Sourcing 20" bicycle pannier rack
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Sourcing 20" bicycle pannier rack
I am in Australia and can't seem to source a replacement pannier rack. I bought one last year from AliExpress and it was broken when arrived. also obviously fragile in the first place. got a refund but dubious anything I c online. if u can recommend where I can get one that's sturdy and not unreal in price I would like to know. anything I have seen so far is horribly expensive
Last edited by rapattack; 12-01-22 at 07:32 AM. Reason: more details
#2
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I don't have any first-hand experience w/panniers yet, but, for my mini-velo that has much longer chainstays than any folding bicycle, I'm going to use a Racktime Foldit Fix rear rack for 20". Another rack-specialty company to peruse is AltanVelo. They seem to have a relatively large selection of racks for 20". There's also the Tern Cargo Rack. I can't confirm that any of these will afford enough distance of the panniers from your feet. I think all 20" folding bicycles I've seen w/panniers are using taller racks, originally meant for 26 or 700c wheel bicycles.
#3
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Maybe try a better online source that is Australia based or ships to Australia.
Here in Singapore, we have sites that also get their stuff from China, a bit more expensive, but has good buyer protection and refund policy. (Eg. Lazada, Shopee )
Maybe Amazon?
Here in Singapore, we have sites that also get their stuff from China, a bit more expensive, but has good buyer protection and refund policy. (Eg. Lazada, Shopee )
Maybe Amazon?
#4
Full Member
Racks for 20" folding bikes/ebikes need to be frame specific.
Most racks for typical 26"+ almost never work since they hug too close towards the seatpost.
Look at 20" bikes that include racks from the factory, you want to get something like those.
I suggest against mailorder as it will be a hit and miss game.
Your LBS will cooperate in finding a compatible rack, they have branded racks like Axiom, Filzer, Thule.
Used shops/dealers/flippers may also have something lying around for donor.
20" folding bikes aren't new, many came with racks.
Most racks for typical 26"+ almost never work since they hug too close towards the seatpost.
Look at 20" bikes that include racks from the factory, you want to get something like those.
I suggest against mailorder as it will be a hit and miss game.
Your LBS will cooperate in finding a compatible rack, they have branded racks like Axiom, Filzer, Thule.
Used shops/dealers/flippers may also have something lying around for donor.
20" folding bikes aren't new, many came with racks.

#6
iti biking
Hello from the other side of the Tasman. I can confirm that the Tern Cargo Rack can work with longer panniers and reasonably large feet. For taller panniers you can either adjust the height of the Tern Cargo Rack and set it at 24” wheel height on a 20” wheeled bike frame, or otherwise look for a full size rack that plays well with the lower mounting points on the seat stays of a folding bike. Racks like the Blackburn Grid or Central use relocatable struts that can be fixed lower down on the rack to connect with the seat stays - I use the former on a Tern Link to comfortably attach Carradice rear panniers without heel strike and with plenty of ground clearance.
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#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I don't have any first-hand experience w/panniers yet, but, for my mini-velo that has much longer chainstays than any folding bicycle, I'm going to use a Racktime Foldit Fix rear rack for 20". Another rack-specialty company to peruse is AltanVelo. They seem to have a relatively large selection of racks for 20". There's also the Tern Cargo Rack. I can't confirm that any of these will afford enough distance of the panniers from your feet. I think all 20" folding bicycles I've seen w/panniers are using taller racks, originally meant for 26 or 700c wheel bicycles.
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#8
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Thread Starter
No thats why i am asking here. cant find anything online or in shops here. yes i tried aliexpress and the rack was horrid. prices are good from china to here but you dont know what you are getting. amazon is way over priced here. its rare i get anything from them. seems i cant shop on either site you mentioned. maybe we are too far away
#10
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Oh thanks havent heard of these brands yet. Yes i had seen online people using tall pannier racks when touring but every day use like myself you dont see them where i am. Seems the only 20" bikes here are ebikes and the vast majority are food delivery bikes that have no rack as the drivers use bags to carry the food. Oh do you mean by afford distance from my feet in the sense my feet might hit the bags? i have a rack currently and a bag. My rack is breaking and has done for years in different places so i am used to that subject. its just a matter of adjusting things. I wouldnt know how to use a taller rack
I do a lot of everyday cargo utility with my 20" folding bicycle, even without panniers. Instead of panniers, I strap wire baskets to the tops of the racks, which can then conveniently hold bags. Velcro wrap-straps are good for securing the basket. Yes, the basket obstructs the fold. How else are you going to transport a 40 lb bag of cat litter pellets, though? Keep the baskets on and walk the bicycle around the store with you. It's more maneuverable than a shopping cart.
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#11
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From Reddleman's post, I'd say that the Tern Cargo Rack is a great choice. It has adjustable height. Make it taller when you want to use full-size panniers. Most of the promo photos of it may be confusing because Tern shows it mounted on a 26" wheel bicycle.
#12
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One more voice for the Tern Cargo Rack. I put that rack on my 20" Bike Friday NWT and surpassed anything I tried before in terms of performance, including the original Bike Friday rack. The Tern rack does not fold, unlike the one from Bike Friday, but in packing the bike and its add-ons you anyway need to be creative making different items mesh together and fill the space in a suitcase - not a lot of change in the packing.
#13
Full Member
Yup, find a Tern Cargo Rack. Very adjustable, works fine on my 20" wheel Bike Friday folder.
#14
Newbie
I researched and ended up buying a rack with extensible legs, meant to fit bikes with 24" to 29" wheels, removing the leg extension and drilling to turn one of the adjustment holes on the leg into a through hole. Works great: height is ideal (just clear of wheel). If that's of interest, it was an Axiom Journey 2429. Because it's intended to fit a wide variety of bikes, its front attachment rods also extend and rotate up and down, and to avoid heelstrike I have them fully extended & mount my pannier as far back as possible.
Last edited by Antifriction; 12-03-22 at 01:42 AM.
#15
Junior Member
Hi, greets from Austria 
hollandbikeshop.com//luggage-carrier
Sorry, dubious page, plz delete this link, thanks!
omafiets.com.au/tern-cargo-rack

