Front Pannier Racks

[Biking POD]

Hi Team!

Long time listener, first time caller! Thanks for all the grouse info, it's been most useful!

Anyways, looking for some FRONT pannier racks to suit a bike with disc brakes. I can find a few but none say that they will suit a bike with disc brakes.

Please help!

Cheers now!

[il padrone]

G'day

Tubus Tara or Duo may be able to be fitted with a front disc. Easiest with hydraulics* but may work with cable also. It will all depend on where your rack mounts are, and easier if you have dual mounts with one on the front of the fork blade.

* I should say that with nearly all hydraulic disc-brakes you will not need disc-adapted racks at all. The disc calipers are generally quite narrow and do not protrude to interfere with the rack mount or struts.


Surly Disc-Trucker running F&R cable discs and Tubus Cargo and Tara standard racks.

[Konatourer]

No problems fitting a Tubus Tara to a Kona Sutra. A spacer may be needed on the mounting bolt but that is to give clearance over the fork legs. I have Avid BB7 cable brakes. As il padrone said, dual eyelets on the bottom of the fork legs may help.

[Espresso_]

I'm in the same spot, looking for front racks compatible with mudguards and discs for my current Soma Double Cross build.

I'll probably be running TRP Spyre mechanical discs, which are a bit slimmer than others, I hear, but I predict some bending of the stays will be required as per the pics Il Padrone posted above. The Soma fork has both front and rear eyelets. The Tubus Tara seems like a popular option.

My issue is that this bike will be my daily rider, and I don't want to run the racks unless I'm going on a "tour". As such, I'm looking for a solution where the mudguards attach to the rear eyelets, and the rack can go on and come off when I don't need it.

Any ideas?

E

[Wingnut]

Hasn't there been a total recall of TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes?

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/12/ ... ers_310996" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Espresso_]

Yep - I'm all over it, thanks. Back to the racks ...

[Baalzamon]

Surly Nice Front Rack can handle disc brakes easily on the surly line. But they are heavy compared to the tubus line, but much more versatile.

[Espresso_]

Thanks Baalzamon

I had seen the Surly rack - looks hardcore! Maybe a bit of overkill for my one/two night aims, but will keep it in mind.

E

[Baalzamon]

If your doing a one/2 night trip, rear panniers only should suffice. Only need front panniers if for an extended tour. I would only use front panniers for 5 days or more unless I had issues with water supply and bush camping. ie not having a water supply for 2 days would see me carrying 16L of water

[Espresso_]

My plan is to ride with front panniers rather than rears.

At the risk of hijacking the thread....

Its the advice I've been given by a lot of people lately, in terms of improving weight distribution and handling. It was also provided by the place where I got my bike fit done recently, given the top tube height for the bike I'm building is very high, and I may have difficultly mounting and unmounting with loaded rear racks.

E

[Baalzamon]

Maybe do bikepacking instead?

[il padrone]

Having travelled this way, I can confirm that front low-rider panniers, with a racktop bag or saddlebag is a very stable way to ride. Well-placed front panniers can barely influence the steering (apart from the added inertia). Avoid high-rise mounting though.

[Espresso_]

Having travelled this way, I can confirm that front low-rider panniers, with a racktop bag or saddlebag is a very stable way to ride. Well-placed front panniers can barely influence the steering (apart from the added inertia). Avoid high-rise mounting though.

Great. Add another one to the list of "the advice I've been given by a lot of people lately".

Looks like I might take a chance on the Tubus Tara ...

E

[outnabike]

Good tip IP,
I put a basket on as well as the panniers, that are now a permanent feature, but the centre of gravity is not a help when I put 6 kg in the basket. Fortunately it is seldom needed.

[Espresso_]

These Pass and Stow racks look interesting (and expensive). They seem to fix on the front fork eyelet, leaving the rear eyelet free for mudguard stays - perfect for my use. Plus they look sweet.

But should I be concerned that the mounting point for the panniers is too high?

E

[Aushiker]

I recently completed the last two days of the Munda Biddi Trail here in WA, riding from Collie to Donnybrook with just front panniers. Had no handling issues.



Andrew

[Espresso_]

The more I look into this, the more it seems I should just stick with the Tubus Tara.

This photo shows the kind of mounting that I'm looking for, avoiding the rear eyelet/mudguard mount:

http://cyclingabout.com/wp-content/uplo ... 002-PM.jpg

E

[il padrone]

It might be better for the straight forks (if you have these forks) as the rear placement would tend to cause the rack to be angled down forwards. Normal curved blades place the upper mount further rearwards in relation to the dropout. The only downside is that your panniers will sit 2-3cms further forwards, away from the steering axis, thus a little less stable.

[Espresso_]

I have this Soma fork, which is in fact curved:

http://ep.yimg.com/ay/yhst-377369925495 ... gold-3.gif" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

However, it looks like the rear eyelet option might still involve the same issues that you raise.

[rifraf]

These Pass and Stow racks look interesting (and expensive). They seem to fix on the front fork eyelet, leaving the rear eyelet free for mudguard stays - perfect for my use. Plus they look sweet.

But should I be concerned that the mounting point for the panniers is too high?

E

I don't have an opinion on the pannier height but I would remind you about the Pass n Stow rack being painted cromo and its rust issue when the paint gets scratched which it undoubtably will.
I think its a very attractive rack but for this quality.
If I was looking at something similar, I'd carefully consider some of the stainless options like the Velo Orange Porteur rack as an less attractive but more utilitarian and not to mention cheaper possibility.
http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/ ... -rack.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Espresso_]

Just to round this out, I've ordered the Tubus Tara rack, along with some Ortlieb Front Roller Plus (ie non-PVC) panniers.

I'll report back on fitting issues once I've had a chance to get them on the bike (which would require the bike itself....but that should only be a matter of a week away).

While I was at it, I managed to get a pair of SKS Longboard mudguards in the order for the same all-up price as Wiggle et al. I ordered from Bike24 - let's see how the shipping times go.

E

[Warin]

The German post is slow. Expect 2+ weeks. Probably 3.

[Espresso_]

The German post is slow. Expect 2+ weeks. Probably 3.

Yep - not expecting it any time soon. Need it in 5 weeks, so let's see how I go!

[il padrone]

I would remind you about the Pass n Stow rack being painted cromo and its rust issue when the paint gets scratched which it undoubtably will.

My son is using my old frame that has some scratches and scrapes that date back to 1997. They have a patina of surface rust, which has not changed, intensified nor worsened since about 1998.

[rifraf]

I would remind you about the Pass n Stow rack being painted cromo and its rust issue when the paint gets scratched which it undoubtably will.

My son is using my old frame that has some scratches and scrapes that date back to 1997. They have a patina of surface rust, which has not changed, intensified nor worsened since about 1998.

Well I wasn't advocating the expense of a stainless steel bike frame but merely suggesting the possibility that some appreciate rust free racks.
I like my bike and don't mind spending money on good accessories if they enhance its use.
For my aesthetic taste, rusty racks look scruffy and detract from a bikes appearance compared to either freshly painted or chrome/stainless finishes.
Its merely my personal taste and not one that needs to be followed.
Knowing myself, I tend to take better care of something thats nice to begin with, so purchase accordingly.
Your tastes and idiosyncrasies may vary and I think thats fine too (for you)
I see no problem favouring form and function as they don't have to be mutually exclusive.