Front rack for touring + commuting
 

Looking into front racks has been surprisingly frustrating. From what I gather, the Tubus Tara is among the best, but also ridiculously expensive for a rack (I know, I know - it's steel and all that). I like the look of the Tubus, but all this bike gear is really starting to add up.

Anyone else have good luck with a front rack that doesn't cost over $100? Was looking at the Giant Rack-it Metro. Pictures of your front rack and pros/cons would be helpful.

Looking to mount it on a Trek 520 with panniers.

Thanks!

If you are swapping between multiple bikes with mid fork eyelets the Jandd lowrider has been around for 20 years just works. It runs 60-70usd.

Disadvantage: no top flat.

Advantage: Super simple design. Made in North America fwiw.

Note: Low rider racks are generally not found in most bike shops.

https://www.modernbike.com/jandd-ext...ont-rack-black

Mentioning this since its what i have and is close to your price limit
Mount bags high or low. Platform on top to lash stuff.


Front racks arent cheap. Just the way it is. And if one is cheap, there is an 82.61% chance it isnt good.

Cant really see the rack well here, but its cuz its in use.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8377/...86060660_h.jpg

Ooo a classic bike in my size. + and minus points for that stem configuration.

I bought my Tubus Tara from Bike 24, a German company. Right now you can purchase one for about $77 including shipping and handling.

Its a touring frame made by fuji in 1990 thats nearly identical to their touring bike that year.

As for the stem....its a touring bike so function over form every time.
Itd be nice if conversion stems had a flat bottom where you could add spacers to help reduce the obvious change.
Ive thought about using a Nitto Dynamic II stem as its a 0degree, but the reach only seems to be 120mm and i would been to use compact bars so thats an $80 change due to needing new stem and bars. Not really looking to pay that much just for a look.
And i know Technomic stems are popular for getting bars up higher, but i loathe the very tall quill stem look. Just not at all appealing.


Pretty sure ill change the setup to a Dynamic stem and compact bars eventually, but the current setup works too well to make it a priority.

I like mine.

If you've got canti/V-brakes, you can buy a platform rack that attaches to the bosses from Nashbar for under $20. I did than, then just decided I didn't need the platform.

NB: there are cheaper imported Asian made front racks, made in aluminum ..

My Local Shop sells some.. they cater to the locals , but a lot of bike tourists come through.

they, typically, already have bought their gear elsewhere.


Tubus Tara has an advantage in that it fits easily in the box when taken off and folded , to use existing bike boxes..
which require the front wheel come off..




....

I would not use that giant rack due to the two point fixing system, two points allows rotation into the front wheel if you hit a bad bump or bags are too heavy....

I have a salsa down under lowrider front rack. Same as the picture below (googing it seems they make two types).
You need inside and outside mid-fork braze ons, and a specific distance from lower braze on to the mid fork ones (at least 155mm I think)
When it is mounted it is rock solid.

Any rack that doesn't go over the front wheel should have three fixing points

http://biketouringnews.com/wp-conten...7/IMG_2766.jpg

I still use the Blackburn Low Rider rack that I bought in 1980. Nashbar makes it now for the grand sum of 27 bucks (on Amazon).

The Racks you can get with a Specialized AWOL have a good sized platform . 3 pieces screw together so pack to tour will be easier..

Just a comment about budgeting. A good way to not spend a lot of money is to not buy a lot of stuff. A good way to enjoy a nice handling bike like the 520 is to not load it to the gills. Small to medium sized front panniers and a cheap rear rack with tent and sleeping bag on top is a fine set up. After a year of riding you're going to spend more in bike consumables than the difference between a $50 and a $150 front rack.

This looks good, simple and sturdy.

http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FRLOW

I tried the larger Jandd front rack and didn't like how the back corner can hit the down tube when the bars fall to the side.

My Blackburn Lowrider front rack works just fine and has worked just fine since about 1986. You can buy them from Blackburn or Nashbar for about $20. You do not need to spend $200 on a Tubus rack.

