mornview

I currently have a Bontrager BackRack Deluxe rack with a pair of Banjo Brothers Waterproof panniers. Altogether this set-up cost just a bit over $150 but has been ultra-dependable, serving me well over the past five years, numerous centuries, and daily commuting through all four seasons, and looks to keep going for many more years to come. I definitely think I got the best bang for my buck set-up possible.

Now I'm looking to get a front rack to compliment it. I'd like to be able to start carrying more and start to distribute the weight over my bike a little more evently so I don't fishtail as much when weighted down. I'm just not sure where to start. I don't need anything super advanced, just durable and reliable, ideally not super expensive either. I've always been a bit wary about the idea of moving weight on to the front of my bike for fear how it will effect handling. It looks like some front racks are designed as "low riders" so as to not affect handling as much. Do I need special panniers for a front rack? Or could I get away with just getting more Banjo Brothers waterproof panniers?

For the rack I only have the following requirements: 26" wheel frame, no special eyelets or braze-ons on the fork for mounting a rack, just the fender eyelets and the hole for mounting a side-pull brake calipers. I don't run disc brakes, just drum brakes and/or caliper brakes. Ideally the rack would be silver in color to match the back rack . Hopefully that's enough info. I appreciate any input; I just want to make sure I'm not missing any great options as there are so many out there.

cyccommute 

This is strictly for on-road touring. I’d suggest low rider panniers. Axiom makes one that uses U-bolts to fix the rack to the fork. Blackburn made a low rider rack but they don’t make them anymore. You can find them on EBay or copies of them. They use the same U-bolts. Tubus Tara is a very good rack but it is more expensive and requires an adapter that is a bit expensive. It works well but it is expensive and the Tara is already more expensive than other racks.

The key to using a low rider rack is to load them with all the small, high density stuff you carry, like stoves, fuel, food, kitchen stuff, etc. You use smaller panniers on the front but you put the denser stuff in them. For optimal handling, put about 60% of the whole load in the front. You carry the lighter, bulkier stuff in the rear. This is what my road touring set up looks like

2015-05-03 11.38.54 by Stuart Black, on Flickr

If you are doing off-road touring, the set up is different. I wouldn’t use panniers at all, except for very small ones. You don’t want to be hooking a pannier on a rock. Depending on where you off-road tour, the narrowness of bikepacking bags comes in handy to avoid dragging the bags across rocks. They are usually more securely attached to the bike. This is my off-road touring set up

2020-01-26 16:51:13 by Stuart Black, on Flickr

mornview

Thanks, I forgot to mention my riding style. I do exclusively road touring, nothing off road at this time. That Axiom rack looks like a perfect solution; just need to find a cheaper solution for matching panniers now (not ready to shell out for Ortliebs yet; I understand their value but the Banjo Brothers have served me just as well as an Ortlieb would have).

LeeG

I commuted with low riders and 26” wheels and the panniers were just too low to the curb for my taste. I found a simple front platform rack worked fine given I could move the load back a bit Old Man Mountain brand, not inexpensive though.

Doug64

These Tubus adapters work well when you do not have mid-fork mounting points.

fietsbob

Lee G might have liked the Tubus Smari, have to scour the web, they're discontinued..

Now the Tara , a fine one, & Duo Hoopless need thru fork / double bosses in and out sideof fork blade..

hermanchauw

There are many brands in the market. i bought LKLM front rack, simply because that was the most economically viable solution for me.