belacqua

I am building up this '84 620 for longer rides but not touring. (I like @Six jours ' phrase "contemplative randonneuring.") I feel a strong impulse to remove the rear rack--it feels like needless weight and bulk. A small saddle bag and handlebar bag will carry everything this build needs (tools and snacks).

Does anyone like to leave the rack on a build like this, and what are your reasons?

before pic:

Mr. 66

oddjob2

belacqua

I actually had the same thought--but I don't foresee using any rack at all. So why would I be doing it? Because it looks right? Btw I don't consider that a trivial reason.

rccardr 

belacqua

This is interesting--I do the same with a Topeak bag on my commuters. But it seems unnecessarily bulky and (psychologically, at least) slow for this build.

Bianchigirll 

FBOATSB

That speaks volumes right there. The perception of "fastness" is diminished considerably with such utilitarian devices attached, visually speaking, of course. By all means if you can carry the stuff you want to carry without the rack, then take it off and save it or move it along.

​​​​​

gugie 

Your rear rack has the stigma of low price - it's already paid for.

;-)

Racks are handy things. Rear racks can hold a lot. The problem with weighting down the rear has been discussed ad nauseum with the rando crowd. It significantly affects the handling of the bike (tail wagging the dog), especially if you like to stand and pedal occassionally on uphills. Rear wheels already hold ~60% of the bike's weight, and dishing the wheel makes if weaker than the front, so why add more weight to it?

Go find pictures of randonneuring rides. Search images for Bicycle Quarterly's un-meeting, or just @rhm or @n_lerner's flicker sites (Rudi and Neal, respectively), you'll find almost all of them are riding with a handlebar bag. This puts the weight over the front wheel, which alleviates all of the issues above.

It can get expensive, however. You can easily spend $4-500 on a front rack and handlebar bag. You can also get by on the cheap with a bag that attaches to the handlebars. On a "taller" bike like yours, that might put some weight a bit higher than optimum, a small rack that sits right above the tire is more optimal.

Or just ride with your rear rack and a small rack top bag. It all depends on how much you want/need to carry.

thinktubes 

52telecaster

+1

cycleheimer

+2

tonyfourdogs

Get rid of it, it's an eyesore! Unless you're planning to carry a pillion passenger (great pic btw @thinktubes!) you'll be better served by a saddlebag or backpack. This is not an arbitrary point of view but is actually backed up by science

thumpism 

Keep it. When you need it you won't have the time or inclination to reinstall it and you won't be able to find the bolts.

prathmann

My bikes all have rear racks. For awhile I kept my lightest bike unencumbered for faster club rides. But then I'd sometimes be on a ride that passed near our grocery store on the way back and I'd think that it would have been nice to have the rack along. So I ended up putting a rack on that bike as well. Can't say I really notice the extra weight (less than a water bottle).

prairiepedaler

Take it off, keep it and keep the bolts on the bike. Use when necessary, but you never know when you might need it and when you need it it may not be mounted. I use a similar rack on the Wintermule. I've actually overloaded it to a point where I've bent the one dropout mount to about 30 degrees. What you've got there is a touring bike though, no? I'd love to try one of those. If a specimen showed up locally for low cost I'd be on top of it and then on top of it. Those seat stay struts on that rack look fixed in place. Probably made for that bike.

Salamandrine 

It's much funnier when you pass someone on a carbon bike if you are riding a steel bike with a rack.

But seriously, like other say, just take it off and put it in a closet. It's 4 bolts. Like 1 minute of work. Put it on again if you want to do a weekend camping trip or something. That's what I do.

FWIW that looks like an original flavor Blackburn rack with fixed stays. In a way, a kind of cool item.

Topic drift: Blackburn touring racks originally came in a standard fixed stay version, and single adjustable stay version. They did make some custom fixed stay types for specific Trek bikes as well. Hard to know what that one is. We were quibbling about this a few months back.

Lascauxcaveman 

I'd leave it on. I find my rectangular racktop Jandd box a lot handier than any saddlebag I've used. Yeah, it's kinda dory looking; but it's also insulated. Couple of cold beers and an ice pack in back, take the long way home after work on a nice day

bradtx

belacqua, Remove the rack if desired, but keep the screws on the bike should you change your mind and need to reinstall quickly.

Brad

Kovkov

I would keep it. I have rear racks on all my bikes, because i like to put my backpack there. Much more comfortable for long rides than wearing it. In my opinion every bike should have a rear rack and fenders, except they are for niche use like racing or something like that

badger_biker 

I also have racks on all but one of my bikes. Something about a bike with rack braze ons and no rack just looks odd to me. That being said, I have a few bikes set up with handle bar bags and tend to use them rather than anything on the rack for most of my trips. Just more convenient I guess.

fietsbob

With the seat post that far in, you got a bigger frame than best fit didnt you?

deephate

I put a similar rack on most of my vintage bikes. I have it to carry my library book and anything else I come across needing to haul. I look for used ones but I usually have to buy new. The Planet Bike one is inexpensive and works well. I use nice insulated tube clamps on the ones without braze ons.

belacqua

Here's what it looks like now that I'm building it up. Waiting for fenders and some brake pads and I think I'll be done. Rack and bolts are stashed within reach. Thanks everyone.

fietsbob

Decent touring bike,
I'm in a place where mudguards are part of proper touring bike build, on a bike I don't have on a hook but for a few days a year..