Functional bikes. Not Porn not Anti

Charge mortar, got the whole bike in the sale for £180. It's just had a whole new bb (US to euro adapter) and the some profile no boss cranks with a tree bikes chainring. Plus the wheels were rebuilt with new hubs and spokes.

Still a bargain

Stove? 26"?

Edit: Just saw post above.

Is it out of production now? I have a charge scissor, looks similar to this but without the brake bosses. Is it 26 or 29 wheels?

Yes they've stopped making it now. Its 29", massive clearances too. I reckon you could easily run 2.2 knobblies

So my Brother Kepler forks arrived. Now I need front rack advice, want to get a bag made up by bigxtop radonneur stylee like apollo/spotters

which front rack not too pricey, to mount to canti posts and brake hole

Yeah looks very similar to the v3 Scissor but with brake mounts. I like that build! Inspired to build something like that for a basket bike

Nice 'n' pricey: Nitto M12, Velo Orange Pass Hunter rack
Cheap 'n' functional: http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/alloy-front-carrier-cantilever-boss-mounting-black-alloy-prod14021/

Only note about the latter - the tombstone is wider than traditional rando racks so stock bags won't necessarily fit over it (think Acorn, Swift, Gilles Berthoud etc.). If you're going custom then this obviously isn't a problem but I figured I'd mention it for completeness

I have the sjs rack, which Jordan at bigtop then custom made the bag for, see Apollos lht thread, I have same rack and bag. Now using a nitto, so if you're up north there is a sjs rack sitting in my garage doing nowt.

Probably a sensible place to ask - will stem/handlebars explode if I try something similar to this...

Do have a more conventional back-up plan if the answer is yes...

Longer stem bolts I hope?

Is there a risk it could slowly rattle loose under load? That'd be my main concern, not one I can answer.

P.s. is that a bulldog clip + ziptie map holder?

Yep, longer bolts, wouldn't actually have that much weight on it, more just a vertical support for the bag, but you're right - there is a chance it'll rattle loose.

Mystery back up plan it is!

... and yes I think it is a diy map holder, picture should click through to the guy's photos... don't know if there's any shots of it in action...

Cheers, hadn't clicked pic will look through now.

If you locite it can't see what can go wrong. Just don't hang a heavy weight off it!

Could you maybe use a nyloc nut between stem and decaleur bit to reduce the chances of any working loose?

If there's a rack supporting the bag (and I'm sure there is) I can't see that option being a problem. Check Ed's post #82809
Also, fresh tripe sells a mount that gives you, uh, another mount.
http://www.freshtripe.co.uk/freshtripe/Handlebars,%20Headsets%20%26%20Stems.html

I hadn't seen those extended nut things, might give them a go, figure the extra bar should be fairly easy to remove...

If there's a rack supporting the bag (and I'm sure there is) I can't see that option being a problem.

Exactly this.

However a cheap decaleur may not be a tight fit unlike those super-expensive one from Compass (Grand Bois), which have no movement when slotted in.

As long the bag support the weight, the decaleur simply held it in place, very much like the rack stay on the seat stay, the seat stay mount are far from strong but enough to hold the rack in place while the weight is distributed on the drop out.

FWIW, I find my Grand Bois system work brilliantly, even over 10,000km I never have to make any modification or change, while the other modern system are heavier, and more prone to vibration (even with the Klick-fix, the bag bounce notoriously, and excessive vibration pull the bag downward regardless of the make).

Yes, there is a rack.

I have the VO steerer mount decaleur that I had set up previously but it was always a bit of a pain due to the short headtube on my Cross Check. I figured a stem bolt-mounted solution might be easier to get the bag in/out while keeping the bag away from my hands on the flats (and it's cheaper than replacing everything with a VO rack with integrated decaleur).

If GB made one for ahead stems I'd order that, but as they don't, I'm stuck trying to fabricate my own.

Here's what I had previously...

As you can see, there's not much room between the tombstone and decaleur (or the stem and top of the decaleur for that matter).

I suppose taking a hacksaw to both might also solve the problem...

BTW, clever use of the saddlebag on the front.

Could you not modified a strap that you can slow into the decaleur without having to undo the strap every time?

Yeah, the toe strap was a temporary addition, created a little loop attached that slotted over the tombstone and added some webbing on the base of the bag for straps (pain in the ass to sew through, even with an awl).

I'm even starting to wonder now if I might even be able to get away with out decaleur. If I don't make the bag too tall (6 inches or less) and have a rigid panel on the back to attach to the tombstone, it should probably be secure enough for commuting/audax/randobeering...

I got away without a decaleur with a bag that have a low enough stack height, bag that are very tall like those GB rando bag do need to have the decaleur.

The other advantage with the decaleur is that it allow me to removed the stiffener inside, reducing the weight of the bag to less than 300g, the stiffener add 300g on top.

Good point about the weight, not something I'd considered.

I think for the sake of simplicity, time and cost, I'll have a go at making a smaller bag with at least a solid rear panel, a tall 'slot' that covers most of the tombstone and maybe thin foam sheet in the sides for a little structure. For a jacket, malt loaf, knee warmers and keys/wallet, it should be more than enough space.

Been searching for some winter bike inspiration and came across this super tidy Crosscheck. Not what I'm looking for, but made me think. Would ride with mudguards and a rack.

Sorry if it's a repost.

You can buy that OTP too, they're cracking little bike when set-up like that.

Not up north much anymore but that woulda been ideal

Thanks for all the advice guys, anyone in london getting rid of a front rack?