riverdrifter

Hi! I'm looking for racks for loaded touring on this bike.


I like these Bontrager racks, they come with the new Trek 520. They are in my budget ($120 for front and rear). I'm looking at a 1 month tour in the Fall of 2019 (first timer) and trying to reasonably outfit this bike. This Jamis fork only has the lower eyelet, none mid level, and it has rim brakes. So will this front rack work? If not, what are your recommendations? Thanks!

fietsbob

Tubus makes a clamp on adapter to work where no braze on is fitted

riverdrifter

Thanks!

djb

just be aware that depending on how much you end up loading, the bike with what appear to be 25mm tires, is not really made for fully loaded touring.

Lots of "ifs and whats", how much weight of stuff, how much you weigh, how the bike will ride with X number of lbs of stuff, the gearing on hills with a load of stuff, how the wheels and spokes handle X number of lbs.....

but yes, rear racks are doable, and there are ones like the axiom streamliner, made for roadbikes and those type of brakes, and yes you can find a way to put a front rack on---but its still not a touring bike and it might be ok, but depending on the details, you could have some problems.

It could work out also, it depends though.

riverdrifter

Thanks! Yeah I understand there's a lot of variables, and this bike isn't made for touring, but it's what I've got. That and a small budget.

This will be a very relaxed pace, with my wife and 2 kids. I'll be pulling a Burley Solo trailer with a 3 year old in it. This tour will be about half-loaded, half credit card. Or some kind of mix like that. Low daily miles for sure, and just enjoying the family time.

I do have rear braze-ons and a single eyelet in the back, and dual eyelets on the fork, none mid-level though. For tires, Jamis says I can put 28s on, so that's what I'm going with.

djb

good to know those details.
heck, in that case, having pulled kiddies in trailers for many a year, its all doable, and I even pulled a trailer on a similar bike with 28's also, although it did have lower gearing, but in the big scheme of things, an easy conservative days ride with the accent on having a nice family activity, its doable.

the trailer should be able hopefully to take some stuff also, but clearly trying not to go overboard with stuff will be easier, although I know its hard with kids, the stuff needed.

anyway, Im sure you will do day rides and whatnot to figure out what you can actually carry, and then figure out if you guys can manage an overnighter etc. Goes without saying, cycle trails or really quiet country roads are the safest and most enjoyable way to go, use common sense and you're good to go.

good luck with figuring out the storage needs and how to make it work.

and most importantly, enjoy the kiddie years, thats the most important.