SteveParry
Über Member
- Location
- Bristol
Suitable rack for a urban bike?
- Thread starter SteveParry
- Start date
- Location
- London
OP
SteveParry
Über Member
- Location
- Bristol
My sister thought this from Amazon but reading the reviews seems it would not be good to attach panniers to:
View: https://www.amazon.co.uk/M-WAVE-Sonstige-Aluminium-Carrier-suitable/dp/B001NGF4W4/ref=sr_1_22?crid=3QQO5LBQ32A95&dchild=1&keywords=cycle+rack+for+panniers&qid=1574704817&sprefix=cycle+rack+for+pannier%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-22
Does it have lower rack eyelets?
Most racks fit 700c wheels size hybrid bikes. You need one that has non adjustable leg length ( ie the right height) and strong and stiff metal stays to the upper eyelets. There may be an issue with interference with the V brakes.
Avoid racks with a solid top, an open framework is more versatile. Avoid special rail systems.
A raised front loop stops big loads from sliding forward. 3 main legs with the rear set triangulated in is the stiffest arrangement as used on Blackburn racks.
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Blackburn-Expedition-1-Rear-Pannier-Rack_53196.htm?sku=145011&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj4z1jPCZ5gIVSrDtCh3hvw2FEAQYASABEgLe1vD_BwE
Dogleg arrangements are to prevent floppy panniers from hitting the wheel. Good stiff panniers do not need this feature. A surprising number of racks are designed with no thought to pannier fixing. Modern quick release pannier fittings need suitable free spaces of metal rod, so avoid designs that weld two rods together running along the top edges of the platform.
Some disk brake arrangements need a wide spacer at the bottom of the legs, to clear the brake. Avoid these wider racks if you don't need the feature.
Fix with stainless steel allen bolts and washers. The supplied bolts are sometimes made of cheese.
With an oversized load the safest location for a rear light is on a bracket fixed to the rear underside of the rack.
Most racks fit 700c wheels size hybrid bikes. You need one that has non adjustable leg length ( ie the right height) and strong and stiff metal stays to the upper eyelets. There may be an issue with interference with the V brakes.
Avoid racks with a solid top, an open framework is more versatile. Avoid special rail systems.
A raised front loop stops big loads from sliding forward. 3 main legs with the rear set triangulated in is the stiffest arrangement as used on Blackburn racks.
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Blackburn-Expedition-1-Rear-Pannier-Rack_53196.htm?sku=145011&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj4z1jPCZ5gIVSrDtCh3hvw2FEAQYASABEgLe1vD_BwE
Dogleg arrangements are to prevent floppy panniers from hitting the wheel. Good stiff panniers do not need this feature. A surprising number of racks are designed with no thought to pannier fixing. Modern quick release pannier fittings need suitable free spaces of metal rod, so avoid designs that weld two rods together running along the top edges of the platform.
Some disk brake arrangements need a wide spacer at the bottom of the legs, to clear the brake. Avoid these wider racks if you don't need the feature.
Fix with stainless steel allen bolts and washers. The supplied bolts are sometimes made of cheese.
With an oversized load the safest location for a rear light is on a bracket fixed to the rear underside of the rack.
Looks like a weak wobbly rack.
OP
SteveParry
Über Member
- Location
- Bristol
OP
SteveParry
Über Member
- Location
- Bristol
Blackburn copies can be quite good.
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/carriers-racks/black-mpart-ax3-rear-rack/
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/carriers-racks/black-mpart-ax3-rear-rack/
Vantage
The dogs chew toy
- Location
- Behind everyone else, Bolton
I'd go with this.
I don't have any experience with it, but previous experience with returning things to decathlon itself has been very good.
The rack I think would be spot on as the top is perfectly flat and the rack is height adjustable. These are important given the very low saddle height.
Decathlons listed weight limits seem to be well within what I'd call a light shopping load.
I don't have any experience with it, but previous experience with returning things to decathlon itself has been very good.
The rack I think would be spot on as the top is perfectly flat and the rack is height adjustable. These are important given the very low saddle height.
Decathlons listed weight limits seem to be well within what I'd call a light shopping load.
Crankarm
Guru
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
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-Summit-Alloy-Rear-Pannier-Rack_45245.htm?sku=117256&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImOmBx56l5gIVQoXVCh2TkwWSEAQYAyABEgJuJ_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.
Last edited:
- Location
- London
This is a good rack for general purpose use.
Good price, black only here,
https://www.rutlandcycling.com/accessories/bags-luggage/tortec-expedition-rear-rack_109591
Good price, black only here,
https://www.rutlandcycling.com/accessories/bags-luggage/tortec-expedition-rear-rack_109591
Crankarm
Guru
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
This copy looks every bit as rubbish as the real thing. No triangulation so will sway unnervingly with any significant weight on it and looking at the welding it looks crap like the real one. Welds only on one side of the tubing and at the top one splat on one side of the tubing joining the top rails. Tubing is really thin as well offering little strength. Seriously don't waste your money or tell people to waste their money on this copy of this genuinely dreadful rack. I speak from bitter experience. And I am bitter. I lost a lot of money on these rubbish racks. Anyway I have much better ones now which were cheaper!!!
- Location
- London
Vantage
The dogs chew toy
- Location
- Behind everyone else, Bolton
I don't disagree that they are good racks. Recommended by many and on that, bought one myself.
Bloody hell they aren't half tall! I wouldn't have thought one of those would fit well on the bike in question given its low saddle height.
