Bicycle Racks
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Racks are mounted on bicycles so that
Panniers
or other bags can be attached.
They come in two types, front & rear.
Most people start with a rear rack.
Some folks eventually add a front rack,
which allows them to carry more stuff and balance out the
load on the bike a little better.
Blackburn is the best known maker of these racks,
although other manufacturers have similar designs.
If you want the best, You have two options.
Both offer premium quality (at premium prices):
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Tubus offers German designed quality racks
made of chromoly or stainless steel tubing,
while most other manufacturers use aluminum.
This makes their racks lighter yet stronger,
and less likely to crack due to metal fatigue.
Tubus chromoly racks have a tough epoxy coating,
while their stainless steel models are hand polished.
I have used Blackburn racks & they have performed just
fine for me.
If I decide to go bicycle touring in remote areas I will
probably upgrade to Tubus racks.
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Old Man Mountain Takes a slightly different approach than Tubus.
Their racks are made of aircraft quality (6061-T6) aluminum tubing.
Where the tubes are joined, they weld on both sides to produce a
superior joint.
Old Man Mountain's impressive customer support offers free shipping of
spare parts anywhere in the world, for as long as you own your racks.
This is something to consider if you are planning a long trip.
Rear Racks
If you want a Vista light attached to your rear rack
we will be glad to mount it at no cost.
Vista lights are relatively inexpensive,
and come in very handy when you get a flat tire & can't make it
back home until after dark.
Blackburn EX-1 ($44.95)
This is their strongest rear rack,
with three struts going down to attach near your rear axle.
It is made of aircraft-quality aluminum and weighs only
1.55 pounds.
Blackburn rates it as being able to carry 40 pounds.
Two struts on the front of the rack attach to the seat stays
on your bicycle.
Some bicycles have braze-ons for a rear rack.
Those that don't require some small clamps that wrap around
the seat stays.
This rack should last you forever (it comes with a lifetime warranty
from Blackburn).
I have one on my Fuji America that is about 25 years old & still
going strong.
We highly recommend this rack if you plan to do any self-supported
bicycle touring.
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Blackburn Mountain Rack MTN-1 ($38.95)
Not as strong as the EX-1 (rated at 30 pounds of load instead of 40),
and a little bit lighter (1.30 pounds versus 1.55).
It also has a lifetime warranty.
This model has a plate on the top which acts like a fender to keep
mud & water off of you & your cargo.
This model is designed for mountain bikes,
so it is sized for 26 inch wheels.
It fits 16" to 21" frame sizes.
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Tubus Cargo Rack ($121)
Tubus racks are Germany engineered,
and are top quality racks, but at a price.
Their Cargo model is very stable and heavy duty.
Although it weighs only 1.34 pounds, its load capacity is 88 pounds.
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Tubus Logo ($132)
This design moves the rear panniers
aft and down slightly, providing additional heel clearance.
If you occasionally clip your panniers with your heels,
you might want to consider this rack.
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Tubus Cosmo ($187)
The Cosmo is a stainless steel version of the Logo.
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Tubus Carry ($275)
The Carry is made of titanium.
It is pricey, but the Carry weighs only 0.57 pounds (260 grams), almost a pound less than the Cosmo,
and over a pound less than the Logo.
It is rated for a slightly lower load (66 pounds versus 88 pounds) than the Logo or Cosmo.
(If you are packing more that 66 pounds on your rear rack,
Please review your checklist & consider deleting a few items).
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Tubus Vega ($121)
The Vega is similar to the Logo, but without the lower side rails.
It weighs slightly more than a pound and can carry 55 pounds of load.
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Tubus Fly ($110)
the Fly is a very lightweight rack,
yet it can carry 40 pounds of load.
It mounts to the brake bridge.
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Tubus Luna ($176)
The Luna is the stainless steel version of the Fly
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Tubus Airy ($258)
The Tubus Airy is the ultimate lightweight rear rack.
Made of titanium, it weighs only 0.46 pounds (210 grams).
Despite its very modest meight, it can carry 66 pounds (30 kilograms).
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Old Man Mountain
Sherpa Rear for Disc ($139.95)
The Sherpa is a relatively basic rear rack that can be used with a disk brake.
It weighs only 1.14 pounds, yet it can carry a 40 pound load.
The top of the rack does not have a load stop at the front,
which some touring cyclists find desirable for carrying long items.
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Old Man Mountain
Cold Springs Rear for Disc ($159.95)
The Cold Springs is beefier than the Sherpa, and it can also be used with a disk brake.
It weighs 1.34 pounds with a load rating of 50 pounds
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Front Racks
I use an old Blackburn lowrider front rack that has served me well
for about 20 years.
I never put a lot of weight in my front panniers,
usually no more than 5 pounds in either of them.
Nevertheless, this makes my bike much more stable,
since it balances out the load between front & rear.
I use front panniers on bicycle camping trips & when commuting
to Kroger to buy groceries.
Lowrider racks attach near the front axle and around the middle of the
front fork.
Some forks have holes pre-drilled to accept a lowrider rack.
Those that don't require U-bolts that go around the fork.
Blackburn no longer makes the lowrider front racks
that I use, & currently we do not have any budget-priced font racks.
Old Man Mountain
Ultimate Lowrider ($127.95)
This rack offers two different mounting levels (high or low) for your panniers.
It weighs 1.21 pounds & has a load capacity of 40 pounds.
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Tubus Duo ($110)
A lightweight, two-piece design that
requires mid-fork braze-ons that are drilled through to both
sides of the fork blade.
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Tubus Tara ($110)
A simple design that works on bikes
with or without mid-fork braze-ons
(extra hardware is required to mount it on forks
without mid-fork braze-ons).
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Tubus Ergo ($121)
The Ergo is a front rack
with a similar design to the Tara,
but it has some extra tubing.
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Tubus Nova ($176)
The Nova is a stainless steel front version of the Ergo
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Here's your webmaster with front & rear racks in action
on a 2002 week-long, self-supported Tour in Wisconsin.
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If you have any questions, you can e-mail
Roy,
give us a call (1-800-793-7801),
or stop by our bike shop at Madison & Epler
in Indianapolis.
You may also want to take a look at our
Panniers &
Touring Bikes pages.
