Racks! (WTB?)

[Mathew Greiner]

Questions about racks. Answers and offers to sell used good ones are both useful responses.

My friend's cheaper aluminum rack broke and he's looking to replace it with something better. He commutes most days with a pair of Arkel panniers and a suit in a suit bag (like a durable, zippered one that probably came with one of his suits). So far he's had the bags on his rear rack with the suit bag folded in half or thirds and draped over the top.

The Nitto Big Rear Rack seems like a slam dunk, but I think he needs to know there isn't an equally good option for a little less. How are people's experiences with things like the Nitto R-15, The Nitto Campee*, Tubus Cargo/Logo/Vega, Surly Nice Racks, etc? If anyone knows much about the Velo Orange Rear Campeur, that's an option, too.

I think a lighter rear rack just for the suit and front low riders for the panniers might be a nice option, but that's as expensive or more, and the tops of the panniers are no longer supporting the suit (they kind of extend the deck of the rack as he uses it now). The Nitto Big Front Rack might also be interesting, as his bike has a lower trail and reportedly rides well with weight in the front.

What other options might you all experience with to accommodate a similar load?

* Also please help me be less confused. There are Nitto MT Campees (for a 26" wheel?), Nitto Campees (R20?) that go for about $150, and then Nitto Campees with low rider attachments for front or rear that go for $280. Will the regular ones ($150) accommodate panniers? Why must they all have the same name?

[Deacon Patrick]

If you want a rack that you can abuse without worry, get Nitto. If it breaks something is very wrong. Jus take sure to check all bolts regularly as loose ones will kill your frame. I can't speak to the others, but the testing Nitto does is outstanding and his weight limits are very conservative as opposed to on the high end, so there is room to play as needed.

With abandon

Patrick

[Michael Fleischman]

+1 Nitto. Specifically, I have had the Big Rear Rack for the past few years and it has served me very well.

Michael
Indianapolis, IN

[Deacon Patrick]

Here's my Nitto being loved:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/32311885@N07/9360332191/in/set-72157634780609741

With abandon,

Patrick

[Minh]

If you can afford it nitto ( duh). On a budget I noticed that public is closing out a few colors http://publicbikes.com/p/PUBLIC-Rear-Rack-with-Spring-Clip-2012

They seemed pretty beefy when I used one but it was only for a day. Not sure how we'll it'd work with those bags but they have a few pics on the site.

[Tim Gavin]

The $150 (actually, only $123) Nitto Mt Campee R20 carries panniers quite well.  I have Vaude panniers clipped onto mine very securely. 

The R20 doesn't have a lower, second rail like the 32/33R Big Back racks. The panniers mount on the top rail, so that prevents you from using a trunk sack.

I assume that's on purpose, to mount panniers higher for off-road clearance, compared to the roadie Campee with the detachable lowrider frames.

So long as he just wants to use panniers and then strap stuff ad hoc to the top, then the R20 Mt Campee would work fine.  It's probably the cheapest pannier-capable Nitto rear rack.  It has the same pretty nickel finish of all Nitto racks, and can mount to frame braze-ons or to canti posts.

Tim

On Tue, Apr 8, 2014 at 9:16 PM, Minh <mgian...@gmail.com> wrote:

If you can afford it nitto ( duh). On a budget I noticed that public is closing out a few colors  http://publicbikes.com/p/PUBLIC-Rear-Rack-with-Spring-Clip-2012

They seemed pretty beefy when I used one but it was only for a day. Not sure how we'll it'd work with those bags but they have a few pics on the site.

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[Patrick Moore]

I commuted with Tubus Flys for years; they are rated for 18 or 20 kg and I've certainly loaded mine to that limit. 11 oz and minimalist design.

If looks are a big issue, a slightly heavier and slightly weaker stainless steel model is available.

Add Tubus front Tara or Duos and you'll not spend much more than $200 total. (Wayne at TheTouringStoredotcom ships at no additional charge.)

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Patrick Moore

Albuquerque, Nouvelle Mexique, Etats Unis

[Ron Mc]

The Tubus Cosmo is really their rack compares to the Nitto 32/33R.  My buddy has the Tubus, and I have the Nitto - they're both very nice and top of the line for a reason.  The best thing about them is they keep the load well back from your feet and down a bit.  

