Carrying a load on the front

I'm building a new commuter/utility bike and want to mount an old wine case or similar on the front to carry shit. I can't find a nice-looking, sturdy front rack, so any suggestions welcome.

If I can't find one, I'm going to make one. Question is, should it mount it on the forks, so the load has to be turned, or should I make something mad that attaches to the frame? Apart from my gut, I'm not used to carrying a big load out front. All my touring has been done with rear panniers. I know some tourists ride fine with heavy front panniers mounted on the fork, but bikes made to carry real heavy loads (Post Office bikes, shop bikes, etc) have the load fixed to the frame, with the front wheel turning freely underneath.

Anyone ridden with big loads on the front? Which handles better? Or should I just HTFU and stick with the big bag/sweaty back option?

Fatbloke x

I'd be doing stuff like looking at tried and tested pannier mount options and thinking about replicating this type of setup.

http://images.google.co.uk/images?rlz=1C1GGLS_enGB329GB329&sourceid=chrome&q=front%20panniers&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi

Tried that, but they're all fugly, and being a ponce I want something that looks nice and that I can have powder-coated the same colour as the frame. Also, I need something with a platform over the wheel and ideally just a couple of stays to support it, whereas pannier mounts have a lot of unnecessary shit around the hub.

I remember sone one on here making their own but can't find the thread. Will keep looking.

true that andy w.

he made it out of steel rods, so it was probably heavy as... but it did look nice.

ooops, my facts are wrong. he used aluminium. maybe i confused another thread.

here's the thread

http://www.londonfgss.com/thread16557.html

I'd be doing stuff like looking at tried and tested pannier mount options and thinking about replicating this type of setup.

http://images.google.co.uk/images?rlz=1C1GGLS_enGB329GB329&sourceid=chrome&q=front%20panniers&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi

Or look at porteurs
http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=porteur+bike&btnG=Search+images

http://lemolobags.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/diy-wood-porteur-box/

Thanks Dylan.

I read this thread as 'Carrying a fatbloke on the front'. Maybe this can still be arranged.

don't use just any wine box though. 'the crate' by jasper morrison for established & sons. a pine box, the same size and using the same construction as a wine crate. on sale now, only £85.50

I like these Wald baskets: http://www.waldsports.com/index.cfm/wald157basket.html

old wooden wine cases look so nice though. i don't know how the glue in them would fair up to wet weather though.

Ahearne cycles....very nice custom racks.

cetma racks http://cetmaracks.com/

velo orange http://www.velo-orange.com/voporteurrack.html