Functional bikes. Not Porn not Anti

perfection.

Functional porn

-edit-
could do with a dynamo hub though

If only there were some proven way of securing bags either side of the back wheel, maybe it could even provide a platform above the back wheel so one wouldn’t need a swinging load on the seat post.

Ah.. Guess id have to try it to judge but sort of looks like inventing the wheel again. Maybe some weight to be gained over classic panniers.

I have the same mounting points on my frame. So could give it a go the next time I need to carry a lot.

edit; saddle bags are death

"A rear rack is fitted to suit some specially-designed drybags – also made by Fern. Dry bags can be optionally strapped-on, providing extra luggage space without requiring a cargo cage to keep everything in check. "

They’re lucky they made a rack so they don’t need a cage. But yeah maybe takes a slightly larger load. But then a pannier would take a slightly larger load again.

wou'll like it's other form

And a trailer would be able to fit so much more than a pannier.

Not everyone needs a double pannier's worth of stuff, and not everyone likes to have the bulk of weight on the rear wheel. I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that Fern's use of smaller bags on the rear triangle is intentional.

I do want a trailer

?

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Agree that not everyone needs a full 4-pannier setup, and that a bikepacking setup may have advantages on an off-roading setup, but as I said I'm not sure the racks are all that well engineered - even on the rim brake version there's not a huge amount of triangulation. I'd be happier with a Tubus Tara-style loop over the rear wheel, or Blackburn-lowrider-style mounts either side of the seatstay. Of course you'll most likely be ok - otherwise I guess they'd have already had reports of breakages - but if you're already going full custom for the frame and bags, why not sweat all the details?

nailed it

also 10/10

Lol, yes I do sound like an old cunt, I do apologise. I just don’t really get why you’d have a frame with custom mounts for a custom rack which doesn’t look as durable as it could be and requires custom bags, all to the end of having a purpose made bike-packing rig which presumably will spend most of its life loaded up, so where’s the advantage with non-permanent load mountings?

It's bicycle jewelry.

@Thrustvector makes a fair point about potential flimsiness, though I doubt anyone here has been hands on and flicked the thing, so it feels like mainly (informed) conjecture.

I think most bikepacking or TCR rigs will look impractical, or even unfit for purpose through the lens of more traditional touring / audax ...

Tell that to the Tubus duo and Salsa down under

Yes I’m all for the thing that’s not a rear rack. Would buy :-) also secretly in love with packing things in small bags to go in larger bags so would skip larger bag if possible.

From experience it sucks to pack too much in one place(fork) and would like the possibility to spread things all over the bike. Haven’t entered the bladder game so main triangle is mostly occupied by bottles.

Both of which are triangulated Blackburn-style of both sides of the fork blade? The Fern racks are attached on one side of the seatstay by a long-ish bolt, which is going to see a bending load if anything bumps the luggage from the side.

Since I can't decide what to start my next project with (Gravel/650b conversion of some old mtb frame) I have to use my beloved Peugeot track bike for commuting duty at the moment. I breaks my heart but at least it doesn't look too terrible.

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cycling must be great with short legs, you can slam the stem and the seat.

How many lights has the second one got! Awesome

Could you share the source? I’m building a big 82 Stumpjumper that’s going in this direction. I’d like to see more of the cockpit.