Cargo Rack on MTB - Considerations?

Michael J. Klein said:

I asked my LBS about putting a rear cargo rack on my new Yukon MTB.
He said that nobody does that, and it would limit my use of the bike
for off-roading. The reason that I have an MTB for street use is the
nature of the roads here. Often they are un-improved and differing
levels which I feel could be more easily negotiated by a mountain bike
rather than a road/comfort bike. Given that I don't use it for actual
hardcore off-roading, are there any other considerations about
mounting a rear cargo rack on my MTB, other than it looking retarded?

Michael J. Klein [email hidden]

You need to condider a new LBS.

Lorenzo L. Love said:

Michael J. Klein said:

I asked my LBS about putting a rear cargo rack on my new Yukon MTB.
He said that nobody does that, and it would limit my use of the bike
for off-roading. The reason that I have an MTB for street use is the
nature of the roads here. Often they are un-improved and differing
levels which I feel could be more easily negotiated by a mountain bike
rather than a road/comfort bike. Given that I don't use it for actual
hardcore off-roading, are there any other considerations about
mounting a rear cargo rack on my MTB, other than it looking retarded?

Michael J. Klein [email hidden]

You need to condider a new LBS.

Indeed. I remember the first time I walked into my local asking for
real full-coverage fenders. A guy looked at me blankly as if to say
"why would you want them?"

They are my local though; other shops are inconveniently far away.
The wrenches are better than the guys up front.

-Luigi

Luigi de Guzman said:

Lorenzo L. Love said:

Michael J. Klein said:

I asked my LBS about putting a rear cargo rack on my new Yukon MTB.
He said that nobody does that, and it would limit my use of the bike
for off-roading. The reason that I have an MTB for street use is the
nature of the roads here. Often they are un-improved and differing
levels which I feel could be more easily negotiated by a mountain bike
rather than a road/comfort bike. Given that I don't use it for actual
hardcore off-roading, are there any other considerations about
mounting a rear cargo rack on my MTB, other than it looking retarded?

Michael J. Klein [email hidden]

You need to condider a new LBS.

Indeed. I remember the first time I walked into my local asking for
real full-coverage fenders. A guy looked at me blankly as if to say
"why would you want them?"

Normally, I don't resent such statements when asked by professional
people who know more than I do about a particular subject. However,
after I introduce myself and appraise them of my expertise in a
particular area (if appliciable), I then get miffed if they insist
upon not selling me what I want.

Quoted message said:

They are my local though; other shops are inconveniently far away.
The wrenches are better than the guys up front.

Probably not a good idea to [censored] them off, me thinks.

Michael J. Klein [email hidden]
Dasi Jen, Taoyuan Hsien, Taiwan, ROC
Please replace mousepotato with asiancastings
---------------------------------------------

Michael J. Klein said:

I asked my LBS about putting a rear cargo rack on my new Yukon MTB.
He said that nobody does that, and it would limit my use of the bike
for off-roading. The reason that I have an MTB for street use is the
nature of the roads here. Often they are un-improved and differing
levels which I feel could be more easily negotiated by a mountain bike
rather than a road/comfort bike. Given that I don't use it for actual
hardcore off-roading, are there any other considerations about
mounting a rear cargo rack on my MTB, other than it looking retarded?

I fitted a rear rack to my Giant MTB the other week. It rattles a bit over
bumps, but I most likely need to tighten up a couple of nuts and perhaps
stick some blutac or tape on some of the fixings that resonate a bit. The
only problem I have with it is that you can't fit the rear rack on and a
crud catcher. So you get a muddy / wet back. The rack could perhaps foul the
wheel if you fitted it very close and had massive tyres on, and collected
lots of mud. But you'd have to fit it really stupidly to get it to foul
before the frame.

You could always fit a seatpost rack, but they won't hold as much weight.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I asked my LBS about putting a rear cargo rack on my new Yukon MTB.

My wife and I have had Blackburn Mtn Bike Racks on our Specialized Hardrock Mtn
Bikes for several years. We even, at times, mount junior Arkel panniers to
carry our stuff.

The racks are extremely sturdy, do not rattle, and, IMHO, would interfere only
with the hardest core type of mtn biking. I take my mtn bike on trails and
such with absolutely no problem.

Assuming you have the necessary braze-ons, etc., I think your dealer is
off-base.

