Racks and disk brakes.

Adam-the-Kiwi said:

Hi ukrc,

I'm planning to start doing overnight, off-road jaunts with my partner
from next spring, so we'll need to be able to take some kit with us.
To minimise the loads on our backs, we'd like to take racks. We've got
a seat-post-clamping rack for her (she's got a full-sus bike) but I'd
like to avoid that. Mine is a disk-equipped hardtail with no mounting
points, so I guess I need to look at a p-clip mounted rack. Can anyone
make any recommendations?

I noticed that in another thread, this rack was recommended:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2brm7s

I'd be a bit worried about the load on the rear axle - has anyone used
this type of rack?

We'll be restricting the weight as much as possible, but we're hoping
to be doing some fairly rough riding (for example, the Fungle Road
over Mt Keen) so I guess it will still need to be pretty sturdy.

In my experience racks don't help much off-roading and tend to break at
the most inopportune moments. It can also be awkward to maintain a
loads position on some racks, especially on the bumpy stuff. We found
one, however, with slightly raised edges which kept stuff on it when it
went sailing off downhill, dragging behind it's broken mounts ... 😉

When we go for longer rides now we always take backpacks and have done
away with racks altogether off-road.

--
Paul - [censored]

Paul - censored said:

Adam-the-Kiwi said:

Hi ukrc,

Quoted message said:

I'm planning to start doing overnight, off-road jaunts with my partner
from next spring, so we'll need to be able to take some kit with us.

-8<- snip ->8-

Quoted message said:

In my experience racks don't help much off-roading and tend to break at
the most inopportune moments. It can also be awkward to maintain a
loads position on some racks, especially on the bumpy stuff. We found
one, however, with slightly raised edges which kept stuff on it when it
went sailing off downhill, dragging behind it's broken mounts ... 😉

When we go for longer rides now we always take backpacks and have done
away with racks altogether off-road.

I've thought about that but figured that it would too heavy, and would
interfere with the off-roading more than a rack... How much kit do you
carry?

Cheers - Adam...

Adam-the-Kiwi said:

Paul - censored said:

Adam-the-Kiwi said:

Hi ukrc,
I'm planning to start doing overnight, off-road jaunts with my partner
from next spring, so we'll need to be able to take some kit with us.

-8<- snip ->8-

Quoted message said:

In my experience racks don't help much off-roading and tend to break at
the most inopportune moments. It can also be awkward to maintain a
loads position on some racks, especially on the bumpy stuff. We found
one, however, with slightly raised edges which kept stuff on it when it
went sailing off downhill, dragging behind it's broken mounts ... 😉

When we go for longer rides now we always take backpacks and have done
away with racks altogether off-road.

I've thought about that but figured that it would too heavy, and would
interfere with the off-roading more than a rack... How much kit do you
carry?

Not a great deal. Maybe 25 kgs all-up including tent.

Mind, having had a look at the rack you like, it does look more sturdily
mounted (to the axle) than ours (two which broke) which mounted to lugs.

--
Paul - [censored]

"Adam-the-Kiwi" <[email hidden]> a écrit

Quoted message said:

Can anyone make any recommendations?

Have you considered a Tubus Swing? There's no problem with the disk brake.
It's solidly built, and being attached to crown of the fork takes less of a
hammering than a rack fixed to the frame.

James Thomson

Adam-the-Kiwi said:

Hi ukrc,

I'm planning to start doing overnight, off-road jaunts with my partner
from next spring, so we'll need to be able to take some kit with us.
To minimise the loads on our backs, we'd like to take racks.

I do a bit of off road touring on a Kona dsc braked hardtail. Mount
Keen, Glen Tilt, Glen Feshie, Corrieyairick etc.. I wouldnt want to
carry all my stuff on my back. I've tried a few options

One option is to use a rack and one pannier for the heavy stuff. Carry
light stuff in a rucksac. That gives you the option in the event of
rack failure of continuing with everything in the rucksac.

I usually go with one or two panniers though. I fitted a standard
Topeak rack to my Kona by a bit of filing and bending to get the left
hand leg to clear the brake caliper. It works fine.

I could be wrong here but having looked at the disc specific rack you
linked to I got the impression it was disc specific by having a dog
leg at the bottom of each leg to get the legs clear of the brakes.but
still mounted on normal rack points. Do Tubus not do an axle mounted
rack though?

Iain

It is important when using panniers off road to use a bungee to strap
the pannier tight against the rack so it doesn't jump about.

My bike has rack fittings on the frame. I would be concerned about P
clips standing up to off road use.

Iain

iarocu said:

I could be wrong here but having looked at the disc specific rack you
linked to I got the impression it was disc specific by having a dog
leg at the bottom of each leg to get the legs clear of the brakes.but
still mounted on normal rack points.

That was my impression, though the picture far from clear on the point.

Quoted message said:

Do Tubus not do an axle mounted rack though?

I think they make a couple of plates and a slightly over-length quick
release skewer.
And, with the aid of a decent drill, its a doddle to make a couple of plates
up from aluminium sheet if the Tubus adaptor is unavailable or too
expensive.
Longer skewer comes from tandem suppliers (usually 140mm OLN rather than 135
for a MTB).
Or put the plates on the inside of the dropouts and thin down some of the
nuts and spacers on the axle to match the change in OLN dimension.

Quoted message said:

My bike has rack fittings on the frame. I would be concerned about P
clips standing up to off road use.

Agreed, though there are common thin metal P-clips and decent frame clamps.
The latter might require knowing someone with a workshop and decent drilling
machine. (c.f. some indestructable bike lamp brackets I made for a friend
recently).

- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/