Rack help
 

Hello, this is my first post on this forum. I usually wander around MTBR, but for this particular question I think this is a better place.
I just finish to build a Surly Ogre. The bike is going to be used in general mtb, commuting (mainly grocery runs) and trips of variable lenght and terrain. When travelling I only intend to strap a drybag on top of the bag. When commuting I use some Axiom Appalachian panniers which I tend to overload. The rack will be kept on the bike all the time. I'm trying to chose between these racks:

Tubus Vega- Seems to be light and nice to be kept on the bike.

Tubus Cargo- Has an huge load capacity with a minimal weight penalty. Is it too overkill for what I intend?

Madison Summit- Is a lot cheaper than the Tubus ones, and is not that ugly. I'm not too keen on aluminium.

Any help will be appreciated

I say go with the Tubus Cargo. It may be overkill for some of your scenarios but that's not a bad thing for an additional 4 ounces over the Vega. You'll not have to worry loading up with groceries. Tubus steel is pricey but definitely no nonsense rugged. I don't have any experience with the Madison Summit, but have used other aluminum racks that were flimsy when loaded up.

ze_zasker, IME grocery runs are perhaps the toughest use of a carrier... stronger is better.

Brad

4 ounces is not a penalty. The fluid in a full bladder weighs more than 4 ounces. Do you feel lighter after taking a leak? You want strong if you are going to be going off road.

I assume you meant strap it on top of the rack, not bag. If you have no panniers on the rack, you need a fairly wide platform on the rack to support a drybag that you strap on top. But, if you use the panniers on the rack, that makes rack platform width less important as the panniers will help support the drybag.

if you went alloy the

I would choose the Tubus Cargo my preference is to have something rated for more weight or abuse than I am likely to subject it to.

Tubus Locc is a bigger platform , than even the Cargo. added feature :
U lock mount inside left leg. An Abus U lock was in mind, in design.

Get the Cargo, or better yet, the Cargo Evo.

L to R: LOCC, Cargo, Vega, Fly, Luna:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=263773

http://www.thetouringstore.com/TUBUS...SON%20PAGE.htm

You can't go wrong with the Cargo. I love mine and the extra weight is nothing.

Yes, that was a typo. I was trying to say on top of the rack, thank you.
If I go for a Tubus it will be the Cargo then.
Never looked at that Axiom. 50kgs is a big load. Any review on that rack?

I have two Axiom Journey racks, which have an even higher weight rating. They're definitely good racks for the "budget" category (a little over $30 plus shipping), and they have worked out just fine for me, but I just don't believe the weight rating. The Journey doesn't look to have stronger tubing or welds as other alloy racks I have seen, which tend to have 40 lb-ish ratings. That being said, I have gone grocery shopping with an Axiom Journey and large panniers, and everything worked fine.

I have a Cargo Expedition on my Surly Long Haul Trucker and consider it a great rack (jealous that you have an Orge but :)) but the only niggle I have is that when I want to carry something on the rack and use panniers at the same time it is a bit of pain.

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

I now feel that the Logo Evo might have been a better choice. It is only 67 grams more weight too.

http://www.tubus.com/image_small/image26.jpg

Andrew

Thorn used to rate their heaviest duty rack at a higher weight rating if you use 6mm bolts than the standard 5mm bolts. Thus, I don't put too much faith in really high weight ratings, as the limiting factor is the bolts.

I bought a Logo EVO about a month ago and used it on a 500 mile tour with a heavy load. Worked great. Very stiff, stiffer than the Surly rack that it replaced. But, it has such a narrow platform that it is essentially unusable with a rack top bag or trunk. I will pull it off the bike in the near future and use a cheap rack around town that has a wider platform for a rack top bag, but the Logo EVO will be used on my future tours with panniers.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=263978

That's an impressive, and hard to belive, cargo capacity for the Axiom racks. And they are quite inexpensive.

By the way, this is the bike:

http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/9598/img1920zh.jpg

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/3390/img1921m.jpg

That's why the Logo and Vega are out of the equation for me. Right now, the game is between the unanimous Tubus Cargo and a cheaper Axiom/Madison alternative

chainstays are rather short, so think about heel and pannier contact,
pedaling, in your choice and setup..


a modest bit of creativity and plywood can make the narrow ,
wider..
I like Scandinavian Baltic Birch ply the best..

Bob, Ogre CS length is variable, in that it has a horizontal dropout with ~40mm of adjustment range for the case of an IGH with chain tensioning requirement. Surly geometry states CS=431mm, which is the most forward position, but you can effectively extend it to ~470mm (although with a derailleur it's going to work best in the 431-450 mm range, due to fixed location of RD hanger).

The actual rack mounting points are located a distance of ~440mm to ~460mm from BB center (there are 3).

http://surlybikes.com/uploads/bikes/fm_ogre_03.jpg

OP - If you want fenders, but haven't tried fitting them yet, you will find that the FD cable will interfere with fender if the wheel is mounted fully forward. You have to move it (and fender location) rearwards a bit to clear cable. Mounting the wheel and fender further back also makes it easier to remove the wheel with the tight fit you will have with fenders and a horizontal dropout. At this point you may also need Surly Monkey Nuts or a Tuggnut to keep the wheel from slipping forwards when pedalling.

http://surlybikes.com/info_hole/spew...nt_derailleurs

Back to topic, and on second thought, I think I would put a Tubus Locc on an Ogre, partly for the extra top length and width, partly for the neat way to secure a U-lock (assuming the right Abus lock can be found), and lastly it seems like the Locc would just look better scale-wise. More importantly, the Locc has more clearance height-wise and tire-diameter-wise than other Tubus racks and is better suited for 29er tires.

http://www.tubus.com/documents/13365...Classic_BM.pdf

http://www.tubus.com/documents/1323681562_Locc_BM.pdf

Tubus Cargo is limited to 50mm tires width (as seeker has already indicated). I guess that might matter to Ogre owners, Locc and Cosmo might be better alternatives. Also, big wheels covered with mud and Cargo don't do well together.

Besides Cargo I own Madison Ridge rack and it seems to be surprisingly good for the money, no issues so far (but it hasn't seen any real rough pavement yet).

I already use Monley Nuts on my Ogre, and have no intention to change the axel position on the dropout. But since I have no plans to tour with full on panniers, heel strikes are probably not a problem. Also, I have no intentions to run fenders.

I wasn't aware of the Tubus Cargo tire width limit. I sometimes use some fairly wide tires on my bikes (Panaracer Rampage eg.) so that might be a problem.

Just found a really good deal on a Surly Nice Rack copy (Ragley Rack'em Up). What do you think of this one?

I just recently came across a Bontrager rack that attaches via the skewer. http://www.bontrager.com/model/08214 This seems a stronger connection than the threaded connection in single sheer of most mounts. This rack also can be connected at the top to the brake bridge and thus can be even used with a carbon frame.

I wonder how this sorts of skewer mounts (Tubus have one as well) go with the likes of Bob trailer and Extrawheel Voyager skewers.

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/images/core/spacer.gif

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/images/core/spacer.gif
Andrew

I really have no interest on that kind of attachment.
Any opinions on the Surly type rack that I've mentioned?

I know this is not on your list, but I use the Jandd Expediton on mine and it works great. Holds a ton (not really, more like 75 lbs) and keeps panniers out of heel strike range.

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/6929/updatedbars.jpg
By thestoutdog at 2012-07-07

Very nice looking setup you have.

Andrew