Good luck.

http://members.aol.com/foxcondorsrvtns
(Colorado rental condo)

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox
(Family Web Page)

Bought one from Nashbar. It was pretty cheap, holds up to 40 lbs and
certainly doesn't rattle. I see these racks all over town on mtb's, not
sure what the big deal is? Sure they add weight, but so what if you need
some utility. It was a great investment.

Curt

"Michael J. Klein" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I asked my LBS about putting a rear cargo rack on my new Yukon MTB.
He said that nobody does that, and it would limit my use of the bike
for off-roading. The reason that I have an MTB for street use is the
nature of the roads here. Often they are un-improved and differing
levels which I feel could be more easily negotiated by a mountain bike
rather than a road/comfort bike. Given that I don't use it for actual
hardcore off-roading, are there any other considerations about
mounting a rear cargo rack on my MTB, other than it looking retarded?

Michael J. Klein [email hidden]
Dasi Jen, Taoyuan Hsien, Taiwan, ROC
Please replace mousepotato with asiancastings
---------------------------------------------

http://www.sjscycles.com/store/vIndex.htm
Go to SJS Cycles website and look under Carriers and Racks, Rack
fitting kits.

You will get examples of the different parts used to attach rear racks
to your mountain bike or any bike. I am assuming you don't have
eyelets at the rear dropouts and braze ons at the top of the
seatstays. If you have eyelets at the rear dropouts and braze ons at
the top of the seat stays, they you can just bolt on any rack you
want. My Raleigh M600 from 1999 has the required eyelets and braze
ons for a rear rack. I have a Blackburn Expedition rack on my
mountain bike.

So your bike shop guy was lying when he said nobody puts a rear rack
on a mountain bike. Please ask him to explain how a rear rack will
limit the bike's use for off roading.

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

Quoted message said:

I asked my LBS about putting a rear cargo rack on my new Yukon MTB.
He said that nobody does that, and it would limit my use of the bike
for off-roading. The reason that I have an MTB for street use is the
nature of the roads here. Often they are un-improved and differing
levels which I feel could be more easily negotiated by a mountain bike
rather than a road/comfort bike. Given that I don't use it for actual
hardcore off-roading, are there any other considerations about
mounting a rear cargo rack on my MTB, other than it looking retarded?

Michael J. Klein [email hidden]
Dasi Jen, Taoyuan Hsien, Taiwan, ROC
Please replace mousepotato with asiancastings
---------------------------------------------

On Sat, 26 Jun 2004 11:04:16 +0800, Michael J. Klein
<[email hidden]> wrote in message
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

I asked my LBS about putting a rear cargo rack on my new Yukon MTB.
He said that nobody does that, and it would limit my use of the bike
for off-roading.

He lied. I have a rack on my MTB and so do lots of other people I
know. The Yukon is a hartail, right? The rack will not be in the
way. Only if you wanted to hang right over the rear wheel in extreme
descents would it be an issue - and in that case you'd probably be on
the wrong bike anyway ;-)

Quoted message said:

The reason that I have an MTB for street use is the
nature of the roads here. Often they are un-improved and differing
levels which I feel could be more easily negotiated by a mountain bike
rather than a road/comfort bike. Given that I don't use it for actual
hardcore off-roading, are there any other considerations about
mounting a rear cargo rack on my MTB, other than it looking retarded?

None, probably. I had to use P-clips on my MTB because the rack I had
spare didn't have a brake bridge mounting bar, you can get three-point
mounting racks which bolt to the brake bridge if you don't have
braze-ons. You might have trouble if you don't have eyelets, but I've
never seen a bike which didn't have at least one set of eyelets.
Sometimes you get single eyelets and have to share the bolt with the
mudguards [fenders] and sometimes you get double eyelets.

As to looking dorky, well, I'm not qualified to comment. We have
seven active bikes in the family (4 MTBs, one tourer, a recumbent and
a triplet) and every one is fitted with a rack.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

On Sat, 26 Jun 2004 13:03:46 +0100, "Doki" <[email hidden]>

wrote in message : said:

The
only problem I have with it is that you can't fit the rear rack on and a
crud catcher. So you get a muddy / wet back.

Unless you fit full mudguards or use a rack with a solid platform :-)

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

Just zis Guy said:

Unless you fit full mudguards or use a rack with a solid platform :-)

Incidentally I've had good luck reviving a 20-year-old ESGE (? German) mudguard
by sawing off the trailing damaged portion, and mounting the rest OVER the brake to get
wheel clearance.

