Peter, the third sentence of the Silkroad link you provided says: "The rack itself is stronger, stiffer and lighter". Further down it says: " The maximum carrying capacity of the Silkroad is 350 pounds." Any off the shelf rack that can carry what that rack carries is going to have a lot of parts and still give the rider the risk of fastener failure. https://www.blackburndesign.com/racks.html#ex_1

Your solution with sockets could transmit the torque a bit better. There is no rack to mate with it, though. Won't help you fifty miles outside of Peoria.

Nice idea on the cage. Since you are a fan of the Silkroad, do you think I could put a long-reach caliper brake on the rear brake bridge? I am not sold on the disk brakes. By my reckoning, disk brake parts add 200g to the weight of a Kona Project 2 fork.

"Peter, the third sentence of the Silkroad link you provided says: "The rack itself is stronger, stiffer and lighter"."

I'm sure they do say that, stronger stiffer and lighter than what? The majority of racks out there are not stronger than chromo racks by any number of better makers. So anyone with a chromo rack can correctly claim that. Lighter I don't particularly believe based on the number/size of tubes. It is a fairly normal shape rack and would attach just as easily with screws if it were not welded. Of course welding is lighter than screws and fittings, just not by any substantial amount.

Do welds make it particularly rugged. I see no reason why that would be so. Welding has a number of disadvantages like deflections that need to be cold set out, and weakening tubing. Of course all racks are welded or brazed so it isn't a big deal, except that with this rack you put all your eggs in one basket. If it falls appart, or more likely is damaged in use, it isn't as easily swaped out. We could take the view that everything that is attatched to the bike should be welded on: brake levers handlebars, derailleurs. But we prefer the wider selection, versatility and easier replacement of parts that are bolted on, and can come from various manufacturers.

Since I am making both my racks and my frame, nothing would be easier than welding the rack to the frame for me. I can see the appeal to manufacturers, it is cheaper to do, they get the rack sale, and they get some value from selling it as an improved design. Next I suppose we will see some S&S couplers for welded racks so the darn thing can be removed and packed.

"The maximum carrying capacity of the Silkroad is 350 pounds." Any off the shelf rack that can carry what that rack carries is going to have a lot of parts and still give the rider the risk of fastener failure."

We are talking rider, bike weight, and gear not rack capacity I assume. My cheapo touring bike carried that without a groan, mostly my weight, and the blackburns did the rest. Blackburns are fine for most people's expeditions, they do become disasters over the long long haul. But many trans Canadas get done with the aluminum clones. 7000km being a long ride but a short service life. next time one goes on a 7000km ride on just buys another 15 dollar rack.

There is a risk of fastener failure to the same extent there is a risk of weld failure: It approached zero when parts are properly sized and competently assembled. The problem is we are mostly stuck with the 5mm system which is not keeping up with advances in technology, and advances in the kinds of trips many people now take. The fix is as simple as moving to 6mm. The problem is entirely a marketing thing. Would I prefer a Silk road frame to an identical one with 5mm bolts? Probably. The manufacturer is getting a lot of buzz out of the welded on rack. The problem for someone doing the sensible thing and moving to 6mm is people will probably avoid them on the grounds that "they are the makers of that frame nobody's racks fit". While the welded on rack make the TT cool, otherwise it looks pretty much like any other mountain bike.

I would prefer the new BG frame with US make chromo BG racks to the TT, asuming all else is equal I would probably go that route particularly if they had a 6mm option. I think someone like Surly ought to bust a move and offer 6mm fititngs on their expedition (26") LHT. They sell racks that have removeable bits that could be substituted in 6mm, possibly their rear rack could be drilled out.

I don't really care if an integrated rack is theoratically better or not. All things equals, it just looks better. One thing is certain, welds don't unscrew themselves from vibrations.

I have no idea. I'm just that, a fan. I like the principles behind the Silkroad but it's way out of my price range.

The thing about the bottle cage is
1) these Topeak cage are great for touring. A single 1.5L bottle has as much water as two typical 750ml bike bottle.
2) I have a bike which has the cage braze-ons too close to fit even one large bottle cage. Fitting two can be difficult on bikes with sloping top tube (not enough room on the seat tube) but if designed a bike, I'd make sure I can fit at least one.

If you want to believe that a 5mm screw and bolt is as strong of an attachment as the tube welded to the rear dropout of the Silkroad, then go ahead.

BTW, I am an engineer.

Lot's of great ideas springing up here. Apparently several previous posts were deleted and I'm not sure why, but I appreciate the conversation continuing. Thanks all.

is that a double Stronglight up front? I think the smallest chainring is 37t for that.

judging from the star-pattern, lack of logo, and center bevel that starts wide by the spindle and narrows towards the pedal, I'm pretty sure you're right - a Stronglight 93 Super Competition. 122 bcd, so mallest chainring was 38 tooth. I don't think these could be used as a triple.
He must'v been a strong fellow. Looks like he's got a 32 in the back, though, which helps a bit.

https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk...ents/str93.jpg

that's the crankset I had on my Lippy that I rode from Ogden Utah to Boulder to see the 1980 Coors race. V.L, thanks for the info, I'm having fun reading about Ian, I had an Argos frame for awhile, but it wasn't like that!
I think I had something like a 39/49 with 6spd 14-30 Suntour ultra 6 spd freewheel.

https://www.bikebrothers.co.uk/ih_argos_refinished.htm


https://www.bikebrothers.co.uk/ih_grubb.htm

40/46 with 14-31 five spd freewheel. 34.8" low gear