Front rack for Tour Easy

You probably have to improvise on mounting a front rack on a TE esp with the relaxed head angle.
If you mount it ala wedgie, the rack will be leaning in. Maybe use some alum straps to correct
the angle. Maybe even use a conventional rear rack with adjustable legs and use reg panniers on
the front.

With the weight in front, I think it will feel less light in front so long as you secure the packs
so it doesn't sway.

Hope this helps

J Gaerlan - Gaerlan Custom Cycles gaerlan.comgaerlan.comOpen ↗ "home of travel bikes and bike travels"
(415)362-3866: (415)677-8943 fax [email hidden]

Quoted message said:

Michael Evans" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Spring's in the air, and my trusty TE EX is waking up from hibernation. This year I'll be taking
my 4-year-old to his preschool on my bike on my way to work.

I've got a choice of pulling a kid trailer or putting a kid seat on my back rack. Before I throw
down the money to get a trailer

"Jfreewheel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:20040227122519.18169.00000519@mb-
m06.aol.com...

Quoted message said:

You probably have to improvise on mounting a front rack on a TE

Mid-ship/underseat racks are readily available for TE. No need to go any further forward.

To me, a kid trailer sounds better (safer?) than a kid seat on the rear of a TE... Too much weight,
too high, too far back on the frame, and potentially "wiggly" weight, too! %^)

In the spring, the discount department stores advertise fairly inexpensive bike trailers for hauling
kids. Or support LBS and buy a high-quality trailer,-- they probably let people try out trailers and
that could be a real advantage to see which ones work best with the TE.

Maybe the pre-school has a place where the original poster could drop off the trailer and his 4-year-
old so he wouldn't have to tow the empty trailer to work.

Jon Meinecke

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

Quoted message said:

Everyone, Greetings from Colorado!

Spring's in the air, and my trusty TE EX is waking up from hibernation. This year I'll be
taking my 4-year-old to his preschool on my bike on my way to work.

I've got a choice of pulling a kid trailer or putting a kid seat on my back rack. Before I
throw down the money to get a trailer (I don't have one), I thought I'd investigate moving
the panniers I currently have on the back racl to a front rack so my son can ride in the
bike seat (which I do have).

Does anyone know of a front rack for a 20" fork? How does loading panniers on the front of a
TE affect handling? TEs tend to be back-heavy; does having weight on the front tires
actually help handling? Etc...

Thanks, Mike Evans

Mike:

Have you tried riding your TE with the kid seat (and kid) on it? When I loaded up my TE for a tour
last summer, I put all the weight on the rear rack. The bike went from handling like a sports car to
handling like a camel. With that big a change in handling, I would think twice about putting my kid
up there. A trailer would work much better. (You could even drop the trailer off at your son's
preschool to save on hauling it further.) I used a Burley D'lite (it folds flat for storage and auto
transport) for several years with my DF and it had very little effect on handling and is nearly
impossible to tip over. I no longer own it; my LBS let me trade it in when I bought my TE.

Good luck and be safe.

JP

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

Quoted message said:

"Jfreewheel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:20040227122519.18169.00000519@mb-
m06.aol.com...

Quoted message said:

You probably have to improvise on mounting a front rack on a TE

Mid-ship/underseat racks are readily available for TE. No need to go any further forward.

I have to agree on both these points. My Tour Easy (bought used) came equipped with a conventional
upright front rack adapted to the fork. A chunk of 1/8" aluminum strap connected the brake bridge
with the normal rack mount. You could also put a "lowrider" front rack out there- but they might be
tough to mount level and hang a little low depending on your pannier choice.

I removed the front rack and haven't felt the need for it since. Of course, I haven't done any
loaded touring. If I were, I'd put on a set of the Terracycle Easy Reacher mid-ship racks:
terracycle.comeasy reacher.htmOpen ↗ .

Jeff

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know of a front rack for a 20" fork?

Mine has 'em: boomspeed.commyte.htmOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

How does loading panniers on the front of a TE affect handling?

They don't hold enough weight to make any difference.

Michael Evans said:

Everyone, Greetings from Colorado!

Spring's in the air, and my trusty TE EX is waking up from hibernation. This year I'll be
taking my 4-year-old to his preschool on my bike on my way to work.

I've got a choice of pulling a kid trailer or putting a kid seat on my back rack. Before I
throw down the money to get a trailer (I don't have one), I thought I'd investigate moving the
panniers I currently have on the back racl to a front rack so my son can ride in the bike seat
(which I do have).

Does anyone know of a front rack for a 20" fork? How does loading panniers on the front of a
TE affect handling? TEs tend to be back-heavy; does having weight on the front tires actually
help handling? Etc...

This rack is designed for the RANS Stratus, but might also work on an Easy Racer. [1] With rear and
underseat racks, you could carry a total of six panniers.

<http://www.shoprans.com/Racks.asp>.

[1] You could always trade in the TE for a Stratus. [2]
[2] Comment intended to rile Easy Racers fanatics. [3]
[3] Easy Racers fanatics are almost as obnoxious as certain owners of out of production ISO 305/406-
mm wheel size lowracers.

Tom Sherman - Quad Cities (Illinois Side)

Quoted message said:

Easy Racers fanatics are almost as obnoxious as certain owners of out of production ISO 305/406-mm
wheel size lowracers.

Something on your mind, Sherman, or do you just have an itch?

++ Cornel Ormsby ++ +Henderson, Nevada+ obnoxious Tour_Easy/M5_Cmpct owner

LioNiNoiL at NetScApE_DoT_NeT said:

Quoted message said:

Easy Racers fanatics are almost as obnoxious as certain owners of out of production ISO 305/406-
mm wheel size lowracers.

Something on your mind, Sherman, or do you just have an itch?

++ Cornel Ormsby ++ +Henderson, Nevada+ obnoxious Tour_Easy/M5_Cmpct owner

Cornel,

Maybe you are not aware that I just happen to own this out of production lowracer with an ISO 305/406-
mm wheelset. <http://www.ihpva.org/incoming/2002/sunset/Sunset001.jpg>.

Whatever happened to "Not leaving Las Vegas"? Or is being in the Las Vegas suburb Henderson close
enough to not leaving?

Tom Sherman - Quad Cities (Illinois Side)

Quoted message said:

is being in the Las Vegas suburb Henderson close enough to not leaving?

Really close: I cross the city limit from Henderson into Vegas on my way to work only five
miles away.

++ Cornel Ormsby ++ +Henderson, Nevada+