seat post rack problem

"Dilbert Firestorm" <scanb_no_spam31@*no_spam*I-55*no_spam*.com> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

hey all...

trying to figure out what to do here.

I bought a topeak QR E-type beam rack. it looks like the QR clamp is too
big to fit between the road bike frame. the bike has a rear reflector
that can be removed.

the road bike was bought from sears in the mid-80's, so that gives one
an idea what I have.

the other possiblity is to raise the seat post higher, but wouldn't that
throw off the seating arrangement?

get a different kind?

I don't quite understand what's wrong. Do you not have enough seat post
showing to mount the rack?

Dilbert Firestorm scanb_no_spam31@*no_spam*I-55*no_spam*.com said:

hey all...

trying to figure out what to do here.

I bought a topeak QR E-type beam rack. it looks like the QR clamp is too
big to fit between the road bike frame. the bike has a rear reflector
that can be removed.

the road bike was bought from sears in the mid-80's, so that gives one
an idea what I have.

the other possiblity is to raise the seat post higher, but wouldn't that
throw off the seating arrangement?

get a different kind?

Of bike, perhaps. If you need to drop the saddle far enough to "fit"
on the bike that there's not enough room to mount a seat post-mounted
rack on the exposed post, you're riding a frame that's simply too big
for you.

The most important thing to consider is your fit on the bike - the
only possible solution (with the given equipment) is if your riding
position is too low now, and the saddle can be raised enough to make
room for the rack mount.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $695 ti frame

Mark Hickey said:

Dilbert Firestorm scanb_no_spam31@*no_spam*I-55*no_spam*.com said:

hey all...

trying to figure out what to do here.

I bought a topeak QR E-type beam rack. it looks like the QR clamp is too
big to fit between the road bike frame. the bike has a rear reflector
that can be removed.

the road bike was bought from sears in the mid-80's, so that gives one
an idea what I have.

the other possiblity is to raise the seat post higher, but wouldn't that
throw off the seating arrangement?

get a different kind?

Of bike, perhaps. If you need to drop the saddle far enough to "fit"
on the bike that there's not enough room to mount a seat post-mounted
rack on the exposed post, you're riding a frame that's simply too big
for you.

The most important thing to consider is your fit on the bike - the
only possible solution (with the given equipment) is if your riding
position is too low now, and the saddle can be raised enough to make
room for the rack mount.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $695 ti frame

well, I found my old bike manual. minimum rider leg length measured
from crotch to the ground equals the top tube height plus one inch.

the manual states that the bikes tube height is 31.5 inches. I exactly
cleared the 31.5 inches.

does this indicate wrong size bike for me??????

I noticed that the saddle position is very low at least level with the
handlebars.

It does appear that the saddle's seat post needs to be adjusted. I
didn't really use it much after I bought it in '85 and I've had bikes
before and often made adjustsments to the seat height.

Gooserider said:

"Dilbert Firestorm" <scanb_no_spam31@*no_spam*I-55*no_spam*.com> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

hey all...

trying to figure out what to do here.

I bought a topeak QR E-type beam rack. it looks like the QR clamp is too
big to fit between the road bike frame. the bike has a rear reflector
that can be removed.

the road bike was bought from sears in the mid-80's, so that gives one
an idea what I have.

the other possiblity is to raise the seat post higher, but wouldn't that
throw off the seating arrangement?

get a different kind?

I don't quite understand what's wrong. Do you not have enough seat post
showing to mount the rack?

I was a doing quick & dirty hook up with out having to use tools.

the seat post didn't have any clearance for the rack to mount with

so, that is why I tried to fit the rack between the rear bike frames,
its clearance area was too small for the QR clamp.

:
: the manual states that the bikes tube height is 31.5 inches. I exactly
: cleared the 31.5 inches.
:
: does this indicate wrong size bike for me??????

I bought a bike in '84 and it was a 60 cm frame ( I was fitted for this bike
at a bike shop). When I stopped, I had to lean the bike to one side so that
I could stand on the pavement (with one leg). In 2001, I was fitted for a
new bike and it turned out that I should be on a 55 cm bike. That's a huge
difference! I think that back then, they used to recommend larger frames
than are now favored. I could ride the old bike (and I did for many years),
but I can say that the new one fits better in so many ways. Like you, my
saddle was all the way down and so were the handlebars. So, yes, your bike
is too big.

