Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

Did you not want to use the frame mount kit because it (the rack) sat too high?

What OMM adapters would use to extend?

I didn't want to use the frame kit because I'd already bought the OMM axle because it's a neater solution (if it works).

There was a guy on bikepacking.com youtube comments that had made it work using... something

I think it was this front dropout kit: https://www.bike24.com/p2675341.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf4CcTFvz38

So I can attest to the the Old Man Mountain experience, but went a slightly different route. I'll be honest, the $168 price tag just for the rack was too rich for me, and everything said and done starts getting into the Tailfin space.

So what I did was purchase a mounting kit and 2 sets of axles kits (one for my 12x142 hardtail Ibis Tranny29) and one for my gravel bike (12x142 Rodeo Labs Flaanimal). I was hoping to get lucky that they shared the same thread pitch and length but unfortunately luck was not on my side.

I really wanted the Ortlieb Quick Rack to work but I believe it was going to be too wide with the quick rack mounts. So after some searching, and measuring, a quick hack if you don't necessarily need a beefy overbuilt OMM rack that's quite spendy, it will work with racks with boost spacing, but you need to have the rack dropouts to have 2 holes to mount to the "Divide Drop Outs - Pair" (DRO100) to interface with the axles. Two screws to attach it to the rack with bolts. When you see the kit, its self explainitory. I personally went with a Racktime BOOSTIT 2.0 which fit my price/needs. I also purchased the Seat Post Clamp (SEA101) which is awesome because it splits in half. It doesn't fit on the frame but added some extra rubber to connect it to the seatpost directly. Which is even better because you remove the need to adjust anything when taking on/off.

I really like this setup because its literally 4 bolts and I can move the rack from my gravel bike to my HT in less than 5min, and its 4 bolts (assuming the axle is installed) I don't even have to adjust the angle or length moving it from bike to bike (got lucky there). It's a slight hack and I had to drill two holes in the rack to get everything to line up, but the axle kit and Divide Drop Out kit is a legit robust easy pairing if you find an alternate rack that works with it.

I will say that one of the reasons I looked at this particular rack is the "Snapit2.0" base that snaps onto the rack. I attached an Ortlieb Rackpack 24L to it and it basically does the same as the Tailfin AP20. I use it everyday to commute into work. Just quick-disconnect and carry the bag into work. Works better than loading/unloading panniers. This was my personal hack.

If anyone wants to know more about this setup/DIY, I'm willing to help through the process.

@firsthippy
Do you have pics or video of your setup? I wanted to use OMM axle with Ortlieb Quick Rack but the rack wasn't tall enough so I bought OMM rack. But I still have Quick Rack so I also bought their frame mount kit. Now I'm wondering if I could use the Quick Rack on my partners gravel bike with another OMM axle and your bodge to extend the legs. I see the OMM leg extender parts but I'm not sure how they'd mount to the Quick Rack.

@josh33172
I do have pictures, but I don't have close-ups and the bike is very dirty to take pictures...and the water in the hose is frozen to clean the bike....It's just a consequence of riding here in Belgium. :/

To connect to the rack and what slips over the axle is the "Divide Drop Outs" you purchase from OMM (the were $32 for the pair when I bought them). I chose my rack specifically because it was the only stout rack with two bolt holes to mount the dropouts so that they functioned very similar to the Divide rack. That is what will give you the extra height because it's adjustable depending on which thread holes you use.

As far as using the Quick Rack, I literally just got it in the mail and haven't even cracked open the box to start looking at the bits... I haven't decided if I will use the rack for bike touring or commuting. I have Ortlieb Gravelpacks so that's what I would be using for a pannier setup.

So, actually re-reading this it sounds like they're using a different rack but it wasn't quite clear, hence me asking for pictures. Anyway, I now have a Quick Rack and frame kit for it that might go on my partners bike or might get sold at some point. Not sure. We have lots of bag options these days.

Thanks I think. Although I've read this a few times I just. don't. understand.

I really wish I had eyelets on my MTB like my gravel bike, it's a piece of piss and makes it a few seconds to fit and remove and pertinently the locating lugs just screw in..

I have the frame mount kit for bike sans eyelets, it was my intention to fit them but it's going to be too tall, the reason I had asked you about yours in the first place. Now I'm down a rabbit hole of axles and possible bodgery to make it work as that axle mount solution is right up my strasse. However, if I buy a frankly horrifically expensive axle how does that allow me to use the mounts you linked to? I can figure the rest of the puzzle if I can get those extensions on at the axle I just can't get it into my head, the interface between them.

Any axle I've used has a hex at one end with the other being blanked off.

I'm determined to make the Ortlieb work on my MTB but I may have to remortgage and buy a tailfin.

I ended up buying the OMM rack to suit the OMM axle, which still needs frame blocks on the seatstays so two racks and I still didn't avoid the frame mounts. The mounts above go over the OMM axle ends. You would need to attach them to the rack but I don't think it'll work with the Quick Rack because it has that quick release stuff on it.

Are we talking about the ortileb one that mounts on the frame? Why won't it work.

https://www.ortlieb.com/en_us/quick-rack-seat-stay-adapter

In my case it's not tall enough to use with the OMM axle mounts. Would need to somehow extend the legs on it.

The frame mount kit would obviously work but then you don't have the nice axle mount.

It will but it's too tall.. Its mounting to a Stooge with a really high rear stay. There's not enough room for my bag under the saddle the axle height (ish) mount option would though.

Use panniers?

There is that but now I'm like a dog with a bone.

But I was going to attach the locating lugs for the qr bit to these..

https://www.bike24.com/p2675341.html

I just can't understand how I'm going to fit them to an axle.

The round things at the bottom are designed to go over an OMM axle.

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Hi team lfgss, what's the forum approved big saddlebag these days?

I've been using a Revelate Viscacha for years. I have the same one but I've bought another two in the meantime.

Dibs the spare.

Anyone tried Ortlieb 16.5L?

I believe that's what I've got...more than happy with it. Tends to wobble from side to side a bit when riding but figure that's kind of inevitable with a seat pack and doesn't impede cycling.

The almost cone like shape of the bag means that it's harder to make full use of the space unlike say a pannier bag but then again this is kind of an inherent limitation of seat packs

might have something you can borrow

Me and my group of bike packing buddies all have the topeak backloader. Aside from the unavoidable side to sideness it seems pretty hard to beat on price and durability. They have gone up in price but I think can still be had under 60 if you shop about. I have the 10l and stuff it loads , strap it tight as possible and has really stood up to abuse. My friend has the 15l and tends to put less in but roll it up a lot more, seems to reduce the swing quite well.

Anyone looking to shift a 29er bikepacking fork? Tapered steerer. Building a #rig for a pal.

I have a non tapered QR one

PM incoming.

So, it’s confirmed that I’ll be riding the Southern Upland Way (214mi route in Scotland) to celebrate my 40th. Despite having only ridden an mtb once in my life I’ve ordered a bike and now I need to think about kit. The last few pages have been super useful and I think if I need a rack it’ll have to be the OMM ekhorn, but are there any good packing lists I can use for inspiration?

I expect it will take 4 days/3 nights and I’ll camp for 2 of those (one I’ll stay at my Dads house which is en route). I’m already over budget on the bike so ideally I’d like to use what I’ve got but none of that is very lightweight 😳.

Suddenly I feel like I have no idea what I’m doing.

Have DM'ed you

All you need is love chips and beer.

Amazing that’s super useful, thank you.

@hippy the highest pub in the UK is right on the route and I plan to stop there on night 2 (my dads house is in the village).