Rear rack: lower horizontal rails or not? (Cargo vs Logo)
 

My LBS should get my Disc Trucker in sometime this week. I need to pick a rear rack and (believe I) have it narrowed down to Tubus Cargo or Tubus Logo. This bike will be a commuter, errand runner, and eventual tourer.

I think I'm resigned to a front rack without a platform (tubus tara), even though I think one would be nice for around town, I wanted a big platform for utility duty and can't find exactly what I'm looking for, and the Surly Nice Rack is too heavy and strange for me. Discussion.

My question is: do you like lower horizontal pannier mounting rails on your rear rack? I like the wider platform of the cargo better for around town utility use, but think the lower rails and further back position on the Logo would be nice too. Having never toured and wanting to set this up for an eventual trip, I figured I'd ask. Thoughts? Lower better? Further back better? Will I have problems with panniers and gear on top too? Here are dimensions on the Cargo and Logo.

Thanks! If it makes a difference, it's a big frame (64 cm) and I have big feet (13 us /48 euro).

I have the Tubus Logo and like the lower rails. I find that the rails drop the load about 3 inches down and I have a little more adjustment fore & aft. So overall, that should lower my CG, but I don't know if I can really tell any difference while riding. I have a set of small Arkel panniers with a large top pocket, so the lower rails allow the top of the pocket to be even with the rack platform & easy to access when there's a load across the back. However, the rack's platform is very narrow and tapers in toward the seatpost. My Old Man Mountain rack has a large, solid platform that had lots of room on it. However, I found the OMM rack to sway, so I tried the Tubus last year. I found the Tubus to be worlds sturdier, so I accept the slight tradeoff of the platform area. I still carry a Orlieb duffel on the rack without an issue, so overall I very pleased with the Logo.

I use a Topeak rear rack. I switched from a standard rack to one with a 2nd set of lower rails precisely because some panniers sat higher than the platform, which meant anything on the platform had to be narrow enough to fit between the panniers. For that reason, I think it's definitely worthwhile to go with the 2nd set of rails. To me the lower rails are more important than platform width because as long as the panniers sit low enough, other items can overhang the platform, and sometimes the pannier tops can create an extra wide surface to store other gear.

Also, for the front rack I use an Old Man Mountain Cold Springs rack. Has a platform and a lower set of rails (which may not work with all panniers, but they work with mine), and it's aluminum, so it may be lighter than a lot of other options.

Further back not better for handling reasons. I would go with the Cargo so you have the larger rear platform if you need it. Many (if not most) people who use panniers on a rear rack also carry gear on top of the rack. I do, and when I tour with the GF I put a 6.25 lb. 3P tent on my rear platform. I also have big feet (size 12) and a 60 cm LHT and don't need a rack that allows the panniers to be pushed back further than normal. (Currently using a Nitto "Big" rear rack.) I have positioned the pannier mounting hooks so the panniers sit as far forward as possible without creating heel strike.

BTW..Regarding a front rack with a large platform, did you check out the Nitto "Big" front rack sold by Rivendell? I have one and really like it. It's ain't cheap or light, but it's sturdy as hell and really good looking. The Jandd Extreme is another option.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=255833

Big plus with the LoGo, and adjustable track hook bags ,ala Ortlieb..
is the 2 combine to let you shift the panniers back, for heel clearance.

Trade off is the top platform is narrower, than the cargo.

Tubus Locc is their biggest platform, + as the name implies
they offer a place to mount a particular Abus U lock, inside the left leg,
so easily deployed with panniers on the rack.


I have the most Touring miles on a set of Bruce Gordon's racks.

I know these are hard choices since each rack has its purpose. I know the logo's top is much narrower than most cyclo tourists want to carry extra gear such as sleeping pad, tent, etc. If 80% of the time you'll be doing urban riding (e.g., commuting, errands) the logo is lighter and will work just fine. Another plus with the logo, it will work with both 700c and 26" bikes, if you ever decide to mount it on a different bike (the cargo is wheel-size specific.) If your tours will be fully loaded lasting a week or longer, you'll appreciate having the cargo.

Another idea is to go for the Cosmo which combines the best features of the logo and cargo racks. Also works on 26" or 700c bikes. It's also stainless steel which will be a little sturdier. After going back and forth, this is the one I recently got for my new build. I used one of Velo Orange rando S.S. front rack to match. This combination - front rack with small bag, rear panniers, top rear rack surface - should be enough for most of my tours.