You have to reduce the length to clear the wheel in any case, unless you can
mount it exactly at right angles relative to its displacement.

Over it is the rear rack and milk crate, so upwards-flying debris is caught
in any case, but this eliminates back-of-leg spray.

Added plus : it no longer traps snow, so it no longer drops snow on the chain, and
so the freewheel no longer clogs with the produced ice (no-clog owing to the increased
wheel clearance).
--
Ron Hardin
[email hidden]

On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

Sat, 26 Jun 2004 13:03:46 +0100, <[email hidden]>,

Doki said:

The
only problem I have with it is that you can't fit the rear rack on and a
crud catcher. So you get a muddy / wet back.

The most common solution seen around here is the Rear Deflector Shield

http://www.ratail.com/rear.html
--
zk

"Michael J. Klein" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I asked my LBS about putting a rear cargo rack on my new Yukon MTB.
He said that nobody does that, and it would limit my use of the bike
for off-roading. The reason that I have an MTB for street use is the
nature of the roads here. Often they are un-improved and differing
levels which I feel could be more easily negotiated by a mountain bike
rather than a road/comfort bike. Given that I don't use it for actual
hardcore off-roading, are there any other considerations about
mounting a rear cargo rack on my MTB, other than it looking retarded?

Nah, most MTB's have the fittings for racks. Fenders are probably not a good
idea if you go off-road (they tend to pick up sticks and crumple and jam), but
racks are fine. If you're going to stick to the streets, I'd get fenders, rack
and folding pannier. MTB's make great bad-road bikes -- try installing your
own accessories, then you won't have to suffer random opinions...

Michael J. Klein said:

I asked my LBS about putting a rear cargo rack on my new Yukon MTB.
He said that nobody does that, and it would limit my use of the bike
for off-roading. The reason that I have an MTB for street use is the
nature of the roads here. Often they are un-improved and differing
levels which I feel could be more easily negotiated by a mountain bike
rather than a road/comfort bike. Given that I don't use it for actual
hardcore off-roading, are there any other considerations about
mounting a rear cargo rack on my MTB, other than it looking retarded?

There's nothing "retarded" about a bike being used in a utilitarian
manner - few things are actually as "unretarded".

FWIW, I've been using a Delta seatpost mount rack for a couple years,
and find it works very, very well. It places the rack a couple inches
higher than it would be ideally, but that's a very small price to pay
for the ability to "de-rack" the bike in seconds should I want to take
it off-road in anger. The rack will handle up to 25 pounds (11.5kg),
which is more than I'd ever be likely to put on it.

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

On Sat, 26 Jun 2004 13:03:46 +0100, "Doki" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Michael J. Klein said:

I asked my LBS about putting a rear cargo rack on my new Yukon MTB.
He said that nobody does that, and it would limit my use of the bike
for off-roading. The reason that I have an MTB for street use is the
nature of the roads here. Often they are un-improved and differing
levels which I feel could be more easily negotiated by a mountain bike
rather than a road/comfort bike. Given that I don't use it for actual
hardcore off-roading, are there any other considerations about
mounting a rear cargo rack on my MTB, other than it looking retarded?

I fitted a rear rack to my Giant MTB the other week. It rattles a bit over
bumps, but I most likely need to tighten up a couple of nuts and perhaps
stick some blutac or tape on some of the fixings that resonate a bit. The
only problem I have with it is that you can't fit the rear rack on and a
crud catcher. So you get a muddy / wet back. The rack could perhaps foul the
wheel if you fitted it very close and had massive tyres on, and collected
lots of mud. But you'd have to fit it really stupidly to get it to foul
before the frame.

You could always fit a seatpost rack, but they won't hold as much weight.

Thanks for the info. The rack just bolted on using the existing
mounting holes, right?

Michael J. Klein [email hidden]
Dasi Jen, Taoyuan Hsien, Taiwan, ROC
Please replace mousepotato with asiancastings
---------------------------------------------

On Sat, 26 Jun 2004 12:56:56 -0700, Zoot Katz <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Sat, 26 Jun 2004 13:03:46 +0100, <[email hidden]>,

Doki said:

The
only problem I have with it is that you can't fit the rear rack on and a
crud catcher. So you get a muddy / wet back.

