Tailfin rack and Ortlieb panniers

[AlanW]

Has anyone got any real world experience with this particular rack/pannier combination?

Although the bike l'm thinking of fitting it to has all the necessary frame eyelets etc, l do like simple approach of the Tailfin mounting.

But l'm not sure 100% comfortable about the third party pannier adaptor and the way the panniers mount. Tailfin claim the same weight carrying capacity is the same as a normal frame mounted pannier rack, but l'd like to hear if anyone shares the same view with hands on experience.

 

[Dan Lotus]

I have the Tailfin aluminium rack due to necessity, as my bike had no mounts of any sort.
I added on the Ortlieb adapters as I have a pair of Roller back classics I think they are called.
Not used them LOADS of times, but the times I have used them, reasonably loaded up, they have been absolutely fine, zero issues, nice and secure, no complaints at all.

It is very well put together, and as you say simple, but it is also brutally expensive.
Ortlieb themselves make a similar rack, though ideally if you have rear lower mounting points it would be better, for maybe a 3rd of the price of the Tailfin:
Quickrack

My partner has a carbon gravel bike, and this is what I fitted to it - it's excellent value for money, and arguably just as simple and quick to remove/refit.

What is your specific concern or worry?

 

[AlanW]

I have read varying reviews as to how well the Ortlieb panniers fit on the Tailfin, although to be fair this was on the carbon version. But no fear of me buying that one at £400.........

Do you find that the Tailfin pannier mounts hold the panniers much further back than it does on a conventional frame mounted rack? I'm thinking specifically about how light the front end gets when riding with two loaded panniers on a steep incline and does it make it worse? I know from experience that even with a normal rack and low gearing it becomes difficult to steer in a straight line on a proper steel hill!

I wont lie, I keep looking at the Ortlieb one and its price point is bang on, but I just prefer the look of the Tailfin one

 

[fossyant]

The Ortlieb quick racks do look excellent and designed for their bags.

 

[Dan Lotus]

I have read varying reviews as to how well the Ortlieb panniers fit on the Tailfin, although to be fair this was on the carbon version. But no fear of me buying that one at £400.........

Do you find that the Tailfin pannier mounts hold the panniers much further back than it does on a conventional frame mounted rack? I'm thinking specifically about how light the front end gets when riding with two loaded panniers on a steep incline and does it make it worse? I know from experience that even with a normal rack and low gearing it becomes difficult to steer in a straight line on a proper steel hill!

I wont lie, I keep looking at the Ortlieb one and its price point is bang on, but I just prefer the look of the Tailfin one

I bought the aluminium rack and the top back - the top bag is pretty nice to be fair, I forget (Intentionally probably) the exact price, but I'm reasonably sure with the adapters it was north of £300.

If I had the mounts, I would have gone for the Ortlieb, although in actual fact if I think about it, I don't believe the Ortlieb was on the market when I bought my rack.

Anyway, I digress - I don't believe the panniers are any further back on the bike than they would be on a normal bike - I did have to slide the hooks along the rails a bit, to get them to give me heel clearance, but that relative position would be identical on a bike with a regular rack.

I certainly have felt no unusual handling characteristics, and I'm not an experienced tourer or anything.
When I rode with reasonably weighted double panniers, and the top bag, and no handlebar bag or anything, I rode down to Salisbury, which was a mix of decent climbs, descents, and even some offroad - as it was my first ride after a few months off, I'm positive any unusual handling would definitely have caught my attention.

My bike is a Scott Addict Gravel 30, so geometry may play a part of course.

 

[AlanW]

Sorry for the late response, I thought that I had replied and it was still in draft, apologies. That's settled my mind at least, thanks.

I can see that you can mount a rear light to the rack bag, but is it possible to mount one to the rack as I have no plans on purchasing the rack bag?

 

[rivers]

I can see that you can mount a rear light to the rack bag, but is it possible to mount one to the rack as I have no plans on purchasing the rack bag?

I have a light attached to the top of the arch.

 

[Dan Lotus]

Sorry for the late response, I thought that I had replied and it was still in draft, apologies. That's settled my mind at least, thanks.

I can see that you can mount a rear light to the rack bag, but is it possible to mount one to the rack as I have no plans on purchasing the rack bag?

Not sure about that to be fair - as you know I did indeed buy the bag, and wanted to be able to fit a Varia at the back (If I'm not using the top bag, it can just go on the seatpost as normal) - I had a local company called Raceware Direct make a piece that replaced another piece on the bottom of the bag, which enables me to fit both the Varia and another light should I want to as a backup.

I don't recall anything obvious on the rack where you could fit a light sadly - have you had a look on youtube, there might be some hack on there.
Or do Tailfin make any adapters that fit onto the rack?

 

[AlanW]

I have a light attached to the top of the arch.

Is it possible to post a picture as I'm curious to see how you have done it, thanks in advance.

 

[Elybazza61]

Have both a carbon (with the attached bag) and ally Tailfin racks, the carbon has been on various bikes of mine and the ally one on the other half's Cotic Escapade gravel/tourer and Kona Smoke mtb wannabe; both have been used with the adaptors and Ortlieb bags although they are the smaller ones.

No issues at all when loaded up and the clips lock in nicely on the adaptors.

 

[YMFB]

Is it possible to post a picture as I'm curious to see how you have done it, thanks in advance.

Me too, be very happy to see this

 

[rivers]

Is it possible to post a picture as I'm curious to see how you have done it, thanks in advance.

 

[AlanW]

Has anyone strapped a tent to the top of a Tailfin rack?

 

[Elybazza61]

Has anyone strapped a tent to the top of a Tailfin rack?

Have done it with the better half's ally one, strapped on with Voile straps ; to be fair it wasn't the whole tent as I was carrying the rest of it but it is an oldish Vango tent so nt the most packable.