Touring with Porteur Rack?
 

It's time to get a front rack for my touring/commuter bike, and I really like the look of the Velo Orange Porteur rack. It is able to fulfill all my commuting needs - getting groceries (read: beer), picking up packages, etc. I also plan on taking some tours on this bike.

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience touring with a porteur rack. The velo orange porteur rack in particular seems like the best of both worlds - it can accomodate front panniers (not low-rider, but that really doesn't matter too much to me) and it can haul some wider loads. So if I keep the load on the platform light, I'm thinking this meets all my needs. Input, friends?

Here's the link to the VO porteur rack: http://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...teur-rack.html

I don't know how well the V-O rack could carry panniers, but I did run into a guy with this rack on tour. Best of both worlds, but harder to come by.

The VO rack looks pretty nice, my only concern is the single leaf attachment at the top. I have a rack like that that I made, and it attaches to two points on the fork, and the porteur part also attaches to the fork crown, five points not 3. Stainless for the same weight isn't as strong as 4130 at least not at that price. Certainly a good choice of material, but possibly not with 3 point of attachment.

Having the platform on top was great for adding stuff like bulky evening groceries. etc... Maybe a sleeping bag, though my rack is a little small for that. Ifr you really carry a lot of weight high, it call for a special fork.

no thanks.

It wont ride as well as lowriders. Fact.

It wont really carry panniers well. Fact.

It is heavier, and carries less weight than a Tubus low-rider rack. Fact.


on the plus side, it will look dandy sitting outside the boulangerie with a baton, camembert and bottle of burgundy. Just make sure to get a matching beret and onion-necklace to complete the image...

I would worry a bit about the paniers if the platform got in the way of their opening, my paniers are top openers. On my rack the paniers mount low on the wheel, and further back than some, and the ride is better than low riders. Sixty Five was trying to sell similar racks here at a very competitive price. As far a low distribtion/position is concerned, that goes for every high riding rack, and they are widely popular. And heavier front racks than tubus are also widely popular, even within the Tubus line.

a rack like Surly's nice rack is one that can be modified with a wide platform..
plywood is fine.. I use sheet metal screws and P clips to attach to the rack..
drill some holes in the corners to tie stuff down..

I have done that with a Blackburn over the wheel front rack, also,
You can bolt the lowriders on those, like theirs, did.. copies are still made ..
so the lowriders are still there .. top rack replaces the hoop.

You just don't have the brace from the outer edge of the wide platform.

There is the Nitto/Berthould franco/sino stuff, another kit where a narrow rack over the wheel
adds a low rider pannier mount.

Neat. I have Beckman Designs racks. While the front is not nearly as wide as what is shown in that photo, it does have an effecting carrying length of 22". My old North Face Slick Rock tent fit perfectly on it.

Very interesting folks...

Anybody tried using a Pelican case in the front on a Porteur?

The Pass and Stow racks (http://passstow.com/) have built-in cross-bars for hanging panniers.

I really like the Pass & Stow rack.

The Nitto Highrider is pretty nice, if you don't get a custom rack. http://www.rivbike.com/products/show...nt-rack/20-187