Where to find low rider racks without a hoop?
03-17-21, 09:10 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 2,040
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 837 Post(s)
Liked 1,080 Times
in
521 Posts
Where to find low rider racks without a hoop?
Such as these. I believe the first example used to be sold by Rivendell but is no more. Is the hoop design just that much sturdier?
03-17-21, 09:21 PM
#2
Bikes are okay, I guess.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 6,938
Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2647 Post(s)
Liked 2,446 Times
in
1,557 Posts
Second type is the Blackburn Custom. They turn up occasionally. I saw a set at the last swap meet in Westminster MD. I have not used them but the design uses two sections on each side and a through bolt in the fork blade holds it together.
Last edited by thumpism; 03-17-21 at 09:24 PM.
Likes For thumpism:
03-17-21, 09:25 PM
#3
Occam's Rotor
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times
in
1,164 Posts
Tubus. You need to have a bolt hole that goes through the fork blade.
Likes For Cyclist0108:
03-17-21, 09:28 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 1,052
Bikes: Gunnar, Shogun, Concorde, F Moser, Pete Tansley, Rocky Mtn, Diamant, Krapf, Marin, Avanti, Winora, Emmelle, Ken Evans
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 273 Post(s)
Liked 416 Times
in
217 Posts
03-17-21, 11:25 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Medford MA
Posts: 2,089
Bikes: Ron Cooper touring, 1959 Jack Taylor 650b ladyback touring tandem, Vitus 979, Joe Bell painted Claud Butler Dalesman, Colin Laing curved tube tandem, heavily-Dilberted 1982 Trek 6xx, René Herse tandem
Mentioned: 80 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 964 Post(s)
Liked 1,451 Times
in
723 Posts
Yeah, the Tubus Duo is like this, but my dad toured on one for 3 months and it broke from fatigue where the two top tubes of the rack that go on either side of the fork blade are welded together near the front. Poor design, IMO. I brazed it back together, but sold it on a flip. He and I use one with a hoop now. May even be lighter weight, in spite of looking bulkier/dorkier.
__________________
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Likes For scarlson:
03-17-21, 11:31 PM
#6
Senior Member
I have the Blackburn Custom lowriders and didn’t have any issues with them on a Cannondale and my 87 Voyageur but on my Specialized Expedition they seemed a little less stable so I think the bike has a little to do with the sturdiness. Unfortunately the 86 Voyageur doesn’t have the through hole in the fork for them.
__________________
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
Likes For badger_biker:
03-18-21, 12:01 AM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 2,040
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 837 Post(s)
Liked 1,080 Times
in
521 Posts
I have the Blackburn Custom lowriders and didn’t have any issues with them on a Cannondale and my 87 Voyageur but on my Specialized Expedition they seemed a little less stable so I think the bike has a little to do with the sturdiness. Unfortunately the 86 Voyageur doesn’t have the through hole in the fork for them.
Last edited by polymorphself; 03-18-21 at 12:09 AM.
03-18-21, 12:48 PM
#8
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,630
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4677 Post(s)
Liked 5,790 Times
in
2,279 Posts
@northbend says yes.
My version:
I brazed a tube through the neutral plane of the fork as well as the large diameter tube on the rack. That allows a long bolt with a nylok nut to attach without squeezing either the fork blades or rack tubing. I used a 5/8" top tube, which matches the Ortlieb QR system clamps. The larger diameter tube also creates stiffness so the racks won't flop in towards the wheel. I curved the attachment points to the dropout attachment to allow from some compliance as the fork flexes. Note that Matt's Tubus Duo rack achieves all of these design particulars in a different way.
My version:
I brazed a tube through the neutral plane of the fork as well as the large diameter tube on the rack. That allows a long bolt with a nylok nut to attach without squeezing either the fork blades or rack tubing. I used a 5/8" top tube, which matches the Ortlieb QR system clamps. The larger diameter tube also creates stiffness so the racks won't flop in towards the wheel. I curved the attachment points to the dropout attachment to allow from some compliance as the fork flexes. Note that Matt's Tubus Duo rack achieves all of these design particulars in a different way.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Likes For gugie:
03-18-21, 02:01 PM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 2,040
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 837 Post(s)
Liked 1,080 Times
in
521 Posts
@northbend says yes.
My version:
I brazed a tube through the neutral plane of the fork as well as the large diameter tube on the rack. That allows a long bolt with a nylok nut to attach without squeezing either the fork blades or rack tubing. I used a 5/8" top tube, which matches the Ortlieb QR system clamps. The larger diameter tube also creates stiffness so the racks won't flop in towards the wheel. I curved the attachment points to the dropout attachment to allow from some compliance as the fork flexes. Note that Matt's Tubus Duo rack achieves all of these design particulars in a different way.
My version:
I brazed a tube through the neutral plane of the fork as well as the large diameter tube on the rack. That allows a long bolt with a nylok nut to attach without squeezing either the fork blades or rack tubing. I used a 5/8" top tube, which matches the Ortlieb QR system clamps. The larger diameter tube also creates stiffness so the racks won't flop in towards the wheel. I curved the attachment points to the dropout attachment to allow from some compliance as the fork flexes. Note that Matt's Tubus Duo rack achieves all of these design particulars in a different way.
03-18-21, 02:14 PM
#10
Occam's Rotor
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times
in
1,164 Posts
The first photo is the Tubus rack I was thinking of.
If the bolt hole goes all the way through, it will work fine. If not, the same rack with a U-tube is available. I would buy another fork before I modified one. It is good to have a low-trail fork if you want to load a lot on the front.
If the bolt hole goes all the way through, it will work fine. If not, the same rack with a U-tube is available. I would buy another fork before I modified one. It is good to have a low-trail fork if you want to load a lot on the front.
03-18-21, 02:40 PM
#11
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,630
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4677 Post(s)
Liked 5,790 Times
in
2,279 Posts
Good point, there are a lot forks built with just an M5 bottle boss brazed onto the outside of the fork. That's a very small braze to hold back a lot of stress. I've seen frames where this bit broke off, not something you want to happen while flying down hill with a floppy rack and pannier. The hoop seen on 3 piece front racks supports the racks from doing this, so if you have just an outter attachment to the fork blade, I'd recommend going with one of those.
If there's a through hole on the fork blade, I'd make sure that there's a tube that's brazed into both sides to support the fork blade from being squeezed down. I've seen at least one production frame made without one (don't remember make and model).
If there's a through hole on the fork blade, I'd make sure that there's a tube that's brazed into both sides to support the fork blade from being squeezed down. I've seen at least one production frame made without one (don't remember make and model).
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Likes For gugie:
