ryan_c

I'm eyeballing the Nashbar front rack that mounts to the v-brake/canti studs, it looks like this:

does anyone have experience with this rack? I found one thread on it:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...bar+front+rack
But what I'm really curious about is if this will work with my Paul Touring cantis, due to the fact that the head of the brake-affixing bolt is recessed in the brake, and also due to the general mechnical design of the brake (the fact that they adjust like a 990, instead of relying on a screw to create spring tension).
They look like this:

Thoughts? Experience?
Thanks!

robmcl

I have one. I had to get longer bolts from the hardware store to put on my V-brakes on my old bike. I may have used spacers too but not sure if the rack came with them or if I picked them up at the hardware store. Not sure about your brakes though. It may be possible to use the same trick if it does not interfere with the brake adjustment.

By and large this rack is easy to gerry rig. My new bike has disk brakes and I was going to use the nylon clamps, sometimes called P-clamps I believe, on the fork. The other metal attachment can be bent just like on any other rack and attached to the frame where the front reflector is mounted. You may not know how it works until you get it and try.

I used this and the bag that is made for it on my old bike because my trekking/aero bar configuration does not make it easy to mount a handle bar bag. The bag is a bit on the small side and has two pockets that extend down like panniers, which may or may not interfere with front panniers. I would get the rack first and then maybe look for a small rack trunk to mount on it. Otherwise it was pretty sturdy.

NoReg

I can't really see any reason why it shouldn't work. The picture you have there kinda looks like there isn't any clearace for the stradle wire, but they presumably designed this unit for cantis, so that can't be an issue. With the pauls you use a wrench or fingers to hold the oblong nut vertical (I have neos I guess is't just above horizontal on the touring canti, and you cram the allen bolt on tight. After that it rotates on the pillar. It probably isn't an advantage to have a "washer" back there, but it should work.

seeker333

Its a teensy rack that does not accept any normal size panniers...

ryan_c

Thanks for the responses guys. To clarify to peterpan's comment on straddle wire clearance, the rack mounts in front of the brake, not behind it. Presumably, this would work, I'd probably just have to really crank down the bolts to keep the adjusting mechanism of the brakes from slipping.
As for the teensy size, I know. I was actually going to possibly use this rack in the rear as a support for my carradice to keep it off the brake/tire, and use a full shelf in the front for strapping a small tent to.

NoReg

It's just the picture, from one angle it looks like the tabs come straight sideways, which would block the brakes, but I guess they go straight back then in.

ronzorini

Ryan,

Please post pics if you decide to use the rack in the rear (for saddlebag support). I think a lot of people would be interested.

spambait11

Oh yeah?

https://yangmusa.blogspot.com/

spambait11

Just finished installing this rack on the front of my mountain bike.

It will fit in front of cantilever brakes, but you might have to raise the straddle wire carrier and use a longer stabilizer bracket (the brace that gets screwed into the fork crown) in order for the canti's to work properly, otherwise the brakes collide with the side of the rack.

I just happened to have a longer bracket (probably an old reflector mount) than the one Nashbar supplies, otherwise I was going to use a v-brake instead.

I don't think the recessed brake affixing bolt matters, but I did put a small washer in between the rack and brake arm interface; without this washer, the brakes arms would not move after tightening the bolt down. I have old DiaCompe cantilever brake arms without the spring tension screw as well. Brakes work pretty much as before.

tacomee

Glad you made it work....it's a cheap but useful little rack you'll use a lot.