My daughter has the Tubus Vega which is essentially the Fly but with double stays.  Very strong rack but the load is way up high.  

Hey - The Touring Store is having a spring sale that ends tomorrow...  http://www.thetouringstore.com/TUBUS/TUBUS%20HOME/TUBUS%20HOME%20PAGE.htm

[dougP]

Matthew:

I've used the Nitto big back rack (the older one, not the current one with the 2nd set of bars), another Nitto (forget the number) that does have the lower bars, and the Tubus Cosmo.  Also numerous cheap aluminum (c)racks as I climbed the learning curve.  Good quality steel racks are all similar in cost so it comes down to what features your friend needs for his specific loads.  Nitto & Tubus both have good mounting hardware and are simple to install.

If it's not too late, check out the Touring Store sale referenced elsewhere on this thread.  Wayne is a great guy with good information and excellent service.  I've gotten a few things from him over the years and if he has something on sale, it'll take a lot of searching to find a better price. 

dougP

[Bill Lindsay]

Regarding "Campee".  Campee is not a model name, but more of a product line or maybe just a branding adjective.  Milwaukee Bicycle, just as a for-instance, sells 8 racks that have the Campee sticker on them, and that doesn't include the Mini Front (32F) that Riv sells.  As another for-instance, Alexs Cycles (in Japan) has an entire product category titled "Campee".  Under that category they have racks, decaleurs, fenders, panniers, backpacks, etc.  

Somebody asking to buy a "Nitto Campee" is about as specific as asking to buy "Shimano SPD pedals".  

I'm sure that doesn't cut the confusion, but hopefully it explains partially why it's so confusing.  

On Tuesday, April 8, 2014 1:50:32 PM UTC-7, Mathew Greiner wrote:

[Hugh Flynn]

Tubus racks are fantastic, and will provide a fantastic solution that is compatible with Arkel's mounting system. 

I happen to prefer Nitto "Big" Racks, but you need to be aware that the corner bracing Nitto uses for their "Big" Campee racks (32R, 33R, and 34F) are NOT compatible with the Arkel Cam-Lock or B-Series pannier mounting systems out of the box. 

I've been documenting my efforts to get my Arkel bags to mate well with my Nitto "Big" Campee racks (32R and 34F), and I have to say I am quite satisfied with the results. It does, however, take a little effort and a willingness to take a hack-saw to the Arkel top-rail hooks. 

Step 1: If your friend is using Arkel bags with the newer "Cam-Lock" system, he or she will need to request a set of the older "B-series" hooks from Arkel. Arkel is a FANTASTIC company to interact with and supplied me with a set of B-Series hooks free of charge just for asking. I can't promise that they will do the same if your friend asks, but it's certainly worth a shot. 

Step 2: The Arkel-supplied B-series hooks will need to be modified so they lay flat over the Nitto Big Rack corner braces. I've outlined the process I used here:

https://sites.google.com/site/hugfly247/home/projects/arkel-bags-with-nitto-racks-mod

Step 3: If the bags have one hook that lands in-board of the corner braces, he or she could use one of the Cam Loc hooks. I've outlined the "Hybrid B-Series/Cam Lock" solution for Arkel bags on Nitto Big racks at the link below. I have not had a chance to post the illustrations yet though. 

https://sites.google.com/site/hugfly247/home/projects/arkel-and-nitto-redux-the-roller-cam-b-series-solution

Let me know if these links are useful, or if you think additional detail is required. I'll try to get those photos posted this week. 

So, the upshot is that using Tubus racks would be simpler, but I happen to like Nitto racks more. 

Good luck!

Hugh "Pannier Mod" Flynn

Newburyport, MA 

[Lynne Fitz]

The Racktime racks are worth looking into - Tubus' value priced offerings. I have the Addi It for the Riv, for panniers, etc. and a Stand It, which I though might be nice to put on the rando bike if I needed a rack, rather than just a saddlebag. It is a nice rack, but perhaps I needed something with a standard width deck.