The most common solution seen around here is the Rear Deflector Shield

http://www.ratail.com/rear.html

I'm learning a lot, thanks!

Michael J. Klein [email hidden]
Dasi Jen, Taoyuan Hsien, Taiwan, ROC
Please replace mousepotato with asiancastings
---------------------------------------------

curt said:

Bought one from Nashbar. It was pretty cheap, holds up to 40 lbs and
certainly doesn't rattle. I see these racks all over town on mtb's, not
sure what the big deal is? Sure they add weight, but so what if you need
some utility. It was a great investment.

Curt

"Michael J. Klein" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I asked my LBS about putting a rear cargo rack on my new Yukon MTB.
He said that nobody does that, and it would limit my use of the bike
for off-roading. The reason that I have an MTB for street use is the
nature of the roads here. Often they are un-improved and differing
levels which I feel could be more easily negotiated by a mountain bike
rather than a road/comfort bike. Given that I don't use it for actual
hardcore off-roading, are there any other considerations about
mounting a rear cargo rack on my MTB, other than it looking retarded?

Michael J. Klein [email hidden]
Dasi Jen, Taoyuan Hsien, Taiwan, ROC
Please replace mousepotato with asiancastings
---------------------------------------------

That's how I look at it too Curt. I'm now just trying to find the one
that I want.

Michael J. Klein [email hidden]
Dasi Jen, Taoyuan Hsien, Taiwan, ROC
Please replace mousepotato with asiancastings
---------------------------------------------

On 26 Jun 2004 08:36:40 -0700, [email hidden] (Russell

Seaton) said:

http://www.sjscycles.com/store/vIndex.htm
Go to SJS Cycles website and look under Carriers and Racks, Rack
fitting kits.

OK, thanks.

Quoted message said:

You will get examples of the different parts used to attach rear racks
to your mountain bike or any bike. I am assuming you don't have
eyelets at the rear dropouts and braze ons at the top of the
seatstays. If you have eyelets at the rear dropouts and braze ons at
the top of the seat stays, they you can just bolt on any rack you
want. My Raleigh M600 from 1999 has the required eyelets and braze
ons for a rear rack. I have a Blackburn Expedition rack on my
mountain bike.

I do have eyelets and bosses for mounting. The bosses on the seat
stays have rubber plugs to keep them clean. I'm very happy to see
that, in fact.

Quoted message said:

So your bike shop guy was lying when he said nobody puts a rear rack
on a mountain bike. Please ask him to explain how a rear rack will
limit the bike's use for off roading.

Lying is a pretty harsh statement, don't you think? Remember, this is
not the United States. He said that no one "in Taiwan" puts racks on
MTBs. He has racks and he could have sold me one right there if I had
asked. I just asked for his advice, that's all.

In Taiwan appearances are everything. Let me give you 3 examples.
You will see people walking around with lanyards and their company ID
cards hanging from their necks. They never take them off. Its
because if you have a company ID card, it means you are
"professional." On TV, you never, ever see lav mics. You only see
big fat ball microphones, handheld no matter what the hosts are doing.
Microphones like that mean "host" and if you don't have one you aren't
"important" enough to have one. So, you'll see people on stage who
are holding big fat ball mics for the sole purpose of placing them in
front of their mouth when they laugh at the host's jokes.

The last example is the most telling. You can go to any swimming pool
and find dozens of fit men, wearing speedos, with racer's swim caps
and goggles. None of them can swim. In fact, there isn't a pool on
Taiwan deeper than 1.5 meters due to the national fear of drowning
(yeah, I know, its an island). These guys can't swim, but they all
need to look like they can. MTB owners don't ride off-road, but they
need to look like they can. This is also why everyone here always
says "hallow" to me when I ride by. They want me to think they can
speak English.

Appearances are everything in Taiwan. Foreigners wear helmets when
riding on the street, but not Taiwanese. A foreigner might put a rack
on a MTB (this one will) but Taiwanese don't put racks on their
mountain bikes because they probably belive that it doesn't look
off-roadworthy. Since I live here, and we were talking in Chinese,
he told me the story from the Taiwanese point of view. This same guy
replaced my BB after it went bad in 4 days, on the same afternoon when
I showed up unannounced. He is a good guy.

The limitations of the rack for off roading have been talked about in
this thread already.

