Carrying stuff on Dahon rack; how-to tips, please!
 

All,

I have an older Dahon Mariner D7, like maybe an '09 or so, but pre- luggage truss, anyway. I'm looking for insights as to how to utilize the stock rack to carry stuff while retaining foldability.

Specifically, I'd like something I can use to carry my shoulder bag for short, fairweather jaunts around town. I only need about 9" or 10" width and 5" depth to accommodate this bag, and prefer an open-top carrier so I don't have to worry about height limitations, but also for ease of use, as I will be taking the bag out frequently.

Because I keep the bike in my car trunk, I'd like something which does not impede the fold, and either comes off easily or collapses out of the way.

My first thought was a pannier, but I'm worried I wont have heel clearance (size 12/46.5 shoes). Is there a small pannier which might work?

My other thought was a rack-top bin or box, but I thought attaching and removing would be a hassle. Is there a collapsible unit which will allow the seat to drop and bike to fold? I saw a Topeak rolling bin which I though could be neat, but it uses a KlickFit or something to attach, and which doesn't appear to be compatible with the stock rack.

Would changing the rack be the best option? Again, I need the fold, and don't want a tall, standard size rack on there, if only for aesthetic reasons.

I'm often carrying two or three wine bottles, and keeping them upright is important; that should help give you an idea of what my needs are in terms of cargo weight,dimensions, and orientation.

Any tips, insights and suggestions are appreciated!

post an image of the bicycle so we can help you.

Klick Fix makes QR rear rack baskets Too . part stays on the rack you install it.

(Re: appears to not fit, comment? )

buy online and be prepared to return ship, or go to a shop stocking it is how you find out if it will or wont..

For visual reference:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8624/2...11a4c986_b.jpg

THIS is how I like carrying my messenger bag on my folders.... even on my Brompton with a rear rack, this would be my 2nd carry choice, after the front luggage block, and often still first choice when I don't want to lug around the extra 3lb Brompton front bag/frame.

I would suggest a caddy clickfix with a basket in front. You can also use a basket also ai the back or you can use a rack top bag. Rack top bag is not good for winebottles to stand upright but front basket is.

This shop has a lot to choose from and easy to see what is available:

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/search/?term=rixen%20kaul

Interesting. I can't see how you're hanging the bag there, but it seems like it would be in the way for me there. That, and I'm not keen to put the additional weight and stress on the handle post, so I'd prefer a rack mounted solution at this point. Thanks for the idea, though!

Appearently the transport of wine has been bothering people for ages, because I happen to own something like this:
http://i.marktplaats.com/00/s/NzY1WD...XOw79/$_85.JPG

Mine takes 3 bottles, also taller ones, and it's made out of thin wood and hard leather that protects them well. The leather straps are for securing the lid, generally not to attach them to a bike but who knows they might exist. There are also modern ones, and I don't know what you use right now, but if its a hard case I would use it together with something like this on the rack:
http://hollandbikeshop.com/images_pr...er---zwart.jpg
To keep it upright against the saddle or maybe use two of them, opposed, and secure it with a luggage spider. If it's tight it will stay upright.

But come to think of it, the solution is probably not in the bike but in the bag/case you use for the wine. If you have a hard case for the bottles or a bag with sufficient stifness and padding you can just attach two hooks to it and hang it from the handlebars or side of the rack or put hooks on the bike that fit the handles.

The Caddy I mentioned can be mounted low down.

There is also the front luggage rack

https://www.google.no/search?q=dahon...w=1292&bih=657

Yes, I looked at the Caddy and the Vario rack combo, which could allow me to just strap my bag on, but I was worried about interference with the cabling. Do you have any experience there? Do the cables get pushed behind, or does the rack need to go underneath them? How far down the handlepost can the clamp mount? If it's big enough to attach to the lower portion of the telescoping handlepost, that might be pretty attractive.

If there were some rear rack solution, though, I think that could be a simpler and more appealing place to carry weight.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Oooh, I like the front pannier rack idea! Better to not put weight on handlepost, I think, and having weight lower is better for handling, too, no?

It looks like the Dahon Tour rack is slender and unobtrusive to the fold.

Do single-side lowrider front pannier placements handle ok?

Thanks!

Good luck finding one. Can be tricky. You can actually use big panniers in the front unless you intend to ride over sticks and stones but a small front bag would be best for your wine, not enough space to fall over.

The rack has just a small effect on the fold. There may be a Tern front rack that looks almost the same, at least there used to be.

this one https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/luggage/...tro-kit-kg804/

Combined with this one https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/luggage/...r-plate-kg801/

the first one you atatch to a basket or crate of your choice. The second one to your rear rack. Then you click them together fo a ride.

Have not used this, just know how it works. Maybe there are something on youtube.

The caddy I use. We`ve got one on each Brompton (facing backwards becouse of the fold) to carry tiny backpack and another small bag that we use as handbag when riding. On the luggage block we have the heavyer Brompton luggage.

Also used the Caddy on my Daon Curve becouse I do not like the looong luggagetruss. I use this basket https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/luggage/...grey-24-litre/ It connects to the Caddy at the top of the bag so hanging down from there. Caddy can not be mounted too low becouse of this. This is not my main bike or my shopping bike, I would go for something sturdyer for that.

The Dahon frontrack have been used on three bikes here, we have two now. None of them Dahon bikes but the rack is great if you like a pannier solution. Rides great also with just one pannier.

I like to be able to hang stuff on the bike, especially if on a bike holyday. If the bike is loaded down it is better to walk the bike home from the shop than to ride with plastic bags and stuff from the handlebar.

Edit: If you are close to a IKEA they have wooden boxes in two sizes that are cheap. Could maybe be combined with the two click fix thingys for the rear rack.

Maybe a Caddy and this one for the front?

check out the xootr crossrack. it is what i use and i love it. easy to remove anytime you want, one pin.

Caddy with brooks basket. Nice.

Thank you, and having just called a shop near me which has the rack on their site, I see what you mean; the guy there told me Dahon keep telling him "two more weeks," and that he's had one on order for another customer for over a month!

Oh, that's great! I guess I missed the adapter plate when I browsed that site earlier, and in conjunction with the retrofit bit, that might be the ticket!

Maybe I could use Coroplast to make a bin of the ideal size!

Thank you!

I actually have, currently in use on another bike. I didn't like it because it didn't allow the full seat drop, and I really didn't want the extra weight torquing on the fully extended seatpost; my 225lb mass is stress enough!

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7410/9...5ac52680_b.jpg

Ever tried it on the front?
I have seen it that way on a couple bikes, never tried it myself.

I have not; I find the whole handlepost assembly a little frightening, and have been nervous about stressing it.

just make sure that the small bend at the rear of your rack is not a problem for using this system.

Mmm, thank you, yes...I will get dimensions on the adapter plate. It does look kind of long...