Installation of rear rack - too far back?
 

I installed this Surly disc rear rack myself, and when I look at it... it just seems really far back. Not centered over the rear axle. I have no trouble handling on it, it feels good, and I took it fully loaded on a 100mile loop of the area over the weekend.

Is it an issue or is this okay to ride?
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1dd47c9525.jpg

if you get the dreaded front wheel shimmy, at higher speeds, going down hills, I'd make an adjustment

Ah - I have gotten a bit of that. I wonder how to adjust this rack more though? There's no way to keep it level while also pulling it (much) farther forward. Maybe the Surly rack just isn't ideal for this build?

It might be worth trying to put the panniers on low riders on the front, and either just ditch the rack or replace with a large free-standing bike-packing saddle bag.

In post number 19 below, Saddlesores points out that the frame mounting points are not intended for a rack.

Thus, the OP is likely overloading the frame beyond the design criteria from the manufacturer.

Thus, I have deleted my previous post here.

question:
if you get the high speed shimmy while at higher speeds, do you try to move the weight closer to center mass of the bike?

Judging from how packed those panniers look, don’t think a seat bag is going to have sufficient capacity.

In post number 19 below, Saddlesores points out that the frame mounting points are not intended for a rack.

Thus, the OP is likely overloading the frame beyond the design criteria from the manufacturer.

Thus, I have deleted my previous post here.

This is as far as I can get mine forward without my size 48 shoes creating heel strike. No shimmy to report.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2ee73e1ae.jpeg

As said, if it works, great, but truly I don't like the design of that rack. The top of the rack should extend more forward than the lower strut mounting point, like most racks, which then won't create such a problem. Ideally we might want our rack and panniers centered over the rear axle but generally that won't be possible with most combinations but yours is extremely posterior and you better have a strong rigid rear triangle or the tail's more likely to wag the dog.

If you can return that rear rack, I'd return it and get a different rack.

Another experienced tourer who says that is just way too far back
also, why didn't you use the lower mounting holes, is the rack too close to read tire? Can't see in photoI'm not familiar with this rack, but I'm sure you could use spacers with the lower bolt hole if you need to space out the bulky rack vertical bits from the frame.

I have a surly troll with similar sloped frame, and use a tubus rear rack, specifically because others used the Logo on trolls.

Found a photo to show you pannier position in my troll. Your panniers are also very high as well as back. For my wife's bike I got a different rack to help a lot with both, made the bike a lot easier to move around too.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9ec21f952c.jpg

That doesn't look right to me. The entire pannier is behind the axle. How much heel clearance do you have? If it is minimal you may need to live with it otherwise I'd change something. Most likely I'd try to find a rack that fit differently. Barring that I'd at least try to get the panniers further forward somehow.

Edit:
I wonder if it has anyting to do with the location of the mounting point on the frame? If so maybe a more typical rack mounted on that lower braze on would work better. That is a Ghost Grappler, right? I don't see any pictures with regular rack setups turning up in a google search. I don't see why you shouldn't be able to make one work though.

Show us a photo directly from side with no panniers on also, no need to show whole bike, better if closer, but so we can see the ground also

I guess, yes, I meant forward, because the front might be too light by comparison

Woa, you have some fully packed panniers there! As others have stated, the load is back further than it should be. This will put undue stress on the rack, and further instability may result.

Yes please do. I can't picture what rack would be that far back if level with that lower mount point. Something doesn't seem right. You say it is a surly rack, but I can't picture any of the models fitting like that. A picture without panniers would really clarify.

Edit: I just looked at the disc rack and I get it now. It looks like it is pictured with eyelets way ahead of the axle. FWIW I didn't have any trouble mounting regular racks on a disc bike using the lower eyelets. That might be a solution.

You'd think they would make the braze ons compatible with their own rack, but that doesn't look like the case to me.

i'ma bet that frame was designed NOT to mount a rear rack, but to be solely used for bike-a-packin'. those braze-ons on the bendy seatstays are probably intended as fender strut or seatbag support mounts.

sounds like a light load is intended, so no need for super massive racks.
at most you might could mount one of those carbon-fiber flyweight rear pack racks.

no mention of rack mounts, not something they'd forget to mention.

according to the video on the website, the designer dude says it's designed for "all-day dirt rides" and "carrying the bare necessities for quick and dirty bike packing escapes."

NOTE: at 1:39 in the video the dudester states:

see bottle cage mounted to seat stay at 1:50


(just me, or does it look like hipster don't spend much time outside of his cubicle??)

https://surlybikes.com/bikes/ghost_grappler

maybe could try one of these seatpost racks with p-clamps at the base.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/294697376580

have also seen non-seatpost versions with 4 p-clamp attachments.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1879a903cd.jpg

https://www.ebay.com/itm/294901570378

I don't think that rack is meant for your frame. Looking at websites that sell the rack, the Disc Rack mounts to a unique surly brazeon on bikes with a "traditional triangle" about 1/3 up the tube.
It looks like the design of your "triangle's" was intended to be used with more traditional racks and not need to use the Surly Disc rack.
Just my opinion from where you are mounting the rack compared to other pictures on the interweb.

This shows exactly why I diss steep slope frames for racks. Total farce. It is weird that the vertical strut aligns with the front.
It kinda works because you have weight on the front also. Maybe switch the whole load to the other end. LOL.
It needs to be fixed different for sure.

Thanks for posting.

When someone puts a rack on a bike, puts panniers on that rack, and posts a question on this forum, I think most of us just assume that the rack mounting points are intended for that purpose. If they are only intended for water bottle cages, with maybe a max weight of a kg, that someone at the store would have (or should have) told the bike buyer that a rack with a heavy load won't work there.

My rando bike and my road bike were clearly listed in the manufacturer description as having fender bosses or mounts, no mention of a rack. I have at times put a rack on those bikes and have carried a pannier of groceries, but had no intention of carrying a full camping kit on those frames.

So the video says that the pair of bosses in that funny bend in the lower part of the seat stay is for bottle cages. That almost make one wonder if that was the purpose of the bend in the first place. It is all pretty weird in any case. OTOH, a lot of what Surley spouts is marketing BS, so who knows.

Personally I'd still mount a regular non disc rack using the lower holes if it was my bike and I needed a rack. But if I bought the bike it would probably be for more minimal packing and I'd be able to go rackless. Also I don't care for the Surley brand and probably wouldn't buy one because of the BS they spout even if I liked their bikes. I can see why others do like some of their models.

BTW, I wouldn't be surprised if they moved/modified the bosses when they found out the original placement was a bad idea. Just guessing, but my bet is the top one was either found to be in a bad position for their rack or originally farther forward and in a bad place to stress the stay. Maybe I am all wet here, but I picture someone saving face by saying lets move them and call them water bottle cages.

In any case it is the kind of quirky crap I expect from Surley.

Re the bolts being only for water bottles-- I'd ask surly directly, but I can't see why they are any different than the mounting holes on my troll, which has a similarly shaped frame.

Dirtguy. I'll ask you directly again, why didn't you use the lower hole?
Do you know what I mean by spacers?

My rack is a tubus logo, with lower rails for the panniers, so the panniers are lower.
Also, a bit of forward rack slant isn't a big deal, one of my bikes is like this and I ride it all the time with heavy panniers, no issues.