Sixty Fiver

I like a nice rack.



The MEC rack bag I often use doubles as a backpack and carries all the daily essentials quite nicely and serves well as a 4th bag when I am touring... it will be become the 6th bag after I mount up the front racks and panniers.



In the winter I don't mind using a messenger bag or backpack as heat / sweating is not an issue but most of my daily drivers are racked out or will get racks built before spring.

dazza1985_49

Hi - I have a rack on my Brompton P type which I regularly use with the Brompton rack bag. However, after cycling about 1800 miles since my last wheel rebuild I have now had to rebuild the rear wheel again, where as the front is fine. Just wondering what effect the rear rack bag has on rims..? I don't overload it, just mainly have a shirt, trousers, towel and iPad mini in there. Anyone else found that they are having to replace their rear wheel more regularly when using a rack bag?

Rob_E

The weight you are talking about carrying seems insignificant when compared to rider weight. Rear wheels are under more stress because more weight is carried there whether you have a rack bag or not. They can also be weaker if you have a gear cluster in the back, because then wheel will dished when built.

Knowing that I am a heavy guy who carries too much crap, I prefer to put a touring load on the front, which has comparatively less weight on it to start with, but I would think nothing of carrying your load on the back. It's probably less than what I typically carry in my trunk bag. Having to rebuild the wheel twice in that number of miles tells me that you might want to make certain the wheel you're using is rated for the weight you're subjecting it to, up the spoke count, and/or find a new wheel builder.

dazza1985_49

Thanks Rob. I'm heavy at 100kg but within Brompton's max rider weight so will put it down to wheel build and keep an eye on it.

fietsbob

Brompton's new directional drilled double wall rim is rear specific.. & better, I Expect,


NB keep an eye on the spoke tensioning ..

though they are still thick and short beefy spokes maintained state of the wheel is not self executing.

bhkyte

took my rack off my brompton. its small and most people just use the front bag most of the time anyway. I kept breaking srunts at £5 a pop due to pressure from closing my dahon androes stem extender.
Clean look and weight loss suits road race sytle conversion anyway
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...k-or-mudguards

bjorke

I have a rear rack for my Friday but it messes with the fold so it's most left off. The "under rack" bag is cute but gets FILTHY.

On the Friday, a Travois trailer is the best.

On my Soma minivelo, I run a front rack + rando bag and a Carradace "bag man" rear with a largish saddle bag. And then STILL carry the laptop in a messenger bag.

fietsbob

FWIW, Older Burly Flat bed with my Pocket Llama, all 4 tires are 406 .. 20"
(Current one uses 16" like BoB trailers)

The Bi Fri, Suitcase trailer and the Travoy are 12.5"

Carry Freedom City, a flat-folding trailer, uses 12.5 wheels too .

GoodShipRuffles

Without a front bag I find there's a distinct tendency for the front wheel to lift on my Brompton when pulling away from lights.
That said the wind resistance seems to be increased out of all proportion. Sometimes I pull out to overtake a bus on London bridge only to find myself going backwards.

DoubleDiamonDog

I have Brompton, with no rack and just use the T-Bag on the front. I had seriously considered a rack but as I talked it through with the dealer - how I planned to use the bike - he suggested that I not get a rack and just use the front luggage carrier. Having said that, for other Brompton owners and other owners of folding bikes, a rack can make good sense.

I were the OP, since he doesn't use the rack I would remove it but hang on to it in case I found that removing it didn't provide the advantages I imagined.

DoubleDiamonDog

Sorry to divert off topic for a sec here but Charles, I was wondering how you like having the drive wheel in front, as a the "steerable" wheel on your recumbent. In my "imaginings" I have thought that shortening the drive train to the easier, more direct connection to the front wheel would have advantages but wondered how that would work with steering. I have thought that it would not be an issue at speed but but slower more intricate maneuvering might be a bit compromised.

cplager

Your "imaginings" are pretty good. At speed, I can ride for extended periods of time with no hands, so it really becomes a positive. At very low speeds, it can be noticeable and can be a little on the annoying side (but the speed at which this is an issue is still getting lower and lower). It does take a little getting used to, but once you do, it's fantastic.

DoubleDiamonDog

Going a step further with this I have thought that a front wheel drive recumbent with a simple rear wheel electric hub drive motor, with low centrally mounted battery as you obviously have room for, would be a very intriguing rig. Aerodynamic, simple and with additional power for what I understand can sometimes be an issue - climbing - for recumbents. I have neither a recumbent nor electric bike but "imagining" can be fun.

wahoonc

I run racks on most of my bikes, including the folders. My Twenty's came with racks, I bought racks for my Dahon Classic III's.

I typically use a Banjo Bros rack top bag with drop down panniers. They do work with the 16" wheels... barely. But is still comes in handy.

Aaron

smallwheeler

aaww yeaaah.

bjorke

downtube

I never use a rack on my 9FS. I do not normally carry much ( if anything ). I use a backpack when necessary.

Om,
Yan

bjorke

(with the bag)

Winfried

With the front rack being pretty small, out of curiosity, what keeps the bag from falling down?

Velcro straps at the bottom of the bag?

bjorke

Yes, it's the Acorn boxy rando bag, which has velcro and side straps and a rigid hidden body that keeps it upright even without a decaleur (which is good for commute riding).
<- not mine

Winfried

Thanks for the info. I didn't know smaller porteur racks were called decaleurs.

smallwheeler

sweet...

werks

fietsbob

the Bike Friday includes braze ons , on that fork, is a 4 point mount for their front rack . ..


They connect with a front cross Tube , the racks pack Flat for all things to go in the suitcase for travel .

beamercub

Here is my Tern Link C7.. I love the Biologic luggage truss that is added to the front frame above the fork.. It enable the cool bag to click on or off with a key lock !! Best part it doesn't effect steering at all because it's on the outside tube... I also love the Biologic rear rack.. It enables me to get creative with what I might be hauling.. I recently took my luggage truss and rack off because I took the big with me to San Francisco.. I felt naked without them..