A friend of mine is looking for more info on a rack like this:
http://www.sandsmachine.com/a_syc_r1.htm

I thought i saw pics of something like that here on the boards... but can't seem to dig anything up.
Anyone got any info as to obtaining something like this?

http://www.sandsmachine.com/p_sycr15.jpg

thanks.

that bike is slick as hell, and i want a rack like that too

idiot question alert: can someone explain to me the reasons for and effects of geometry like that? it looks like mountain bike geometry, no?

Maybe becuase it is a MTB?

Not the same rack but here is one similar. www.paulcomp.com click flatbed

http://www.cetmalabs.com/CETMAdata.html

here you go...

Neat company: http://www.sycip.com/

maybe im a cheap bastard, but 20 bucks shipping is ****in outrageous.

http://www.antbikemike.com/basketsandracks.html

Mike will build you one for only $100 if you let him build a frame while he's at it. ;)

That's Joel Metz's custom Sycip w/ its custom Sycip front rack.

Joel is an ex-SF now Portland courier. His web site is here:

http://blackbirdsf.org/

Pay special attention to the pages dedicated to 'porteur' bikes.

Good question about the front end geometry. Carrying 20kg up front does require special attention to geometry.

We're building a rack like this and the frame and fork to go with it. It will ship at the beginning of the year. The geometry was developed by Jan Heine. It's based on a 1952 Herse porteur.

Here's an early rendering of what it will look like:

http://kogswell.com/images/sneak2.jpg

And here a not-quite-current blueprint:

http://kogswell.com/images/sneak9.jpg

No, this isn't a track bike. It's design to do work. So we don't expect hipsters to grok it. But it will be priced like all other Kogswell frames which will make it a good value for working class cyclists.

If you're designing a bike to carry heavy loads, why do you have the front rack attached to the front wheel, where it moves as you steer? Wouldn't it be better it attach the front rack directly to the frame itself, dutch style?

There are a couple of reasons. 1) You're carrying someone's property and you want to make sure it doesn't go anywhere on you. II) It can be wider than what you might carry on the back because you can see it to maneuver it. c) It's actually better to weight up the front wheel for handling because bicycles tend to be too rear heavy to begin with. Adding more weight makes it handle squirrelly and can even make it buck while you're trying to mount up if you put too much (say 20 kg) on the back.

Matthew, do you know anyone in Boston with an F-series? I saw one rolling by yesterday in Harvard Sq.

Not talking about front versus back racks. I've seen some euro bikes where the rack is in the front, suported by an extension from the top/down tubes, not the front wheel. This gives you the advantages of the front rack, without having to actually wrestle all that weight around whenever you move the front wheel.

like this.
http://www.zednet.co.uk/onyerbike/listings/7.gif

Perfect! thanks Karmical!

[edit] hmmm. just realized the max weight on these is 8 lbs!

not going to get many records on the thing at 8 lbs..

I think that's the weight of the rack, rather than the carried weight.

Ah, like

http://www.antbikemike.com/images/Bikes/frontal2big.JPG

This is sort of a take on the traditional butcher's bike:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/hembrow/currysbutchers.jpg

http://www.bike-x-perts.com/images/J...er-Klassik.jpg

I'll let Matthew speak for himself, but I suspect it's because the above are really optimized for carrying heavy loads and not much else. They're cargo bikes and don't really lend themselves well to just cruising around.

that's impressive, i wish i was dedicated enough to use something like that...

It's one of those things where I'm like, dang, I sure wish I had one of those. But I don't want to actually ride it most of the time, just have it.

The one pictured has an estimated cargo capacity of 60 lbs or so, which is similar to many light trailers. Unless you use it all the time as a work bike, you'd probably be better off just hooking up a trailer when you need it.

These guys use it all the time.

http://www.antbikemike.com/images/flomrb.jpg

http://members.efn.org/~cat/images/Longrack.JPG

http://members.efn.org/~cat/html/longhaul.htm
Human Powered Machines Longhaul cargo bike. Load is between the wheels and low, which makes for very good handling even with huge loads. We've got three of these and use them every day. Rated at 200# plus rider, I've put 400# up front with 200# of me on the saddle. Mine is fully speced out with a mix of Phil/King/XTR parts with some downhill cranks and beefy rims.

I've also towed 700# with that thing!

word. thanks for all the info people!

Nice Stranger in a Strange Land quote there Kogswell. I still dig that book to this day, 3rd time reading.

I'd share water with you any time.