Front rack suggestions

Lovely Wanga

Thanks! Build thread coming soon..

Or get a Problem Solvers Fender Flute to lower the crown mount.

Seems a safer option to me.

Great shout thanks - will take some measurements this weekend.

Reassuringly, with a couple kilos on the platform today, the front end felt very stable (maybe more than normal?)

It'll feel even better when it's a bit lower.

Pizza racks are great. I'm surprised nobody's made a mainstream alternative with lower pannier mounts. Pelago maybe?

Seems a safer option to me.

I strongly doubt that, you'd get a really questionable cantilever situation. Imagine braking hard. The rack wants to keep moving forward, so it pulls straight out of the fender flute which is then liable to buckle / bend / break at the fork crown edge. That sends the rack over the front wheel into the ground, locking up your front wheel and before you know it you're in facial reconstruction surgery.

Also surprised - Pelago looks good but is quite heavy and, from what I've seen, geared more at urban/ commuting use rather than touring/ off road

Re pizza rack and mini ortlieb pannier. You can make it work - but by loosening and spinning the bottom clip so it fits on the lower rail (as mentioned up thread) . It is a bit fiddly tbh - especially on the brake rotor side.

I lost one of the hooks mid tour this summer and ended up using the ortlieb carry strap as a horizontal strap around the rack and hooked through the lower clip - which if anything worked better.

Running two minis and a basket up-front is great. I might swap to minis on the rear too.

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Thanks for the warning! Trying to avoid tooth loss/ nose breaking on this trip!

I'm guessing safest option is to use rack as intended, and I've seen people on here using Cable ties/ straps as a 'back up' to stop the rack tipping forwards in an emergency where a strut breaks/ bolt snaps.

Looks great thanks for the advice!

so it pulls straight out of the fender flute which is then liable to buckle / bend / break at the fork crown edge

Whilst I get the concern, have you seen the problem solver fender flutes? They're not breaking or bending. I used one for years on my old Cinelli Hobootleg Geo with a front rack. Never moved a mm.

Oh I just read this again and realise you mean the whole rail. Genius.

I just span the clip bit and it just about fits - but thinking about it flipping the rail is a much better idea and I will see if that works on non gravel ones

Edit: as described by ortlieb

If you fancy something sturdy to drop the place where you bolt on, then have a look at the Fender Flute. You can then rotate the triangles on the rack to better suit where it sits mid-fork.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/mudguards/problem-solvers-fender-flute/

Edit: wrong page fail, just about everyone has recommended this already 😅

Yes, your panniers should have a frowny face instead of a smiley face!

Looking for a front rack that’ll fit a Genesis Croix de Fer and some Ortlieb Sport Roller bags. Something like the attached photos (Nitto 34F) . I have zero experience with these types of front racks. Aside from this Nitto one, what are some other brands I should look at, please?

Also, are there any rear racks which offer greater heel clearance? I have giant feet.

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Anyone tried one of these? Or have an opinion? or seen someone elses opinon somewhere else on the internet?

https://www.tradeinn.com/bikeinn/en/racktime-view-it-front-pannier-rack/141186170/p

It looks pretty neat to me 👌

Its lighter+cheaper than a Jack Rack or Carradice Bar rack with the same load carrying capacity

(and i'm v impressed by the headtube/fork on that bike Racktime have photograph the rack with 😂)

Looks decent, but also looks like it sits the load quite high up? I’ve had excellent experience so far with the Carradice front rack

Do you have any photos of that rack? They don't show up often

https://www.tubus.com/en/products/front-carriers/tubus-product/grand-expedition-front
Nitto and Tubus are the best easily obtrained racks imo.

Id look at tubuss disco racks, they tend to be further back for clearance which will help with your heals

what's going on with those levers? that photo is so odd

This is it with a super c audax on it, don’t know if that helps. Best pics I’ve got I think

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I (ab)use Alu pelago rack on a Cr d Fer + small Ortliebs. Rate t rack! Various sizes etc available. Maybe hard to get hold of depending on where in t world you are. I’m in Sweden.
https://pelagobicycles.com/commuter-front-rack-aluminium-medium/

Thanks! I think the absence of the sqr system is a missed opportunity, but it's obviously much more difficult to nail down with all the variables you can encounter. Good job on keeping the plastic bracket attached, i don't think i can replicate this with my Camper

I have one of these. But no good photos. It's ok for how much it costs, but does sit a bit high - I've got a few spacers on this bike which compensates. Bag is homemade, sorta smaller Carradice saddlebag size. @pastry_bot didn't compliment or even really notice it over 3 days.

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Thanks for the pic and feedback. It does look like there's not much height to it. I'm hoping to strap a dry bag to a cx bike with quite a low front end so it might work ok. We'll see! Will report back