PAcific IF Reach
 

I am looking for rear luggage options for touring on this folder.

It's a great bike rides wonderful and folds brilliantly. Unfortunately the dedicated rack for the rear from Pacific is $175 or £120 in the UK. I'm not sure what weight advantages it can take compared to 10kg on a bolt on seatpost rack. I currently use the Carradice SQR and bag for it.

Any suggestions appreciated.

I really don't have a worthy answer other than to use a back pack. But then again I think very few people have experience with the Reach, other than maybe Bruce, so sadly my answer will probably be one of the most viable.

Now for the main reason why I responded... I notice that your bike isn't black... what's wrong with you?

My Reach (the non-IF version) came with the integrated rack, and I have to say it would be worth the expense if you are able to spend the money. If there is another bolt-on rack that will work, I have never seen it; the rear suspension precludes using the standard ones. It seems like the only other alternative is a rack that clamps onto the seatpost, and those can only carry light loads. I regularly stuff my panniers full of heavy groceries and the integrated rack handles this without complaint.

nothing about the rack options but I think your derailleur and chain needs a good scrubbing :)

Totally agree Azreal. Its been out on a few treks lol

no its good to see oil !!!!

The Trail version looks like a good touring bike.

Any has tried it?

They are excellent bikes .. as a touring bike, you would be limited somewhat by the 451 tire size.. but there is a fair compliment of fast road tires in that size... used to be, Primo Comet 37x451 was the largest option (but a terrific tire) .. the suspension works well and the bike is very stable at speed .. folding requires front wheel removal .. I still ride a Reach Road (drop bar STI) from time to time ... one of our esteemed members toured extensively with his lovely wife on one.. maybe still does..

left field but would a carradice camper longflap saddlebag help you out a bit ?

ok, so you say you are already using a carradice sqr.... that'll teach me to be a smart alec.

I'm no expert on bikes, but why would there be few options for a 37-451 tire? Isn't 451 = 20"?

hmm and that just happened to be your 451st post? i smell a conspiracy.

it seems we hear these default reflex opinions often. they say brompton brakes are bad, small wheeled bikes are slow, can't get tires, etc. i assume it's because some people are holding on to opinions that they formed 15 + years ago and simply aren't aware of changes taking place around them. 451mm is the bmx racing tire size. there are quite a few options for high quality tires available in this size. everything from knobbies to slicks. no problem.

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Continental-C...tpw~~60_12.GIFhttp://i.ebayimg.com/t/Primo-Comet-2...vng~~60_12.JPGhttp://www.bikewagonmedia.com/media/...w/TIRE1442.jpghttp://www.bikewagonmedia.com/media/img/jb/60763.jpg

smallwheeler .. I want to buy a Continental Contact II in 37x451 or wider .. from what bike shop can I purchase these tires? any in the US?

here's one option. but, i would consider an equivalent maxxis tire. i don't think there is anything particularly special about it and it seems like the seller is spiking the price due to lack of availability.

That's a 406 tire .. Continental Contact size chart HERE .. so you can't count the Continental Contact in your recommendations.. the Primo Comet I already mentioned... and we are looking for touring tires in the 451 size.. I don't think square block fits most touring tire needs .. one tire that I didn't mention is the Intense micro knobby, which is another good tire in 451, but not a wide tire either... but can handle light dirt and pavement well.. so as I originally posted, there are many 451 road tires in the 1 1/8 widths and under (Schwalbe, Panaracer, IRC, Primo and more), but not any touring tires wider than the 37x451 Primo Comet that I know of..

not sure what you are talking about here. the link i supplied is for a 20 x 1 3/8 tire. that's 451mm. here's another. yes to the micro knobby and also there's the maxxis dth, tioga powerblock, and the maxxiz holly roller, among others. the maxxis dth would probably be a good choice.

https://images.danscomp.com/images/p...mid_442049.gif

That is not a 451 tire... it is a 406 tire .. Unfortunately, Continental used to not follow convention with respect to tire sizing .. that 20 x 1 3/8 tire that you reference is a 406 tire .. the designation Continental now uses is a 20x1.4 (still a 406 tire) they don't make a 451 tire .. so eliminating knobbies as a touring tire (although they could do double duty) , the Maxxis DTH is one of the only other tires suitable for touring duties, at 35 x 451 .. which is still narrower than the 37x451 Primo .. again, very limited selection in 451 touring type tires..

ok. the listings i linked to are obviously incorrect. that's indicative of lack of uniformity of sizing among manufacturers and leads to a lot of confusion.

yeah, the maxxis is two whole mm smaller than the primo. as if that spec means much.

originally, you said, "as a touring bike, you would be limited somewhat by the 451 tire size.. but there is a fair compliment of fast road tires in that size... used to be, Primo Comet 37x451 was the largest option" then, in a subsequent post, you said, "...so as I originally posted, there are many 451 road tires in the 1 1/8 widths and under (Schwalbe, Panaracer, IRC, Primo and more), but not any touring tires wider than the 37x451 Primo Comet that I know of.."

it seems what you may have implied in your first post about tires is clarified in the second. maybe you assumed that everyone knows that "touring tire" equals "wide tire"? i was responding to what you actually wrote, not what you may have implied.

at any rate, if there exists two or three high quality options for what you might call a "touring" tire, how many more do you need?

Thanks for that .. you wouldn't want to mislead prospective 451 touring bike riders with tires that don't exist.

That's not the point .. the point is that a 37x451 Primo Comet is the widest, quality, road going tire you can buy.. if you are already accustomed to 406 wheeled bikes, want to move to the 451 size, and want to go touring, you might expect to see the same kind of tire options as in 406 .. for instance, just in Schwalbe 406 sizes, 40x406, 42x406, 44x406, 47x406, the ever popular Big Apple at 50x406 and up .. many, many options in 406.. none of those tires exist in 451 sizes ...

I needed to clarify as it was becoming confusing .. in 20" sizes, most people don't associate touring tires with 28mm widths and under (Stelvios, Duranos, Continental Grand Prix and a host of others.. most look to 37mm or greater if they are looking to tour .. in 451, that means one tire and one slightly narrower with the Maxxis

I agree, if you can be happy with the one tire in 37x451 tire size (or run narrower), then you are good to go.. but if you want something wider, there's the rub ... In 17" 369 Moultons, even a worse problem with only one tire option .. Schwalbe 32x369 Kojak .. nice tire, fast, supple, not particularly long wearing, but the only show in town that is easily obtainable..

so, to summarize all this verbiage, it's your opinion that a touring tire should be wider than 37. is that fair? i don't disagree.

my point was that there are numerous high quality tires for the 451 size. everything from knobbies to slicks. 451 rims are designed for road and/or bmx racing. the criticism that 451s don't accommodate wider tires is like complaining that a nespresso™ machine doesn't make a 10 cup pot of coffee. it's not designed for that purpose.

maybe a more cogent criticism could be made of the manufacturer itself - the idea that they can simply pop some knobby tires and rack braze-ons on the reach and call it a "trail" bike could probably be questioned. personally, i think a double-walled 406 wheelset with an appropriate fat tire would be better for a bike designated "trail" and definitely better for loaded touring.

Thanks for the info.

Unfortunately, it seems like the Schwalbe Marathon Plus aren't available in 37-451:
http://www.schwalbetires.com/node/1323

Is there another brand that makes puncture-resistant tires in that size?

I know jur recommends slime liners over resistant tyres. There was a thread with a big apple that he was still using that was slashed to ribbons.

Thanks for the tip. The user reviews on Amazon don't look good, though

http://www.amazon.com/Slime-Bicycle-.../dp/B000ENSRQW