Dellphinus

I need a quick turn answer- I just got open for a tour next week and I need a front rack- does anyone have first hand knowledge of fitting a Blackburn Outpost Wor;d Touring front rack on a non-disc LHT?
Link to rack below. Thanks!

Top Shelf Rack

Dellphinus

I'll answer my own- no, It won't

The wheel is almost impossible to get off with the rack installed.
The supplied "cam" fittings and extension arms were machined so poorly that the extension and rack truss could not both fit in the "cam" simultaneously.
The LHT mid fork mounts were so close to the rack that the extensions, had the cams evenworked, would have been useless.
Ended up using a 20 mm cap screw, a flanged 1/4 inch nut as a spacer, and a 1" fender washer with one side bent 90, and a rubber lined strap clamp.

It is going back as soon as I return- as inadequate design, and faulty manufacturing. Then a Jandd Extreme will get ordered.

seeker333

That doesn't seem likely - a rack which prevents wheel removal? Care to expound?

I have the JandD Extreme, and they are not a perfect fit to LHT. It was necessary to bend the lower mounts to make rack fit level, which I really didn't want to do. The paint on JandD racks easily flakes off, which is true for all painted Al rod racks. My JandD Extreme weighs 1030g without hardware.

Tubus Tara and Duo low-rider racks will fit LHT/DT well (level), and weigh 400-500g installed. The Duo is a bit heavier but dispenses with the connecting hoop. Tubus racks are powdercoated (PC), which is a little more durable than paint, but eventually this wears too at contact points. Some use electrical tape or thin wall polymer tubing to reduce pannier rattle and rack abrasion.

Dellphinus

Excellent. Thanks! I will check out both of them.
EDIT- whoops- missed your question. The lower part of the rack goes around the QR lever on the skewer. There si barely enough room to get your fingers in to release the lever, and there's only one position it will fold to. When you do get it open, you have to work one side outside the rack, then the other. It's doable with a little fidgeting, but it's a pain...

seeker333

You may want to consider slow release skewers - like QR without the cam lever, uses hex, torx or security tool to loosen/tighten/remove/install. I've used them on all bikes for many years, partly for the reason you've described, never missed the QR. Delta/Nashbar has some inexpensive skewers:

https://www.amazon.com/Delta-Axlerod.../dp/B000ACAMKG

fietsbob

Since you are still shopping , consider a Tubus Tara, instead?

advantage is, they pack nicely off the bike in the carton, to get to your tour start,

and work great on the fork on the bike, on the road..

Old man mountain is another QR skewer mounted front rack ,
you use a 135 rear skewer on the front to fit those. FWIW..



...

Dellphinus

The Blackburn went back. Still considering- probably go with the JandD. I really like the idea of the top platform.

tyrion

A Surly front rack will fit, but it's 3 lbs.

indyfabz

If you have the coin, a Nitto Big front rack will fit and has a large platform. Noticeable lighter than the Surly Nice.