In my search for a front rack I have been considering using a rear rack in the front. I ran across an example of this on the Rivendell Bicycle Works web site. I do not think this particular rack would work well on the front but it got me wondering if I could use another rear rack.

Has anyone successfully used a rear rack in the front for touring? I do not see many examples of this so that makes me think this may not be advised. If you do not think this is a wise idea please list the reasons why.

generally speaking, it can work, but it requires a lot of time spent finding the right rack and modifying it accordingly.

try this like a rear rack but made for the front

https://www.evanscycles.com/products/...-rack-ec007524

Do a search here in forums for examples; I posted an image some time ago. I found using the Blackburn MTB font rack to be more stable.

Yes it can work. I use a CyclePro rear rack on the front. It was laying around in my spare bike parts pile, so figured why not use it? Had to fabricate a mount to get it on there correctly, but in the end it works fine. It's carried my gear over about 3,000 miles of touring so far without a problem. Asphalt, dirt, gravel, everything.

That said, low riders are probably preferable. Keeping the weight low on the steering end makes sense to me. Maybe some day I'll go that route.

Thanks for the responses! My fork does not have the mid level screw holes for the blackburn rack.

Here is a picture of my fork.

As you can see it does not have cantilever bosses or mid level screw holes. But it does have front and rear threaded eyelets and the standard caliper brake hole available.

So I was planning on mounting a rack utilizing the three mount points (front eyelets, and brake bolt) the fork has available. Much like the image from Rivendell

I have done a lot of research on this and I was looking at the Velo Orange Constructeur Front rack as an option, but wonder if that will mount the bags too high.

I am open to ideas if anyone has them.

Does anyone else have pictures or examples of a rear rack used in the front?

Mid-level eyelets not needed -- use metal p-clips:

https://tinyurl.com/678g2jc

This one is built like a rear rack, but is designed for the front. It bolts up quite easily:

https://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...34374302693083

...and it's quite cheap at only $13CDN!
(Sorry, I can't post a picture as they're all flash)

Jandd Extreme Front Rack is prerty much a rear rack designed to mount on the front using p clamps.

Old Man Mountain also makes racks that mount with clamps.

I recently bought a Nitto Big Front Rack from Rivendell:

https://www.rivbike.com/products/show...k-nitto/20-075

Pricey and not the lightest thing invented, but it's beautiful (nickel plated) and super strong. It also mounts with p clamps (included). The panniers mount mid-level.



I have no handling problems. In fact, I have only ever toured with a front rack with a platform and mid-mount panniers. My previous set of racks were from Bob Beckman. Unfortunately, they were stolen along with the bike they were attached to and wait time for a new set was too long.

Re #6, I've had loads get unstable with that type of rack when it was on the back.

Just the thought of shaking it with every steering correction , is unsettling.
[they set it up in the shot, to sell them , apparently, ... ]

back in the day, when people packed them up .. on the rear,
same company's cast aluminum racks,

some folks tried to triangulate them a bit.. guy wires, to overcome, this.

steel cable and a couple turnbuckles to get the cable tight

may be a cheap kludge to make it work.

theres little tubes made, to make the loops in the end,
then hammer shut to keep the loop fixed.

Good hardware store will have stuff..

Hey Bruzer, I have a Blackburn MTN rear rack that I think may work. It looks like it could be mounted backwards using your fork eyelets and fork crown brake hole. Your welcome to give it try.

Bill

https://www.blackburndesign.com/racks_mirrors.html

Older thread on this topic:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/482881

I have since removed the rear rack on front because I found that when riding slowly up steep inclines with 15 or 20 lbs a wobble in the rack would begin with side-to-side play; this made steering difficult. However, at speeds faster speeds the rack handled well; never an issue with downhill rides. As noted earlier, I now use the Blackburn MTB front rack which seems to be very stable.

Thanks for the link to the older thread. I did try searching on this topic before I posted, but the phrase "use rear rack on front" got a lot of unrelated hits in the touring forum alone.

This older post got a lot of safety warnings about using a rear rack on the front. Like the OP, I understand this is not an optimal set up and I would not load it up.

I will likely take Bill up on the offer of trying his rear rack out and see how that goes. I really appreciate all the responses here. Specifically that MEC front rack looks like a good inexpensive option as well.