The Blackburn/Nashbar rack people keep talking about, in case you aren't familiar with it: Nashbar Low Rider Front Rack

I will say the one complaint that I have about the Jandd is that I can't get my front wheel out without completely pulling the QR axle out.

My Nashbar low rider front rack works just fine. I have an XLC low rider front rack on my other bike that also has been trouble free.

I bought my Tubus Tara here:

https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/...28-black-37271

$53 pre tax and shipping brand new

Yes, I carry an extra QR nut just in case one makes a run for if down the road.

It's advantages are how fast it swaps bike to bike and simple one unit design.

Now Thru Axle hubs and forks require the same complete removal . axle threaded into a fork tip.

[Bruce Gordon's Low rider Cant outward, no problem with removing QR wheels..]

but this thread is about cheaper, they were cheaper 30+ years ago, when I Bought them..





...

I also ride a Trek 520. A couple of years ago I outfitted it with a Soma Porteur front rack and I've been very happy with it. It isn't under $100, but it is solid as a rock and will take front panniers. I have the large Nashbar front panniers. I can mount them and they'll stay put, but a somewhat smaller size, like Nashbar's Daytrekker front panniers, would fit more easily on the rack mounts. The Soma is wonderful around town -- lots of things that don't want to fit on my rear rack or the rear Wald folding baskets are easy to carry on the Soma rack. I would also mention that I find the Trek to be less than co-operative when I put more than about 40 pounds on the back. But, if I distribute the weight about 40/60 front/back, I can carry all the weight I'm willing to pedal. The first time you start up with noticeable weight on the front rack is a little tricky, but after that first time you'll be fine. FWIW

it looks like a lot of folks like the Jandd or Tubus, and someone mentioned the front rack that comes on the Specialized AWOL, which I believe they sell separately as the Pizza Rack. I am looking for a front rack that is a low rider/top platform combo. Does anyone have any experience with Surly's front rack? Cargo | Parts and Accessories | Surly Bikes

I have the Surly front rack and like it. I wanted a higher mounted rack so that I can use my Ortlieb back panniers on the front. It also does have a front mounting point for my dynamo powered B&M light.
I don't have a picture available but I could take one when I am heading home after work.

Here is mine with the Surly rack and the panniers. This is my daily commute setup.

+1
Very nice and elegant bike.:love:

I've been having a hell of a time figuring out how to install the Jandd lowrider front rack on my Trek 520 disc. The two lower eyelets on the front fork are too recessed to line up with the bottom attachment points for the front rack. Plus, I've scratched the crap out of my front fork trying to get it on. Anyone had a similar experience, or advice about how this is supposed to fit? The bottom attachment points on the rack and the front fork eyelets simply will not line up.

When the eyelets on the forks are "recessed" like that, I just go to the hardware store and get a couple tubular spacers. It works fine that way.

Was that the misalignment you were talking about? Or was there another issue?

Nice setup. :thumb:

Yes, but it looks like it will take a pretty long spacer to get enough clearance between the braze on eyelet and where the rack attachment will clear the fork. The round part of the fork is too close to the eyelet (and the eyelet is on the inner side, recessed) to allow the rack to attach with a simple hex bolt. Seems like it should be much more straightforward than that.

I can't really disagree with that! With rear racks, at least, a standard practice has been worked out, with flat eyelets on the rear of the dropouts and barrel eyelets in the seat stays. Things at the front are still haphazard. It seems that your eyelets were designed for fenders, not for racks.

Another option for you is to use p-clamps. These are rubber coated metal clamps with an eyelet at the ends. You wrap it around the fork legs and bolt the rack using the eyelets. Here's a picture of one of my old Peugeots using p-clamps to hold the rear rack to the seat stays:
https://i.imgur.com/29J1R0D.jpg
If you get properly sized clamps they will not move.

Oh, I should add that I needed to put a spacer on that front rack mount because I had the same problem as you did.

post photos?

I have the Surly rack and its pretty good. They used to be a lot cheaper. Super sturdy, but that also means super heavy. Sometimes I go places where I carry a lot of water, but if I just was commuting I would def. go aluminum. In fact, if I had to buy again I'd probably just go aluminum racks.