tricky rack mounting

[Leslie]

Once again, one of my projects that I thought was a great/unique idea, but half-way into it I realize why everyone does something different, but I continue one and finally wrap up, pleased w/ the end result.

Bombadil, has the holes on top of the fork crown for mounting a 'rear rack' on the front.  And, I have a Tubus Cosmo rack on hand.   So, sounds like a plan, right?

For future reference, if you're going to do this:  cantis would have made this easy, a non-issue. 

I've got Paul's Motolite v-brakes on this bike.   

The noodle and the strut want to occupy the same location.

Had to get, creative, with some strut bending to get it to work.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leslie_bright/7460204440/in/photostream/

It's done, I like it, am going to run with it....    but in retrospect, I think I'd suggest getting RBW's forthcoming pannier racks that Mark's come up with instead.

[Leslie]

PS:
Above pic was of the bent strut, here's the rack once mounted: http://www.flickr.com/photos/leslie_bright/7460286064/in/photostream/

[Earl Grey]

Nice work! How did you bend the stays? Just another reason to stick
with cantis. :)

Might be nice to get a longer (in front) front fender on there to
protect your load better.

Gernot "firmly in the cantis are the best brakes ever camp" Huber
Thailand

[Leslie]

I'd hold the strut close in place, as close as I could unbent, mark it, then clamp it into my bench vice at the point where the bend needed to be sticking above, then tapped it over w/ a hammer. Very slight surfical marring, but liveable for me. Then take it over and test-fit it, maybe add a touch more bend, test fit it again...

The one for the other side was easier; this side with the noodle, I actually had to straighten it out and bend it again, a bit close than my first try.

Cantis would've simplified it a lot. I like the Paul Motolites, but, they sure have made things 'interesting' in dialing out this bike....

Now, to scrounge up funds for panniers for it...

[Leslie]

PS: definitely agree on the longer fender bit... Either need to find someone w/ a broken bit to add as an extension, or perhaps get a second rear fender and put it on the front, or some such... Or cobble up something else... Regardless, yes, I concur, a fender extension under there is needed...

-L

[Earl Grey]

I like the Carradice Super Cs I just got. Haven't used them yet, but
seem well-built and simple, but with a good (Ortlieb-like) attachment
system. Not too expensive, either. Order from Wiggle in the UK.

Or you could go with aluminum fenders. I switched almost all my bikes
in the last couple of years. Even these disappointingly short ones
from VO (went on sale shortly after I bought them) give almost full
frontal coverage:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gernothuber/7247322734/in/photostream/

Gernot

[Leslie]

I've got aluminum fenders on my Ram from VO;  I like them, but they weren't fun to mount, as I was fitting them over 32's.  They're long; however, I don't think VO carries the anodized aluminum anymore...

This is the first time I've used the SKS/Esge fenders;  they seem fine, I'm just short in the front from where I want it.   This is a 650b bike, and I'm running the fattest tires I can find on it, am using the P65 ones.  

Some elegant solution will arise, I just need to keep mulling it over and give it time...

-L

[Earl Grey]

I assume your front fender has an L-bracket which you placed behind
the fork crown? You might be able to place it in front of the crown,
which would gain you an inch or so. Perhaps not enough to bother...

Gernot

[Leslie]

Spent some time thinking about that while riding along yesterday, looking at it...

You're correct; I could move the L-bracket from the back to the front, it appears that that would align the front of the fender w/ one of the rack's cross-bars;  however, it would still be short, I would still need to come up w/ an extension from that cross-bar forward anyway;  but, it would also raise the back/bottom of the fender, where I'd rather keep it down where it is.   So, I think I'll keep the L on the back, and just come up w/ an extension that goes from further back...