Threaded rear eyelet more secure?
#26
Mad bike riding scientist




Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,167
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From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mounting up top is two P-clips. They are far more solid than the lower mounts, grabbing and shaking doesn't budge them. Arms are mounted on the inside side of the seatstays, I couldn't get them on the outside. Adjustment bolts on the rack are all solid and secured.
Thanks for all the input! I'm also leaning more towards the rack itself, but the loose bolts do cause me concern that I want to sort out. Maybe I'll try looking at some SAE bolts, seeing if any of them fit a bit better, but otherwise I think I'll tap it. I'm also thinking that a front rack will be added, just to get some weight off the back to help with handling, that was always in the plans anyways.
Any advice on a bit sturdier rack? Also, is it wrong to think that anything marketed for a 700 would also fit a 27"? Can't imagine there is enough of a difference in tire size to run into any fit issues.
Thanks for all the input! I'm also leaning more towards the rack itself, but the loose bolts do cause me concern that I want to sort out. Maybe I'll try looking at some SAE bolts, seeing if any of them fit a bit better, but otherwise I think I'll tap it. I'm also thinking that a front rack will be added, just to get some weight off the back to help with handling, that was always in the plans anyways.
Any advice on a bit sturdier rack? Also, is it wrong to think that anything marketed for a 700 would also fit a 27"? Can't imagine there is enough of a difference in tire size to run into any fit issues.
I would actually suggest a Tubus rack of some flavor. I've been using a Tubus Cargo for about 15 years and it is a good solid platform. Tubus can be expensive here in the US but I've found Rose Bikes out of Germany sells them for damnably cheap. The Cargo is 70 Euro ($78). The shipping rate is quite reasonable as is the shipping time.
I would also suggest you get the Tubus version of the P-clamp. They are a lot easier to use then P-clamps and a lot more stable.
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Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#27
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 631
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From: Worcester, MA, USA
Bikes: State 4130 Road, Mongoose Elroy, Aventon Sinch ST, Dawes Lightning DLX, 1988 Klein Performance, 1991 Peugeot Safari, 1985 Raleigh Alyeska, Carrera Phantom, 1973 Raleigh Record
I would also suggest you get the Tubus version of the P-clamp. They are a lot easier to use then P-clamps and a lot more stable.
#28
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2015
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From: Metro Detroit/AA
Bikes: 2016 Novara Mazama
Anyways, I'll take a look at the Tubus for next time!
#29
Mad bike riding scientist




Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,167
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From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones




I've used them for both the upper and lower mounts on the first two bikes (the mountain bikes) and for the upper mount on the second two bikes. Here's a close up on the upper mount on the orange Salsa

The mounts don't move like P-clamps can and they come with a friction tape to protect the frame. You do need to measure the diameter of your tube, however. You can see a spacer in the Salsa picture because I got clamps that were too small. They are much simpler to install than P-clamps as well. With the double bolt, you can mount the clamp to the frame and then mount the rack to the adapter and then tighten everything up easily.
I've found P-clamps to be difficult because you have to hold everything together and then try to thread the nut onto a bolt. It helps to have 14 hands
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Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#30
just another gosling


Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 20,563
Likes: 2,673
From: Everett, WA
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
++
I did strip out one 5mm threaded eyelet and had to tap it out to 6mm. A clean hole won't be any different from a threaded hole except that you can't strip out the threads. The resistance to wobbling doesn't come from the fit of the bolt in the hole. Were that the case, the hole and threads would get mangled up. No, the resistance to movement comes from the friction between the rack or fender mount and the bike part which has the eyelets. That's the reason that bolts have to be tight and stay tight: to create enough friction to prevent movement. The bolt just needs to be large enough to have enough thread area so that it can be tightened to an adequate torque to prevent movement. It doesn't need to fit tightly in the hole, though that would be better because then the bolt would be larger.
I did strip out one 5mm threaded eyelet and had to tap it out to 6mm. A clean hole won't be any different from a threaded hole except that you can't strip out the threads. The resistance to wobbling doesn't come from the fit of the bolt in the hole. Were that the case, the hole and threads would get mangled up. No, the resistance to movement comes from the friction between the rack or fender mount and the bike part which has the eyelets. That's the reason that bolts have to be tight and stay tight: to create enough friction to prevent movement. The bolt just needs to be large enough to have enough thread area so that it can be tightened to an adequate torque to prevent movement. It doesn't need to fit tightly in the hole, though that would be better because then the bolt would be larger.
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#32
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 289
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From: Gypsum, CO
Bikes: Litespeed Obed, Cannondale Scalpel, Spcialized AWOL, Litespeed Solano, Cannondale Synapse
I use front and rear Old Man Mountain racks. Bolt on model. I have threaded eyelets on the dropouts. I add a lock washer and bolt on back and I use blue Locktite on the threads. No problems there. I use P clamps on the seat stays instead of the eyelets. It makes a sturdier install. They are not the lightest racks available but they work well for me and I can't imagine them breaking under any circumstances other than a nasty crash.
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