Explain to me, this mousetrap rack thing.
#1
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Explain to me, this mousetrap rack thing.
I have a (new to me, but old) bike that has a Pletscher mousetrap-style rear rack. Is the "trap" just for small cushy things? A hoodie, for example stays put, but I'm not sure a briefcase or a book would. Is it supposed to hook onto other components like certain styles of baskets?
What's the story behind these racks? They're obviously solid and good quality, since so many are still around. But I gather that some don't like them -- what gives?
What's the story behind these racks? They're obviously solid and good quality, since so many are still around. But I gather that some don't like them -- what gives?
#2
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I hate them because they tear up seat stays. The spring clamp is pretty useless. There are very few things that they will carry securely. Books will end up on the ground. That has happened to me. A jacket sleeve can end up in the spokes. That has also happened to me. Blackburn came out with a much better rack in the '70's that attached to the brake bolt. I own four of them.
#4
Novist senior member
every old order menonite bike rider in lancaster has one. the local shop in farmersville has a large stock of them. Most of the riders use them with bungie cords and cardboard boxes. Most amish dont ride bikes but the ones that do have them also and some even put them on scooters.
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They hold whatever they will hold...
Seriously, they're not meant to hook onto or into anything specific. I thought that might be the case at first too, they just sort of look like they ought to.
Seriously, they're not meant to hook onto or into anything specific. I thought that might be the case at first too, they just sort of look like they ought to.
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#7
holyrollin'
I like to use it on my library runs. Flip up the front bar and wedge the bag of books between the bar and mousetrap. Everything stays put unless you ride off some sweet jumps.
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I had one of these years ago. It was a Pletcher as well. It holds a basketball well. Everything else pretty much ended scattered all over the road for me. I replaced it with a Blackburn after over-loading it and twisting the stays on the rack into an interesting modern sculture while bike camping and I have never looked back.
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The one on my Schwinn Varsity held my baseball glove quite securely. We didn't have bungee cords back then, or backpacks for that matter.
#10
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A box of misc. hardware that I bought from a gone out of business bike shop had some "T" shaped brackets that are made to keep the rack from sliding down the seat stays. They are about 1" wide at the top, and 2" long. The top holes line up with the Pletscher rack, and the brake bolt goes in one of the bottom holes. With the bracket, you don't have to overtighten the clamp bolts, just enough to not wobble side-to-side.
Last edited by Pompiere; 04-27-07 at 05:20 AM. Reason: here's a picture
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Originally Posted by braingel
They hold a 12 pack on it's side absolutely perfectly, no bungee needed.
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Originally Posted by joe v
See, now that's a bit of practical info!
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They were designed to hold a bottle of wine. Lift the big mouse trap up, flip up the little piece, insert bottle with neck facing the rear and lower mouse trap. No joke.
#14
Death fork? Naaaah!!
I thought it was designed to hold the center section of a set of panniers.
Back in the dark ages I used to keep 25 feet of 550 cord wound around the rack.
FWIW, my early issue Blackburn rack uses a 'T' bracket like that.
Top
Back in the dark ages I used to keep 25 feet of 550 cord wound around the rack.
FWIW, my early issue Blackburn rack uses a 'T' bracket like that.
Top
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#15
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Things successfully carried on a Pletscher with spring trap:
Baseball glove, pair of track shoes, daily paper, rain gear, 3 pound trout, Colt Combat Commander, carburetor, diesel injector pump.
Failed attempts:
Books, dozen eggs!
P.S. None of my current bikes have a Pletscher rack
Baseball glove, pair of track shoes, daily paper, rain gear, 3 pound trout, Colt Combat Commander, carburetor, diesel injector pump.
Failed attempts:
Books, dozen eggs!
P.S. None of my current bikes have a Pletscher rack
#16
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Thanks to all -- So far it's handled a change of clothes well (I also wrapped some wrenches and a leatherman in the sleeve of a button down and rolled it up). Glad to know about ollo_ollo's failed attempts and miamijim, I can imagine a bottle of wine fitting quite nicely.
#17
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It holds a large pizza quite nicely up against the bottom of the saddle on our shop 3 speed, but I think that has to do more with the particular positioning of the saddle than the rack itself. A pair of folding Wald baskets on either side does wonders for versatility, just make sure not to flex the outer portion out enough to lose the bottom on a big bump. I call it the "rattlebike" behind its back.
I'll definitely give the wine bottle a try.
I'll definitely give the wine bottle a try.
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I think liberal use of bungie cords is the key as that is how I carried the pistol case & engine parts. Don
#19
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The Pletscher mousetrap is still my all-time favorite rack, although I do admit that I prefer the Blackburn Mtn. Rack's method of attachment to the seat binder bolt over the Pletscher's stay clamps. However, when I use other racks, I really miss the mousetrap, which helps stabilize the load, and which can always be left in its down position for crushable loads.
One stay-saving trick with the Pletscher is to run a flat piece of aluminum or steel (a flattened-out reflector mount works well) from one of the Pletscher clamp bolts to the rear brake mounting bolt, to keep the rack from sliding down the stays.
One stay-saving trick with the Pletscher is to run a flat piece of aluminum or steel (a flattened-out reflector mount works well) from one of the Pletscher clamp bolts to the rear brake mounting bolt, to keep the rack from sliding down the stays.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
#20
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mouse trap on swiss rack
i telt it was good for making you shaped sandwiches.
#21
Senior Member
I want to see some pictures of these feats! Like Grand Bois I've only ever found them to be a source of frustration... and I imagined that the mousetrap was for a set of saddlebags that were joined across the top by a piece of canvas that was clamped under the mousetrap so they'd hang down like panniers.
#23
Disraeli Gears
When I used one (don't now, but still have it), I simply put two layers of fabric electrical tape on the two pieces that contact the seat stays. Never slipped, and didn't mar the stays either. Used bungee cords whenever I wanted to hold anything down -- I found the mousetrap essentially useless for the stuff I wanted to carry on a daily commute.
Last edited by Charles Wahl; 12-12-10 at 10:25 AM.