Pat in TX
:
:

"Dilbert Firestorm" <scanb_no_spam31@*no_spam*I-55*no_spam*.com> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

well, I found my old bike manual. minimum rider leg length measured from
crotch to the ground equals the top tube height plus one inch.

the manual states that the bikes tube height is 31.5 inches. I exactly
cleared the 31.5 inches.

does this indicate wrong size bike for me??????

I noticed that the saddle position is very low at least level with the
handlebars.

It does appear that the saddle's seat post needs to be adjusted. I didn't
really use it much after I bought it in '85 and I've had bikes before and
often made adjustsments to the seat height.

Most likely, this frame is too large for you. Not necessarily because the
saddle is level with the handlebars, but because with a seat tube that long,
the top tube is probably too long requiring you to stretch forward to reach
the handlebars. Of course, this depends on your proportions and
preferences. I am not a frame fit expert, but I do know what I need for
all-day comfort on my bike.

-Don

Dilbert Firestorm scanb_no_spam31@*no_spam*I-55*no_spam*.com said:

Mark Hickey wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The most important thing to consider is your fit on the bike - the
only possible solution (with the given equipment) is if your riding
position is too low now, and the saddle can be raised enough to make
room for the rack mount.

well, I found my old bike manual. minimum rider leg length measured
from crotch to the ground equals the top tube height plus one inch.

the manual states that the bikes tube height is 31.5 inches. I exactly
cleared the 31.5 inches.

does this indicate wrong size bike for me??????

To give you a bit of perspective - I'm 5'10" (1.78m) tall, and fit
perfectly on a 56cm frame (measured center to top-of-the-top tube).
This would be the equivalent of a 54.5cm frame if it were measured
center to center. Some companies measure (nonsensically, IMHO) to the
top of the seat tube - which is an entirely arbitrary method since
there may be 1cm or 4cm of seat tube extending above the top tube.

This gives me about 15cm (6"😉 of seat post exposed (clamp to saddle
rails), obviously plenty to mount a seat post mounted rack on (which I
do, BTW).

Since 56cm = 22 inches, that may give you some perspective on your fit
issues.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $695 ti frame

Don DeMair said:

"Dilbert Firestorm" <scanb_no_spam31@*no_spam*I-55*no_spam*.com> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

well, I found my old bike manual. minimum rider leg length measured from
crotch to the ground equals the top tube height plus one inch.

the manual states that the bikes tube height is 31.5 inches. I exactly
cleared the 31.5 inches.

does this indicate wrong size bike for me??????

I noticed that the saddle position is very low at least level with the
handlebars.

It does appear that the saddle's seat post needs to be adjusted. I didn't
really use it much after I bought it in '85 and I've had bikes before and
often made adjustsments to the seat height.

Most likely, this frame is too large for you. Not necessarily because the
saddle is level with the handlebars, but because with a seat tube that long,
the top tube is probably too long requiring you to stretch forward to reach
the handlebars. Of course, this depends on your proportions and
preferences. I am not a frame fit expert, but I do know what I need for
all-day comfort on my bike.

-Don

I"m 5'9". don't know if that helps any.

this is a bike that uses 27" tires.

: >Most likely, this frame is too large for you. Not necessarily because
the
: >saddle is level with the handlebars, but because with a seat tube that
long,
: >the top tube is probably too long requiring you to stretch forward to
reach
: >the handlebars. Of course, this depends on your proportions and
: >preferences. I am not a frame fit expert, but I do know what I need for
: >all-day comfort on my bike.
: >
: >-Don
: >
: >
: >
: I"m 5'9". don't know if that helps any.
:
: this is a bike that uses 27" tires.

When you stand over the frame with one foot on each side, does it touch your
crotch? Do you have to tilt the bike to one side to enable you to stand
comfortably? When you are sitting on the saddle, do you have to stretch to
grab the handlebars? Does it hurt your neck or back after riding it awhile?
Just saying you are 5'9" isn't a lot of help because nobody knows how long
your legs are! That makes a whale of a lot of difference! You need to go to
your local bike shop and get some advice.

