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DEADED!!!

to buy:

1" stem
nitto noodle 48cm bars - $60
xt centerlock hubs, 36h black - $100
rims - salsa delgado OR velocity dyad - $100 / $120
xt as 11-34 cassette - $70
campagnolo mirage 3x9spd brifters - $150

RACK:

From: MikeOD
To: lantius
Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 3:13 pm
Subject: front rack Quote message
Lee,

As I was saying last night, I also like the idea of a front platform rack, but probably wouldn't want to carry a lot of weight on the platform on a road bike like the rb-t. Maybe a sleeping bag or something like that.

The Surly rack is enormous, I just don't think you'd be happy having that on the rb-t. You should take a look at it on my xtracycle some time and imagine it on the front of the rb-t. I haven't looked closely at the Jandd front platform rack. It's probably a little lighter and not as wide, but still a big rack. Rivendell has one that's made by Nitto that also looks a little smaller than the Surly, though it's $135.

I also wonder whether these front racks with top platforms would position the bags as optimally as a lowrider rack would. Haven't tested though. It's true that a nice benefit is being able to mount the bags high or low. On an offroad tourer that would be nice, but I don't think it's important for a bike like the rb-t. With a lowrider you'd still be ok on a dirt or gravel road. Besides, having the bags mounted high would result in more difficult handling. I think it's something you'd only want to do as a necessity when trail riding and the bags are hitting rocks when they're mounted low.

A configuration that I've been considering, and that I think makes more sense for the rb-t or for my current bike, is a combination of a front lowrider rack, plus something like this:

It's the Nitto M12 mini front rack, mounts to the fork crown and the cantilever bolts. More pictures here, here,
here, here.

Can sometimes be found on ebay for $50 from Ben's Bikes. Rivendell has a couple different versions which mount using arms that extend down to the fork, instead of using the cantilever bolts.

A lowrider plus this rack still costs about as much as one of the low/high racks, but I think it's a better setup for a road bike. I'm waiting until I get more touring experience before I decide if I really need the extra top rack.

You wouldn't want to mount a lot of weight on a rack like this, but for a sleeping bag or something like that it would be good.

I haven't researched lowriders extensively because the racks Diane and I use are considered tops (top $ too). I've heard the Jandd lowrider is pretty good and relatively inexpensive. You definitely want something with a hoop, since the rb-t doesn't have the fork braze-ons.