I have a Tubus Cargo. It seems to work well for me. It may depend on what your rear panniers are which you might prefer. On the front, I really like a rack for my Acorn bag. On my Salsa Vaya which has mounts for a low rider rack, but disk brakes like your Disk Trucker, I put on a Nitto M18 front rack. With a pair of longer supports, available from Tubus, I can mount the high Nitto rack as well as a Tubus Tara low rider rack. You will probably need spacers for the low mounting points on the fork to clear the disk brake caliper.

I am also a big guy riding a big frame with big feet, so I feel your pain.

I think I use the same rack as Rob E, the horribly named "Topeak Super Tourist DX Tubular Rack:"

http://topeak.com/mediafiles/products/4093/

It allows me to use Topeak bags, which lock into the rack very securely, even with panniers. It's also easier to put stuff on the top rack.

I haven't noticed any handling differences as a result of getting the weight lower. Front/back weight distribution is much more noticeable.

I have the Tubus Cosmo on my touring bike (which is one of a few bikes I commute with/ride around town as well) and while I can't really tell the difference in using the top or bottom rails, I do love being able to strap a basket or really odd loads on the top platform while still being able to put panniers on the lower rails. That bike also has a Nitto Campee with removable low-rider rails on the front, around town it only has either a rando bag or basket on the platform, while giving me the easy option of adding low riders for touring.

If you do want a platform up front in addition to low riders, you could get any number of Velo Orange or Nitto racks and use p-clamps on the fork blades - or go cheaper with something like a Pletscher rack. Then you can just install your low rider rack when you go on tour.

Same here, but with a Logo. The Cosmo didn't exist at the time or I would've bought that one.

For what it is worth I have gone with the Tubus Cargo Expedition on the rear of my Surly Long Haul Trucker. I probably got excited by the reference to Expedition and purchased it :) I find it handles my Ortlieb Bike-Packer Plus panniers and my tent just fine :)

http://www.aushiker.com/wp-content/u...20-550x412.jpg

Regards
Andrew

I bought my new bike a couple of weeks ago. Specifically asked the salesman for a tubus cargo, because I wanted the larger platform and didn't think I would need the extra heel clearance. When the bike was ready, it turned out the mechanic had put a logo on it, which actually looked rather cool. So I said it was okay. Don't think these things matter too much; if you put a bag lower, it will give more clearance to anything placed on top of the rack, making the platform effectively larger. The logo looks good, which is one reason I kept it.

Still, for all-round use, I would recommend the cargo. You can hardly go wrong with it, it's a very safe choice. Note that bags like those from Ortlieb or Vaude allow for some backward movement on the rack, should heel clearance be an issue. Most of the time it is not.

Take a peak at the Jandd "Expedition". Wide / Long / Strong. The only one I own

Agree. My Surly rear rack with Ortlieb Backrollers has the panniers several inches higher than the rack. Makes it a bit complicated to fit anything other than a rack top bag on top of the rack.

I have put a duffle oriented side to side on top of the back panniers and rack, but it did not sat on the rack well and the only reason it worked was that the duffle was half empty and I strapped something a couple inches thick to the rack before I put the duffle on top of it.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=256497

much easier to have panniers plus stuff lashed to top of rack with two sets of rails. see andrews pic above ^^.

A second set of rails would allow his rolled/lashed package to stay on the rack while he opened, closed, filled or even removed his panniers. as is, he has to muck about with the tent lashings to drop his panniers on...

I have a logo on one bike, and my silkroad also has two rails for this reason.

Cant really go wrong with tubus, either rack is rated to ~90 lbs. the second lower rails are convenient.

As to moving the load back, its never mattered on my bikes, nor would I want my load further back than necessarry..

Lower rails are worth it and the TopeakSuperTouristDX is a great value. If your major use is commuter/errand runner the wider platform with plate covering is worthwhile. It's easier carrying boxes on a wider platform. Odd shaped objects don't squish down onto the fenders/tires. If you HAD to get a Tubus I'd get a Cosmo. I had the Topeak for awhile and got hooked on the lower rails. After that I got lower rails brazed on the Cargo I got later on. I've got a Logo but found it wasn't wide enough for carrying a milkcrate on my LHT.

If your LHT is a 700c version I don't think a big platform in the front will be optimal for carrying heavy loads. I'd reserve that for the front panniers and use the rear platform for large center placed objects. A front mini-rack could be useful for carrying a sleeping bag in a compression sack.

The Locc looks tempting. Talk to Wayne at thetouringstore.com the 26" version may fit a 700C (is that the size you have?). A lot of racks mount a lot higher than necessary to begin with and IIRC the 26" Cargo I had fit the 700c LHT.

Hi,

I'd recommend the extra set of lower bars. Being able to strap a tent and so forth across the top of the rack while the panniers sit lower is quite useful.

I have the Tubus Locc on my touring bike.

Cheers, A.