Cheap Rack suggestions?

In article <[email hidden]>,

Quoted message said:

I recently bought a 26' bike just for general transportation around my
college campus because I'm tired of walking. Can you guys suggest a
cheap but effective rear rack (or any other method) to transport my
backpack so I don't have to wear it while cycling? Thanks for the
help!

How big is your backpack?

A rack can be made to work, but the most obvious way to me is to put it
inside a pannier. This isn't entirely crazy, if you can secure the
pannier somewhere once you get to college.

Also, how far are you going, and how warm is it? Sometimes the best
solution is to not try to solve the present situation.

The other alternative for a small backpack is maybe a front basket.
Which looks cute, too.

And then I went googling for some sort of convertible backpack, and
found all sorts of stuff at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Delta-Backpack-Adapter-Waterproof-Bicycle/dp/B000AC
AMCE#moreAboutThisProduct

Check out the "customers also viewed..." stuff, which looks good.

--
Ryan Cousineau [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com/
"I don't want kids who are thinking about going into mathematics
to think that they have to take drugs to succeed." -Paul Erdos

Ryan Cousineau said:

The other alternative for a small backpack is maybe a front basket.
Which looks cute, too.

Cute is better.
You can keep an eye on stuff in the front basket, you don't need to
strap it down with netting and you still have a good chance of seeing it
fall out if you hit a bump.
~

Quoted message said:

I recently bought a 26' bike just for general transportation around my
college campus because I'm tired of walking. Can you guys suggest a
cheap but effective rear rack (or any other method) to transport my
backpack so I don't have to wear it while cycling? Thanks for the
help!

Here is a suggestion; you will probably hear a lot of whistles as you
ride by - J.

http://www.hembrow.eu/childsbikebasket.jpg

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I recently bought a 26' bike just for general transportation around my
college campus because I'm tired of walking. Can you guys suggest a
cheap but effective rear rack (or any other method) to transport my
backpack so I don't have to wear it while cycling? Thanks for the
help!

Where are you? MEC has many cheapies under $20

Bike Nashbar has a great backpack that converts to a pannier
nashbar.com

Thanks for the feedback, guys!

I've been researching it a bit more and I think I'll get...

This rack:
and This basket:

and I'll use a net or bungee cords to tie my backpack down to prevent
it from bouncing off.

Does anyone have any experience with those products?

My backpack is probably around 30lbs, so i don't think a front rack
would hold that too well (would it unbalance the bike?). Besides, I'm
a guy, so I'm not exactly going for the "cute" look. 😉

Thanks for the feedback, guys!

I've been researching it a bit more and I think I'll get...

This rack: http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Explorer-Bike-Rack-Spring/dp/B000FIATZ8/ref=pd_sim_sg_1/002-5016191-3555262
and This basket:
http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-MTX-Rear-Bicycle-Basket/dp/B000FI6WXQ/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_2_1/002-5016191-3555262

(Topeak Explorer Bike Rack with Spring and Topeak MTX Rear Bicycle
Basket)

and I'll use a net or bungee cords to tie my backpack down to prevent
it from bouncing off.

Does anyone have any experience with those products?

My backpack is probably around 30lbs, so i don't think a front rack
would hold that too well (would it unbalance the bike?). Besides, I'm
a guy, so I'm not exactly going for the "cute" look. 😉

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the feedback, guys!

I've been researching it a bit more and I think I'll get...

This rack:
http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Explorer-Bike-Rack-Spring/dp/B000FIATZ8/ref=pd_sim_sg_1/002-5016191-3555262
and This basket:
http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-MTX-Rear-Bicycle-Basket/dp/B000FI6WXQ/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_2_1/002-5016191-3555262

(Topeak Explorer Bike Rack with Spring and Topeak MTX Rear Bicycle
Basket)

and I'll use a net or bungee cords to tie my backpack down to prevent
it from bouncing off.

Does anyone have any experience with those products?

My backpack is probably around 30lbs, so i don't think a front rack
would hold that too well (would it unbalance the bike?). Besides, I'm
a guy, so I'm not exactly going for the "cute" look. 😉

I have two Topeak racks that have the "slide in and click" arrangement shown
on these products. I don't have the basket, but use a rack trunk. The
"slide in and click" works well and provides a nice anchorage. I've seen the
basket in my local bike shop and it looked well-made, but I didn't
investigate it very much. Be sure your backpack will fit.

For a backpack, I've been happiest with a rack and a milk crate tied on top.
The backpack just fits in the milk crate, and if you have a rough ride you
can just tie it down with elastic cord or even an old shoestring. It's
cheap, it's easy, and the dorkiness probably provides a bit of theft
deterrent. The milk crate comes up a bit higher than the basket.

One more thing: Bungees can be dangerous around racks, because if they
loosen the hook can go down into your spokes, which is not good.

--
Mike Kruger
An opinion should be the result of a thought, not a substitute for it.
[Jef Mallet]

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the feedback, guys!

I've been researching it a bit more and I think I'll get...