Pat in TX
:

Dilbert Firestorm said:

well, I found my old bike manual. minimum rider leg length measured
from crotch to the ground equals the top tube height plus one inch.

Oh, dear. For one, that measurement of fit is there only for the
convenience of the people selling bikes. You straddle the bar of the bike
in the store, and they say "See, it fits perfectly."

Getting a bike properly fit to you requires more time than that. Going by
just straddling the bar is like buying a $500 suit by: 40 regular, ought
to fit fine.... For a $50 suit from a second-hand store, maybe, and for
an equivalent bike. But for a bike you want to actually ride, you need to
make sure it fits, and is adjusted properly.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | It is a scientifically proven fact that a mid life crisis can
_`\(,_ | only be cured by something racy and Italian. Bianchis and
(_)/ (_) | Colnagos are a lot cheaper than Maserattis and Ferraris. --
Glenn Davies

hey all..

finally found the time to work on the bike and to get the seat adjusted
etc..

however, the seat post rack I bought turns out not to fit the seat post
rod. its a little too big. the post is about 1" or 25.4mm in diameter.

I guess I should have measured the seatpost before I bought the rack.

the kind I got was the Topeak Beam Rack MTX Bike E-type for std f.

apparently, I need something smaller eyelet or is there an add on that
would make the rack fit the seatpost?

Dilbert Firestorm said:

hey all..

(...)
apparently, I need something smaller eyelet or is there an add on that
would make the rack fit the seatpost?

When I bought my Topeak seatpost rack (which model I'm not sure), there was one (or more ?) piece of hard rubber or plastic that was to fit between the clamp and the seatpost. I guess my seat tube, as most modern ones, is a bit bigger than yours, so maybe you need an additional or thicker piece.

What I've found with this rack is that it needs to be tightened very hard or it will rotate and be constantly off axis. And as the quick-release lever needs to be horizontal in the closed position, that doesn't leave many degrees of freedom for adjustment.

By the way, was this seatpost rack the only option with your bike ? If it is a 1980 model, I would expect to find eyelets to fit a regular rack.

caracol40 said:

Dilbert Firestorm said:

hey all..

(...)
apparently, I need something smaller eyelet or is there an add on that
would make the rack fit the seatpost?

When I bought my Topeak seatpost rack (which model I'm not sure), there
was one (or more ?) piece of hard rubber or plastic that was to fit
between the clamp and the seatpost. I guess my seat tube, as most
modern ones, is a bit bigger than yours, so maybe you need an
additional or thicker piece.

What I've found with this rack is that it needs to be tightened very
hard or it will rotate and be constantly off axis. And as the
quick-release lever needs to be horizontal in the closed position, that
doesn't leave many degrees of freedom for adjustment.

By the way, was this seatpost rack the only option with your bike ? If
it is a 1980 model, I would expect to find eyelets to fit a regular
rack.

yes it is an 1980 model. I would have thought so. except that the eyelet
was slightly bigger than the post rod.

there were other selections among the topeak models, but I didn't take
the diameter of the seat post in question into consideration. just
assumed wrongly that it would fit. I don't know what rack would fit in
this case as the models don't always show the diameter size of the eyelet.

would it have been a better choice to get a fixed version?

ah, so that's what that 2 plastic seals were for. I have the seat post
rack finally hooked up that QR lever is really tough to close. I think
it would be better to get a bolt on version.

any idea where this buckle that came with the seal in a bag goes to????

caracol40 said:

Dilbert Firestorm said:

hey all..

(...)
apparently, I need something smaller eyelet or is there an add on that
would make the rack fit the seatpost?

When I bought my Topeak seatpost rack (which model I'm not sure), there
was one (or more ?) piece of hard rubber or plastic that was to fit
between the clamp and the seatpost. I guess my seat tube, as most
modern ones, is a bit bigger than yours, so maybe you need an
additional or thicker piece.

What I've found with this rack is that it needs to be tightened very
hard or it will rotate and be constantly off axis. And as the
quick-release lever needs to be horizontal in the closed position, that
doesn't leave many degrees of freedom for adjustment.

By the way, was this seatpost rack the only option with your bike ? If
it is a 1980 model, I would expect to find eyelets to fit a regular
rack.