hollandbikeshop.com//luggage-carrier
Sorry, dubious page, plz delete this link, thanks!
omafiets.com.au/tern-cargo-rack
Last edited by Blackstrida_A_; 12-04-22 at 10:49 AM. Reason: Link removed.
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#16
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There are two versions of the Racktime Foldit rack. I would suggest the adjustable version, as you can set the rack height at three different levels. A tall pannier might need a taller rack.
https://www.racktime.com/en/racktime...dit-adjustable
Racktime and Tubus are the same company, they make longer (optional) seat stay brackets if you need them longer on your bike.
The rack in the photo is my Airnimal bike, Racktime Foldit Adjustable rack and extra long brackets to the seatstays. I set the rack height at the tallest in the photo.
https://www.racktime.com/en/racktime...dit-adjustable
Racktime and Tubus are the same company, they make longer (optional) seat stay brackets if you need them longer on your bike.
The rack in the photo is my Airnimal bike, Racktime Foldit Adjustable rack and extra long brackets to the seatstays. I set the rack height at the tallest in the photo.

#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Racks for 20" folding bikes/ebikes need to be frame specific.
Most racks for typical 26"+ almost never work since they hug too close towards the seatpost.
Look at 20" bikes that include racks from the factory, you want to get something like those.
I suggest against mailorder as it will be a hit and miss game.
Your LBS will cooperate in finding a compatible rack, they have branded racks like Axiom, Filzer, Thule.
Used shops/dealers/flippers may also have something lying around for donor.
20" folding bikes aren't new, many came with racks.

Most racks for typical 26"+ almost never work since they hug too close towards the seatpost.
Look at 20" bikes that include racks from the factory, you want to get something like those.
I suggest against mailorder as it will be a hit and miss game.
Your LBS will cooperate in finding a compatible rack, they have branded racks like Axiom, Filzer, Thule.
Used shops/dealers/flippers may also have something lying around for donor.
20" folding bikes aren't new, many came with racks.

#18
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I researched and ended up buying a rack with extensible legs, meant to fit bikes with 24" to 29" wheels, removing the leg extension and drilling to turn one of the adjustment holes on the leg into a through hole. Works great: height is ideal (just clear of wheel). If that's of interest, it was an Axiom Journey 2429. Because it's intended to fit a wide variety of bikes, its front attachment rods also extend and rotate up and down, and to avoid heelstrike I have them fully extended & mount my pannier as far back as possible.
#20
Senior Member
Thread Starter
One more voice for the Tern Cargo Rack. I put that rack on my 20" Bike Friday NWT and surpassed anything I tried before in terms of performance, including the original Bike Friday rack. The Tern rack does not fold, unlike the one from Bike Friday, but in packing the bike and its add-ons you anyway need to be creative making different items mesh together and fill the space in a suitcase - not a lot of change in the packing.
#21
Senior Member
Thread Starter
thanks looking into some of these brands in an australian store and its been hard. overseas senders charge unreal prices for postage
#22
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#23
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See whether you can combine the order with anything else from the particular vendor, that you may need or may sell well on Ebay in Australia. I had situations where the extra items I ordered sold for prices that completely covered the shipping from Europe to US. It might be, e.g., that other people in AU could be interested in the Tern Cargo racks - you have to poke around checking, e.g., what sold and for how much on Ebay in the past.
#24
iti biking
If you want a Tern Cargo Rack, omafiets.com.au is an Aussie online bike store with a Dutch name. Try them. Alternatively, look on Tern’s website for their list of dealers near you and buy from whoever there is closest to you.
#25
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No thats why i am asking here. cant find anything online or in shops here. yes i tried aliexpress and the rack was horrid. prices are good from china to here but you dont know what you are getting. amazon is way over priced here. its rare i get anything from them. seems i cant shop on either site you mentioned. maybe we are too far away
Could you do with a Carradice Bagman type saddle clamp carrier?
I have one and its really good.
Of course you can use any correct sized bag on it (just need to strap/bungee it down )
Bagman Standard Saddlebag Support - Carradice Bicycle Bags
I have one at its really good for a day bag.