their stuff seems like that might be the key.

Any advice? Rear or front?

xenologer

For something heavy to carry, use the rear first.

If you're not carrying much, maybe a front basket (but not a rack).

no1mad 

What you planning of carrying?

10 Wheels

Seat Post Rack:

https://www.ebikestop.com/topeak_beam...mes-RK2541.php

dhay

A seat post rack as suggested above can work well as long as you don't need to carry a lot of weight. Another option is to get clips to mount the rack to instead of the braze-on eyelets:

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product..._200280_200411

lambo_vt

CETMA racks look cool but really screw up a typical bike's handling if carrying much weight. The "porteur" style of bike they're copying was designed specifically to carry weight up front.

TheRealNicola

mainly books for class, extra bags, maybe the occasional pizza box : )

those clamps are a good idea.

CliftonGK1

For a load like that, or even larger, I'm comfortable with my Wald 157. It's their largest basket, and I've mounted it as low to the fender as it can go. While it's not on a true porteur-style bike with a fork designed for front loading, I've managed to haul 3 gallons of coolant, 2 gallons of 15W40, an oil filter, some funnels and a radiator hose all in one trip in that basket.

lambo_vt

I had a Wald basket in the front too, but the handling with much weight in there was downright scary. Besides the handling, the mount was so flexy that the load would swing back and forth.

So sure, front baskets or racks work, but they'd be my absolute last choice, possibly even to carrying the load on my back.

TheRealNicola

How are rear racks and wider sized things on them? just bungee them down?

mikeybikes

Bungee. I bungee my backpack to my rear rack daily. Never a problem.

PaulRivers

If you think finding a front rack is going to be easier to find than a rear rack on a bike without rack eyelets, you likely have not spend much time researching the issue. It's even more difficult, and requires some installation.

I would simply say you should get a rear rack - period. They do make rear racks for bikes without eyelets.

Here's the cheapest one I know of - the Axiom Streamliner Road Rack:
https://www.eriksbikeshop.com/ride/pr...539B1FNG0V9NF9



Other companies like Tubus and Old Man Mountain makes similar racks that cost more, but often look nicer. Let me know if you're interested in the other options.

TheRealNicola

I've had my eye on that axion rack for awhile. I posted a thread about it a couple months ago though no one said they had experience with it. There was a thread recently of a person who bought it but it kept bending on loads under 25 pounds. Which makes me stray away from that one.

My lbs said they don't have any type of clips for something like this. I may go to a hardware store later and try to find some.

Seems like more are for the back rack.

PaulRivers

Hmm, I saw that same thread. My brother had one on his bike and it's been fine (though some of the screws aren't tight any more), but he doesn't put much weight on it.

How much weight are you thinking of carrying?

While notablely more expensive, all the Tubus racks seem to be very well made. The Tubus Fly is also built specifically for mounting on a bike without eyelets:
https://www.thetouringstore.com/TUBUS/Fly/FLY%20PAGE.htm

Here's a small thread about a couple of other people using it:
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/332269-anybody-using-tubus-fly-rack.html

You can also buy one of these (Dimension 31.8 Seat Clamp with Rack Mounts):
https://www.treefortbikes.com/448_333...ck-Mounts.html

And the hook up any Tubus rack (plus quick release adapter) to it. Tubus has a reputation for making a durable, long-lasting, quality (and expensive) rack.

TheRealNicola

Dope. Thanks PaulRivers those are exactly what i'm looking for.

PaulRivers

Good to hear of the 3 threads I answered today on the same topic, at least one person found the information useful. :-)

wirehead

IMHO, once you start to realize how nice it feels to have things on the bike and not on your back, you'll start putting progressively more weight on the rack.

Thus, best to not shortchange your loading capacity.

TheRealNicola

Good point as well, thanks wirehead.