My sister would like a rack fitted to her bike. Its a Claud Butler Urban Hybrid. Its only for light shopping but with panniers. I have some inexpensive Lidl panniers to give her. What would people recommend?
View attachment 495271
Avoid Blackburn racks. They are rubbish and their "lifetime warranty" isn't worth the card they print it on. I had three of them and they ALL failed one after about 2 years and the other 2 after about 3 months. The welds broke on them as the welding is really poor, diabolical really. Alternative racks I have now purchased are far far better welded, all the way around on both sides not just one spot on one side and the welding on my replacement racks is far neater. The shop I bought the Blackburn Expedition racks from contacted the distributor for Blackburn and a warranty claim was submitted but refused on all of them despite the welding clearly having failed where the struts were now unattached making the rack even weaker and free to rattle around as I rode. One was on one of the rear dog legs the other two was at the lower mount. As I say the welding is crap. My 4 year old niece could do a better and prettier job.
Also they are NOT very stiff as there is no triangulation in them. I could feel the rear panniers swaying as I cycled and heavily loaded the rack was scary.
You basically need to look at any other main brand except Blackburn. Top price and quality are Tubus Ergo rear rack but it's about £100 which I suggest is more than you want to pay for a rack for your daughter's bike even if she is your daughter. Other makes such as Surly do really strong rear racks such as the Nice rack but it is about £130.00.
Cheaper racks by Topeak for example are OK reasonable quality and cheaper prices. OK quality welding all around the rubes not just one sided. Available at
Halfords so you can inspect before you buy and use BC discount if you are a member.
As mentioned up thread
Decathlon do some good stuff. Haven't bought any of their racks but had a quick look some time ago at one and they seem robust and well made. They do have an excellent returns policy should you need to return stuff. Good prices as well. Not going to break the bank.
Tortec seem ok although I have only had some of their aluminium bottle cages that have unfortunately failed within a year - tubes and welds breaking. Can still use them but they tend to rattle. Haven't actually bought any of their racks.
Specialised do some good racks - very strong and light with good welding. They do a very good front rack, the Pizza rack which I have which is fantastic and only £45.00. Very strong and light.
Tubus and similar top end rear racks e.g. Surly, Thorn were too expensive for me at the time I was looking for new racks. When my Blackburn pile of rubbish Expedition racks failed, I had them on several bikes, so needed several, so I didn't want to have to spend a fortune. Quite by chance I came across the Madison Summit Rear rack which is basically a Shimano rack. It was £18-19 when I got my first one about 10-12 years ago. It is still going strong. Since then I have bought a few more and now have Madison Summit rear racks on all my bikes. I think now they are about £25. I've never paid more than this. They are aluminium, very strong and light. There is next to no flex in them as far as I have found even with very heavy loads indeed as there is good triangulation in them. You also have a lower rail to attach panniers to should you or your daughter wish. I use this lower rail most of the time. The welding is also very good. Welds go around the whole tube not just half a tube and it is neat, not a spit and splat affair welding mess as the Blackburn Expedition series are. Total rubbish racks. Cheese would be stronger.
Here is a link to the Madison Summit rear rack. Unfortunately
Tredz seem to have effectively doubled the price to £39.99, but it is still very good value even at this price. The rack fits both 26" and 700C wheels. I have fitted this rack to bikes with both these wheel sizes.
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.M-Part-Sum...ImOmBx56l5gIVQoXVCh2TkwWSEAQYAyABEgJuJ_D_BwE#
I also now have a stainless steel Tubus rear rack as well on one of my bikes but tbh prefer the much cheaper Madison Summit. They have very little wear on them despite many years use. The aluminium tubing hasn't worn like the Blackburn tubing did, almost wearing through and breaking. As I say cheese would be stronger.
I hope this helps. Just don't buy Blackburn racks. They are rubbish. And for those that say they are not, your racks haven't broken yet or you don't use them very much or carry very much on them. The "lifetime warranty" is rubbish. I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.
