indyfabz

You grouchy scolder! How dare you have an opinion that doesn’t square with the happy praiser! How many posts do you have? I’ll bet it’s a lot [inserrt random comma here before some snark].

Atlas Shrugged

Yes I was a paperboy back in the early 70' and used one daily (except Sundays) But that is not what this rack is, but you already know that.
"the usual crew as they congratulate each other over the expected and unimaginative smart-ass comments"

Koyote

I’m not sure what this means. We’re talking about devices for carrying stuff around on a bike. And if you’ve used a Wald basket, you should know how well it works.

chaadster

Atlas Shrugged You can feed the trolls, but having no shame, they just get more bloated and drunk seeing their names on the screen. They are worthless elements, not worth the consideration of those capable of such a thing. Thank you, though, for the thoughtful comments!

chaadster

Oh, and Atlas Shrugged , on the matter of Wald baskets, you are of course correct they’re not at all the same thing as the JACK. You have to zoom like crazy, but in the following pic you’ll see a ‘73 Schwinn Collegiate 5spd I had in the fleet for almost 20 years and to which I affixed a Wald basket; it’s hanging in the rafters in the upper right of the pic. I still own it, but it’s on indefinite loan to a friend, and yeah, I’d need to be suffering some kind of mental deficiency to seriously consider bolting one of those Wald things on the Rally.

veganbikes

Not trolling or anything like that throwing legitimate praise at the Wald baskets and racks. I don't see why Wald cannot be listed with another rack as if this Jack thing is something so crazily different.

Having differing racks is not a bad thing. In the case of this vs that the Wald baskets can mount on the handlebars as well but they have a second place of contact at the dropouts or mid fork, the Jack the Beach Chair does not have that same set up it hangs on the bars like the Wald and then uses hook and loop straps on the head tube . It doesn't mean that Jack is bad it just is a different thing. And yes I was saying Jack the Beach Chair as a joke to laugh about not some hate on the product or some odd conspiracy as maybe someone random might try and infer. I enjoy laughing it is good for you and it is an internet bike forum no need to be serious all the time?!

mstateglfr 

It's a $750 steel frame bike with a 1x8 Claris drivetrain. Why is it so outlandish to use a Wald rack on that bike?

I am considering tossing a Wald rack on my commute/errand bike. Ive hesitated because I don't love the look and think I would like a demi-porteur style rack more, but I certainly don't think I have a mental deficiency for seriously considering a Wald rack.

rollagain

If aesthetics take a back seat to function, Wald baskets do the job. I put a Wald 520 rear basket set on the Xebec, and I actually expected it to rattle, but it never has, even at speed down a steep little hill bouncing over broken pavement. I've loaded it up with groceries and it just works.

indyfabz

“Funny. I was thinking the same thing.”—Jules Winfield

indyfabz

When you need something functional and nice looking.

seypat

Here's an alternative with a lower weight limit.

https://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-Hang-...A2N8IR65CAZMH8

Koyote

I find functionality to be attractive, and so my errand bike’s basket looks good to me. It carries a larger load than the Jack Rack, doesn’t rock or sway, and takes about five minutes to install. I have an old waterproof canvas tote bag that I load up and drop into the basket — works brilliantly and with no fuss.

Koyote

Decals half worn off, anodizing worn off from the bottle cages, lots of scuffing on the crank arms. That’s my kind of bike — the kind that gets used hard. In some ways, I find that even sexier than your ti Super Fly machine. But I suspect the OP would never be caught dead on it.

seypat

Those racks are in it for the long hau!l

easyupbug 

To me and perhaps others, the only Tern I have seen in the flesh was as nicely built as my customs, with welding and paint/decals done by craftsmen who clearly cares, lovely polished fenders and rims and to my taste very nice leather grips, as opposed to my LeMond Zurich with weld splatter under the paint. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a Wald rack and one can not beat it for being useful and economical, a benefit to the majority of cyclists. However, splurging on a very nice pricey rack for the Tern is something I can appreciate.

indyfabz

They are 12.5 years old and still work and look great. Nickel plated steel is real.

seypat

And still trucking.

All of the adventures they've taken with you - priceless.

indyfabz

Heh. That thing has probably averaged at least 1,000 touring miles/year since I got it in 2011. That's not mention the commuting/transportation miles. The decals are mostly the victim of locking the bike to racks and poles. IIRC, they are completely worn off now. (Maybe I should start a thread about making a bike less attractive to prevent theft. ) I think I replaced the cages with new red ones after one of them finally broke. Still have the crank arms, but the chain rings are now black.

veganbikes

Didn't you know if you squint hard enough Claris is the new Dura Ace. So long as you don't use it and keep squinting it will always be true.

Broctoon

I like exploring various options for bike cargo, but I don't think I'd use something like this Jack thing-a-ma-jig.

Here's why:

For less money and easier installation, you can get a bag that simply straps onto the handlebar. Boom. Done. And it doubles as a purse/fanny pack when you get to where you're going. Easily moves between bikes. Keeps your stuff protected from the weather. Keeps your stuff secure from falling off. (Not to say you can't secure things to a rack, but it's more complicated and time consuming than throwing them in a bag and closing the zipper.)

If you want to carry stuff that's bulkier or heavier than a handlebar bag can take, get a proper rack, with support struts that secure it to the fork down low. Ideally, these would attach to threaded bosses, but some bikes will require "P" clamps. This will handle much more weight with no concerns about strength/security.

When you consider the physics involved (really just geometry), there's a huge disadvantage to anything that attaches only at the top. Because leverage. I have a semi-rigid bag from Ortlieb with the same problem. Its pros include super easy and fast attachment/removal after the mounting bracket is initially installed; tough, waterproof, and very secure compartment; some nice features like magnetic top flap closure, zippered internal pouch, and key clip; and top quality materials and construction. One con is that it can't be shared between multiple bikes unless you spend additional money for more mounting brackets. Also, the bracket that remains installed on the bike is kind of chunky. The biggest con, in my opinion, is that it really doesn't carry much weight. This is entirely because of the leverage involved--a few vertical struts would make a world of difference.

I might sound like a hypocrite for saying I favor either a soft bag or a "proper" rack, and then saying I use an Ortlieb semi-rigid bag. But there are some applications where it's nice to have something in the niche between these extremes. The Ortlieb overlaps a bit into the realm of smaller and lighter bags and a bit into the realm of rigid racks. Although it requires some compromises, it offers the best of both worlds. A rack that attaches only to the bar and stem and is still just a rack (no enclosure built into it) involves too many compromises, for me. I see it as having the worst of both worlds.

indyfabz

Prepare to be branded a grumpy troll thingamajig, or whatever, especially since you pointed out the issues with the OP's contraption.

badger1

I prefer the term you coined above: Grouchy Scolder. Could be straight out of Dickens; has a nice, descriptive ring to it, like 'Artful Dodger' or 'M'Choakumchild.'
I, for one, would be quite happy being referred to as a Grouchy Scolder.

Broctoon

I don't mean to criticize anyone for his choices in bike gear. Folks can use whatever works well for them, or whatever looks cool and appeals to them. My preferences lean toward the practical and efficient, usually.

I often chime in with an opinion on others' choices, for the sake of a meaningful discussion. As you note, this can rub some people the wrong way.

indyfabz

*Poof!*

You’re a Grouchy Scolder.

Yours truly,

Crabby McCrabface