interchangeable rack - advice please!

[007fair]

The Rack question has been brought up before so sorry for another one. I have 2 bikes - a mountain bike and a road bike. I commute of the Mountain bike for which I need a rack of some sort to carry stuff, and also use it for red and black runs where I don't want a rack. So I need a rack that is easily removable for this dual purpose.
ALSO - i would like a rack of some sort for the road bike for the occasional short weekend tour.

If the same rack could be used for both the commute and the tour this would be ideal.

Options
seat post rack - Seems the easiest option but limited carrying capacity (?) and the weight is quite high up. Is the rack stable enough for a tour ?

bagman saddle support and large saddle bag (like a carradice longflap) - Space even more limited?
But more compact and better weight distribution? Easy to switch remove when required?

Proper rack - I suppose its only 4 bolts so its not the end of the world to add remove switch
Not sure I could get a rack that would fit both bikes. Advantages are that the weight is kept low and I can then use any pannier system and go large if need be


Anyone had the above dilema and can offer advice or opinions?

Thank you !

 

[wiggydiggy]

Just a view on the Carradice Bags and Supports:

The capacity can be upto 24 litres, so pretty big, and some are designed to carry laptops if thats what you need. On the support racks it is also only 1 bolt to undo each time if you don't want to buy two racks (advisable as they are £40+) so its not that fiddly. I think when touring they are perfectly suited to a non camping tour as they are cavenous enough for everything you need.

But the limitation is the 10kg weight, although its possible to get everything for a camping tour on the larger bags (Nelson longflap/Camper Longflap) you need to be mindful of the weight. I'm personally going to be adding a rear pannier rack as well to have my heavier/bulky items strapped ontop of it as it will only be on the bike when I tour, so I don't mind having to take it on/off every so often.

One thing I only just noticed recently is there are 2 sizes of support racks - Sport and Expedition - Sport is for the smaller bags (Barley/Pendle), Expedition the larger one's (Nelson/Camper). I'm hoping to visit a LBS this weekend that stocks both so I can compare sizes so I'll let you know if you remind me lol

As an example I did a 2 night credit card tour last year with a Barley, I carried only 1 change of clothes though for both the evenings and had the waterproofs strapped on top. I had space inside for daily food and water but as I was always going to be near train stations (hours walk or so), I carried minimal repair equipment.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Don't see why you can't get a rack that would fit both? So long as you are prepared to adjust it each time - Some are pretty adjustable - the Massload one (scroll down on this thread -http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=130087) moreso than some others with the adjustment at the bottom mountings as well as the top - I got mine from halfords and have managed to fit on a road bike and with some jiggery-pokery onto a disc-equipped MTB together with a hitch for the trailer.

 

[007fair]

Just a view on the Carradice Bags and Supports:

One thing I only just noticed recently is there are 2 sizes of support racks - Sport and Expedition - Sport is for the smaller bags (Barley/Pendle), Expedition the larger one's (Nelson/Camper). I'm hoping to visit a LBS this weekend that stocks both so I can compare sizes so I'll let you know if you remind me lol

Thanks! I'll be interested in what they say It does sound easier than a rack but I think I would need a big longflap and I have heard they are not easy to get - at least not quickly

 

[007fair]

Don't see why you can't get a rack that would fit both? So long as you are prepared to adjust it each time - Some are pretty adjustable - the Massload one (scroll down on this thread -http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=130087) moreso than some others with the adjustment at the bottom mountings as well as the top - I got mine from halfords and have managed to fit on a road bike and with some jiggery-pokery onto a disc-equipped MTB together with a hitch for the trailer.

Didn't know they did adjustable racks I'll pop into halfords on the way home and check them out cheers

 

[wiggydiggy]

Thanks! I'll be interested in what they say It does sound easier than a rack but I think I would need a big longflap and I have heard they are not easy to get - at least not quickly

Yeah I want to see if that if I get a Nelson, or Camper, that they may still fit on the Sport I have. Otherwise instead of £50-60 on a single new bag its £100+ as I'll need a new rack as well.....

If you search around you can get them quickly depending on if the retailer has them in stock, or just order straight from Carradice. I had a 3 week wait on my Barley so not that bad really, and I knew it was made especially for me

 

[007fair]

Looking into this I have decided against a full rack as there are limited quick release bags or a large carry-able size with a full rack. So A Carradice Neslon Camper Longflap it is but not sure about the SQR or bagman for support. The SQR seems to hold the bag at a 45 degree angle whereas the bagman has the bag sitting upright on it which looks better to me

However the quick release system on the SQR seems better as once the bag is removed there is no rack

 

[007fair]

Just a view on the Carradice Bags and Supports:

The capacity can be upto 24 litres, so pretty big, and some are designed to carry laptops if thats what you need. On the support racks it is also only 1 bolt to undo each time if you don't want to buy two racks (advisable as they are £40+) so its not that fiddly. I think when touring they are perfectly suited to a non camping tour as they are cavenous enough for everything you need.

But the limitation is the 10kg weight, although its possible to get everything for a camping tour on the larger bags (Nelson longflap/Camper Longflap) you need to be mindful of the weight. I'm personally going to be adding a rear pannier rack as well to have my heavier/bulky items strapped ontop of it as it will only be on the bike when I tour, so I don't mind having to take it on/off every so often.

One thing I only just noticed recently is there are 2 sizes of support racks - Sport and Expedition - Sport is for the smaller bags (Barley/Pendle), Expedition the larger one's (Nelson/Camper). I'm hoping to visit a LBS this weekend that stocks both so I can compare sizes so I'll let you know if you remind me lol

As an example I did a 2 night credit card tour last year with a Barley, I carried only 1 change of clothes though for both the evenings and had the waterproofs strapped on top. I had space inside for daily food and water but as I was always going to be near train stations (hours walk or so), I carried minimal repair equipment.

Wiggy jfyi I went for the SQR support Slightly lighter and cheaper and the fame can be removed easier when you don't want a rack.
were you able to fit the camper on to the sport bagman?

 

[wiggydiggy]

Wiggy jfyi I went for the SQR support Slightly lighter and cheaper and the fame can be removed easier when you don't want a rack.
were you able to fit the camper on to the sport bagman?

My research continues I didnt make it to the LBS at the weekend....