Anyone use a small front rack?
 

Not to hang panniers off of, but something like this to strap a insulated lunch bag to? Or better yet, a hard sided 6 pack cooler?

No longer running a rear rack (long story), and if I could figure out a way to carry my lunch/snacks on the bike, I could probably get away with no longer wearing a backpack/mess bag as the temps start to climb.

Sure, I have a similar style, along with a decaleur for supporting my front bag. They're extremely common.

One thing to be aware of is that some bikes are not especially pleasant to ride with even a small amount of weight on the front. Having the weight down low helps. It's generally more an issue with high trail bikes.

I used that exact rack from Nashbar on my MTB commuter, and then on my Cross Check as a commuter and rando bike before switching out for the rack I have now.
The only issue with it is the low weight capacity. The attachments are a bit flimsy and I suggest beefing up the crown mount if you intend on putting a hardside cooler on there. I used some strip steel from the hardware store and made my own mount for it. Worked out great.

When I stepped up a level, I went with the Velo Orange randonneur rack. I like it better for having the hoop back for holding a canvas/leather type front bag, an open platform for bags with underside straps, and M5 eyelets on the rack for lighting mounts.

Exactly.

I use/d one to hold my battery, the first one I didn't tie into the support arch for my lowrider rack. The second one I reinforced it with part of a rear rack and used a hose clamp to attach it to the low rider arch/support. I have been using the second one now for about three years.

On my Hardrock I have what Specialized calls their "Six Pack" rack from their Tri-Cross racks.

http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/Spec...2421?$Display$

Front Rack, yes, but I use a small pannier , ones with D rings on the lids.

so I can use a stretch net to hold down other stuff, like the take out pizza box.

I've used a Racktime TopIt for touring. Solid little platform rack.

I too am looking for a small front rack, and my DaHon Curve seems to have threaded holes to which to mount a rack, but I haven't been able to find one that fits. I would only use it for light weight things, so I don't think it would effect the handling of the bike; or at least not much.

All the fittings I seen for the front of DaHons are for bags and baskets and I really don't want to got there. Any DaHon riders out there have an idea? I should probably ask this on the Folder Forum if not.

Rick / OCRR

I had a rack like the Nashbar front rack, and mounted a Wald basket to it. I carried a gallon of water in the basket, and the fork crown brace BROKE. I mean the metal separated.

I now use a Soma Mini Front rack. If you have rack/fender eyelets on your fork, it's a much sturdier setup.

http://store.somafab.com/somialfrra.html

By mounting to the eyelets AND the fork crown, it spreads out the forces. Soma rates it to 20 pounds of cargo, which is a lot more than the racks which mount to canti posts.

I got no idea of how to determine the 'trail' on my bike.

This idea was an attempt to get around the interference a front basket would cause a bar mounted light.

trail .. take a line thru the center line thru the fork steerer to the ground.
this is contribution of head angle. and fork length.
then take a plumb line thru the axle center,
this line also to the ground.
trail is the distance on the ground between the points
where the other 2 lines meet the ground plane.

Cool calculator http://yojimg.net/bike/web_tools/trailcalc.php
The tire width box assumes the rim is typical 20mm width for the diameter calculation, and the tire profile doesn't have an oddball shape. For greater accuracy, physically measure the rolling distance of a wheel rotation and calculate real diameter, then plug in widths till the tire result matches. For the other numbers, find your frame's geometry page, example: http://www.konaworld.co/bike.cfm?content=smoke

Trail info can be found here.

I have two bikes with front racks. My Salsa Casseroll comes with a front rack, which I initially left off and later installed. I don't use it very often but it's nice for those rare occasions when I have to drop a package by the Post Office but still want to bike to work. I also have Nitto M12 rack on my Bob Jackson touring bike. It is OK for carrying small bags without a lot of weight but seems to influence bike handling if I put too much on it. Personally, I don't like carrying weight in the front of the bike unless necessary. For commuting, a Carradice bag is perfect for me because it will hold a lot of gear but has very little effect on bike handling or balance.

I'd really like to try one out, but security concerns and financial limitations...

I think that I'll just pony up the dough for a new rear rack that is a bit longer than my old one- and just hope I don't lose any of the mounting bolts this time.

Used my first one in the Phillippines, 1978. Used plenty since then. Personally I prefer the large ones, but....