This rack:
http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Explorer-Bike-Rack-Spring/dp/B000FIATZ8/ref=pd_sim_sg_1/002-5016191-3555262
and This basket:
http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-MTX-Rear-Bicycle-Basket/dp/B000FI6WXQ/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_2_1/002-5016191-3555262

(Topeak Explorer Bike Rack with Spring and Topeak MTX Rear Bicycle
Basket)

and I'll use a net or bungee cords to tie my backpack down to prevent
it from bouncing off.

Does anyone have any experience with those products?

My backpack is probably around 30lbs, so i don't think a front rack
would hold that too well (would it unbalance the bike?). Besides, I'm
a guy, so I'm not exactly going for the "cute" look. 😉

Hi Aegis,

OK...I guess you were not thrilled with my previous (classic) wicker basket
suggestion...

At my university campus bike racks, I see a few rectangular (cubical)
plastic milk crates tied down with bungee cords to a rear rack. I would
never, ever have such a jerry-rigged, unsightly, heavy system on my bike.
But depending on what one can find at garage sales, it might be your very
cheapest option. Only if you value your time at $0/hour, browsing garage
sales on weekends.

I like the Topeak quick release system
http://www.neiu.edu/~jbollyn/bike/dinotte-tail-light.jpg . This pic is
obviously under-exposed, intentionally. I took this particular pic to show
how bright my taillight is, so of course I did not use the flash. My Topeak
trunk bag quickly slides on and off the matching Topeak rack. I often need
to get my trunk bag on/off the rack quickly, to make my next inter-modal
commuting connection. I can't be screwing around with bungee cords, as my
train pulls out of the station - J.

"Mike Kruger" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the feedback, guys!

I've been researching it a bit more and I think I'll get...

This rack:
http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Explorer-Bike-Rack-Spring/dp/B000FIATZ8/ref=pd_sim_sg_1/002-5016191-3555262
and This basket:
http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-MTX-Rear-Bicycle-Basket/dp/B000FI6WXQ/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_2_1/002-5016191-3555262

(Topeak Explorer Bike Rack with Spring and Topeak MTX Rear Bicycle
Basket)

and I'll use a net or bungee cords to tie my backpack down to prevent
it from bouncing off.

Does anyone have any experience with those products?

My backpack is probably around 30lbs, so i don't think a front rack
would hold that too well (would it unbalance the bike?). Besides, I'm
a guy, so I'm not exactly going for the "cute" look. 😉

I have two Topeak racks that have the "slide in and click" arrangement
shown on these products. I don't have the basket, but use a rack trunk.
The "slide in and click" works well and provides a nice anchorage. I've
seen the basket in my local bike shop and it looked well-made, but I
didn't investigate it very much. Be sure your backpack will fit.

For a backpack, I've been happiest with a rack and a milk crate tied on
top. The backpack just fits in the milk crate, and if you have a rough
ride you can just tie it down with elastic cord or even an old shoestring.
It's cheap, it's easy, and the dorkiness probably provides a bit of theft
deterrent. The milk crate comes up a bit higher than the basket.

One more thing: Bungees can be dangerous around racks, because if they
loosen the hook can go down into your spokes, which is not good.

--
Mike Kruger
An opinion should be the result of a thought, not a substitute for it.
[Jef Mallet]

Hey Mike,

You stole most of my milk crate thunder, by 5 minutes - I need to type
faster - J.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Quoted message said:

I recently bought a 26' bike just for general transportation around my
college campus because I'm tired of walking. Can you guys suggest a
cheap but effective rear rack (or any other method) to transport my
backpack so I don't have to wear it while cycling? Thanks for the
help!

To keep it a utility/transportational bike, here's the
definitive rack:

http://tinyurl.com/2xhhk4

(in full:
http://www.bikemania.biz/Pletscher_Athlete_2B_Front_or_Rear_Bicycle_Rack_p/pletscher_athlete_2b.htm)

Attach a milk crate with zip-ties, and yer
off 'n runnin'.

Get some carabiners and you can hang stuff
off the outside of the rack when the inside
gets full.

Try to mount the milk crate so its centre
is slightly ahead of the bike's rear axle.

A rear flasher light (blinky) can readily be
attached to the milk crate by setting the
seatpost, round, clamp part flush against the
the crate and securing it with 2 or 3 zip ties.

cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

(Tom Keats) said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Quoted message said:

I recently bought a 26' bike just for general transportation around my
college campus because I'm tired of walking. Can you guys suggest a
cheap but effective rear rack (or any other method) to transport my
backpack so I don't have to wear it while cycling? Thanks for the
help!

To keep it a utility/transportational bike, here's the
definitive rack:

http://tinyurl.com/2xhhk4

(in full:http://www.bikemania.biz/Pletscher_Athlete_2B_Front_or_Rear_Bicycle_R...)

Attach a milk crate with zip-ties, and yer
off 'n runnin'.

Get some carabiners and you can hang stuff
off the outside of the rack when the inside
gets full.

Try to mount the milk crate so its centre
is slightly ahead of the bike's rear axle.

A rear flasher light (blinky) can readily be
attached to the milk crate by setting the
seatpost, round, clamp part flush against the
the crate and securing it with 2 or 3 zip ties.

cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

Here is a pic and a detailed discussion of the milk crate solution,
perhaps more detail than anyone needs:

http://www.cicle.org/wordpress/?p=108

J.