Dutch front rack (Porteur?)

Got one of those myself, for the price you can't complain. Bit heavy which affects the steering but strong enough to carry a less than sober Photoben.

noticed these are available cheaply here: http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/31992/Basil_Memories_Front_Carrier_Rack

I have one of these.

Really good for the money - although was pretty awkward in fitting as had to really raise my stem to stop it rubbing on the front wheel.

EDIT: Ah, they're just for ahead stems.
Really nice though.

I don't see why, there are plenty of "two-part" quill stems about.

Want!

Thanks for posting that Winston.

Yeah same dude!

I don't even know what I'd carry on it but I really like the idea of one of those on my Canondale.... Is that wrong...?

noticed these are available cheaply here: http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/31992/Basil_Memories_Front_Carrier_Rack

Got one of those myself, for the price you can't complain. Bit heavy which affects the steering but strong enough to carry a less than sober Photoben.

from the site Winstanley site:
Max Weight: 15 Kilos

^surely a minimum of 4x the rating right?

Don't worry, I carried out a bit of FEA on it before letting him get on, honest occifer, hic!

Can someone translate^

...he broke google translate

I don't mean to drag up old pages but I've found some good Dutch sites selling racks quite cheaply. All I did was look up the Dutch for "rack" and a few other words and it opens up a lot of good sites, such as this one:

http://www.fiets-benodigdheden.nl/webshop/index.php/bagagebuggy-dragers-diversen-c-182_210

They have the chunky black one from the top of the thread (or a near identical one) in chrome, turquoise and green as well as some other colours for €36.95 as well as many others.

So if you want to go a-Googling the Dutch word is "bagagedrager". Also it helps if you speak Dutch but a moderate knowledge of German would see you through.

Also these:

http://www.fietspunt.nl/nl/search/?q=voordrager&g=164&gclid=CN_Dw6eC-qgCFUEb4QodtV2OTg

http://www.twenga.nl/dir-Sport,Fietssport,Bagagedrager

Also it's better to use google.nl

I can't decide between a front rack that attaches to the forks and one that attaches to the frame.

Fork
Can be a "taller" rack
More attachment points means it's more secure/stronger?
Can find a good example of nice chrome racks which look nicer

Frame
Doesn't add weight to forks so steering isn't compromised
If I load something high like a big box it might make it impossible to move the handlebars

Does anyone have experience of both or any strong opinions which might sway me? I can't really say what I'll be carrying so I want to leave it as open as possible.

I've got a fork/handlebar mounted rack. It does affect your steering when you have a heavy load. However, it only makes it more reactive, it turns further and faster than without the rack. if you can get used to this then it is fine. I think frame mounted racks on the whole would be better, and also could be stronger. But if you only want it to carry your bag and a lock or two, fork mounted will be fine

(doesn't really answer your question haha)

This website does all Basil stuff and in english-

http://www.cometride.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/index/?limit=40&q=basil+front+carrier

Got a couple of the front racks myself far as i remember shipping stays the same even for two, bit weird as they ship from the NL i think..

I noticed the other day at work that Minoura do a few front racks and the prices are not too bad.

http://www.zyro.co.uk/Product-Categories/RACKS/Racks/RACKS%20FR/Racks%20Front.aspx

Thats the page on the Zyro site (Minoura distro) that shows them.

Any bikeshop that sells Minoura, Altura, Abus, Panaracer, Camelbak or Zefal should be able to get them in.

Frame mounted racks can be slightly disorientating as you can't see the front wheel turning and it can be hard to gauge if you can squeeze the rack through a gap. Also when pushing the bike it's really easy to bash the rack into something. You get used to this though and adjust for it.

Frame mounted racks can be slightly disorientating as you can't see the front wheel turning and it can be hard to gauge if you can squeeze the rack through a gap. Also when pushing the bike it's really easy to bash the rack into something. You get used to this though and adjust for it.

Probably similar to when you ride a motorbike with a fairing for the first time, I found this very strange and hard to control accurately.

Thanks for the tips folks. I reckon I'm gonna go for handlebar/fork mounted because I'm not gonna carry much heavier than my 2 locks and a bag. I've also got my Carradice Barley on the back for tools (and currently my locks as well).

Probably going to get this:

http://www.fiets-benodigdheden.nl/webshop/product_info.php/basil-voordrager-front-carier-chroom-p-4916

it's almost double the price of the other colours though :(

I after something to mount a box to on the front, that is not expensive and not as large or bulky as the above mentioned racks, has anyone got any ideas? Something like this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALLOY-FRONT-CYCLE-CARRIER-RACK-/110724013000?pt=UK_Sports_Leisure_Cycling_Bags_Panniers_SR&hash=item19c7aa5bc8#ht_500wt_1156

but could be mounted directly to the axle (no mudguard eyes or v brakes).

Damnit!
I thought this thread was gonna be about a Dutch front rack!
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRf8MJjPumxs_lXlhYIIg28bMgMuLbP-o4SA2BCtWh7GYm1n6uBhA

cute, very cute.

I just scored one of these on ebay. £19 posted!

Are these racks... (Basil Memories)

...made of steel or aluminium?

Was looking at buying one but if they're steel wouldn't the weight be massive?

I believe they're steel, but very thin walled so weight isn't all that much. If you're worried about weight why not go for a wald, they're really light, work well, just aesthetically not the same as a nice porteur rack. Probably weaker too, but not sure how many of us actually cart around enough weight to snap one.