Pannier Rack / Carrier

barrabus said:

what rack / carrier would peole recommend?
Any opinions on the Blackburn EX 1+ Pannier Rack?

Surly Nice Rack
http://www.surlybikes.com/parts.html
and then click the link for Nice Rack on the top - right of center
Tubus
http://www.tubus.net/eng/produkte/hinterradtraeger/cargo.php

Both are tubular CrMo Steel racks with good stiffness and good mounting.
I have been using the Tubus Cargo model rear and Tara model front for loaded touring. They are strong and very stable. I think the mounting ease and adjustment range of Tubus for fitting various bicyles is quite good.

I used Blackburn EX 1+ for a while on my commuting bicycle. It works OK and the price is very attractive.

I recently picked up the Performance house brand pannier and racks (Transit brand), front and rear. I have to say, after a good bit of use, each is fine. However, the rear pannier does not mount well on the rear rack. If you mount the pannier on rack as suggested and in the rearmost way, a bolt on the rack grinds away on the support bar of the rack. I was totally surprised after a few weeks of touring to find a hole almost through one side of the support bar. Really a shocker, considering that they are supposed to go together.

barrabus said:

what rack / carrier would peole recommend?
Any opinions on the Blackburn EX 1+ Pannier Rack?

barrabus said:

what rack / carrier would peole recommend?
Any opinions on the Blackburn EX 1+ Pannier Rack?

For touring, I would only ever use a steel rack.

I use Tubus on the tandem and also have a custom SS tube rack that was made in Puegot engine labs in france which is still going strong after nearly 18yrs of near constant use.

Another steel rack which has a great reputation is Bruce Gordon's. This will be the next one that I buy.

Cheers

Geoff