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

I asked my LBS about putting a rear cargo rack on my new Yukon MTB.
He said that nobody does that, and it would limit my use of the bike
for off-roading. The reason that I have an MTB for street use is the
nature of the roads here. Often they are un-improved and differing
levels which I feel could be more easily negotiated by a mountain bike
rather than a road/comfort bike. Given that I don't use it for actual
hardcore off-roading, are there any other considerations about
mounting a rear cargo rack on my MTB, other than it looking retarded?

Michael J. Klein [email hidden]
Dasi Jen, Taoyuan Hsien, Taiwan, ROC
Please replace mousepotato with asiancastings
---------------------------------------------

Michael J. Klein [email hidden]
Dasi Jen, Taoyuan Hsien, Taiwan, ROC
Please replace mousepotato with asiancastings
---------------------------------------------

you know? said:

On Sat, 26 Jun 2004 11:04:16 +0800, Michael J. Klein
<[email hidden]> wrote in message
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

I asked my LBS about putting a rear cargo rack on my new Yukon MTB.
He said that nobody does that, and it would limit my use of the bike
for off-roading.

He lied.

Please read my response to this accusation in another reply post.

Quoted message said:

I have a rack on my MTB and so do lots of other people I
know. The Yukon is a hartail, right? The rack will not be in the

Yes it is.

Quoted message said:

way. Only if you wanted to hang right over the rear wheel in extreme
descents would it be an issue - and in that case you'd probably be on
the wrong bike anyway ;-)

Not only that, but it would be the wrong rider in the wrong decade!

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The reason that I have an MTB for street use is the
nature of the roads here. Often they are un-improved and differing
levels which I feel could be more easily negotiated by a mountain bike
rather than a road/comfort bike. Given that I don't use it for actual
hardcore off-roading, are there any other considerations about
mounting a rear cargo rack on my MTB, other than it looking retarded?

None, probably. I had to use P-clips on my MTB because the rack I had
spare didn't have a brake bridge mounting bar, you can get three-point
mounting racks which bolt to the brake bridge if you don't have
braze-ons. You might have trouble if you don't have eyelets, but I've
never seen a bike which didn't have at least one set of eyelets.
Sometimes you get single eyelets and have to share the bolt with the
mudguards [fenders] and sometimes you get double eyelets.

On the left side are eyelets for the disc brake option (which I do not
have) and then underneath that is both an eyelet (threaded boss,
really) and an actual slotted eyelet beneath that on either side).
The seat stays have capped threades bosses. It looks like a rack
should just bolt right on.

Quoted message said:

As to looking dorky, well, I'm not qualified to comment. We have

I already look dorky just standing around doing nothing. Add a bike,
and it gets worse. Like I care! lol

Quoted message said:

seven active bikes in the family (4 MTBs, one tourer, a recumbent and
a triplet) and every one is fitted with a rack.

Its a very practical accessory if you use your bike for anything other
than just riding a course.

Thanks Guy.

Michael J. Klein [email hidden]
Dasi Jen, Taoyuan Hsien, Taiwan, ROC
Please replace mousepotato with asiancastings
---------------------------------------------

Peter Cole said:

"Michael J. Klein" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I asked my LBS about putting a rear cargo rack on my new Yukon MTB.
He said that nobody does that, and it would limit my use of the bike
for off-roading. The reason that I have an MTB for street use is the
nature of the roads here. Often they are un-improved and differing
levels which I feel could be more easily negotiated by a mountain bike
rather than a road/comfort bike. Given that I don't use it for actual
hardcore off-roading, are there any other considerations about
mounting a rear cargo rack on my MTB, other than it looking retarded?

Nah, most MTB's have the fittings for racks. Fenders are probably not a good
idea if you go off-road (they tend to pick up sticks and crumple and jam), but
racks are fine. If you're going to stick to the streets, I'd get fenders, rack

I was thinking about the fenders becoming necessary at some point.

Quoted message said:

and folding pannier. MTB's make great bad-road bikes -- try installing your

That's where my head was - bad road negotiation!

Quoted message said:

own accessories, then you won't have to suffer random opinions...

I still have to suffer from all the opinons on the NG though! lol

I've learned a lot from the people who frequent USENET, that's for
sure.

Michael J. Klein [email hidden]
Dasi Jen, Taoyuan Hsien, Taiwan, ROC
Please replace mousepotato with asiancastings
---------------------------------------------