Front Rack?

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
pwa
Posts: 17403
Joined: 2 Oct 2011, 8:55pm

Re: Front Rack?

Post by pwa »

Last edited by pwa on 26 Apr 2019, 5:45pm, edited 1 time in total.
durhambiker
Posts: 166
Joined: 6 Jun 2010, 12:59pm

Re: Front Rack?

Post by durhambiker »

Maybe have a serious think of what you are taking.I had large ortliebs rear and small ones front,,plus camping gear,for me and Mrs!...Whatever the load, you cope.
Graham O
Posts: 669
Joined: 27 Jan 2007, 7:54am

Re: Front Rack?

Post by Graham O »

HobbesOnTour wrote:For bag inspiration have you tried Googling porteur or decaleur images?


Thank you. The problem with Googling is that if you don't know the name of something, Google returns all sorts of rubbish. A porteur or decaleur bag is just what I'm after. :)
willem jongman
Posts: 2750
Joined: 7 Jan 2008, 4:16pm

Re: Front Rack?

Post by willem jongman »

Alternatively, invest in more compact gear. I have no difficulty fitting everything for a three week European summer trip in a 33 litre pair of rear panniers, the tent on top of the rack, and a bar bag for valuables etc.
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andrew_s
Posts: 5795
Joined: 7 Jan 2007, 9:29pm
Location: Gloucestershire

Re: Front Rack?

Post by andrew_s »

Graham O wrote:The problem with Googling is that if you don't know the name of something, Google returns all sorts of rubbish. A porteur or decaleur bag is just what I'm after. :)


It seems that the traditional way of carrying touring luggage in France is (or was) to put everything on the front, presumably for a more even weight distribution, and that the terms used for large front bags are therefore French (as, indeed, is "pannier").
A porteur is the large platform front rack, and a decaleur is the QR/stabilising mechanism, rather than any bag specifically.

P.S. Velo Orange's blog post on the subject, with clear pictures.
https://velo-orange.blogspot.com/2013/0 ... tures.html
willem jongman
Posts: 2750
Joined: 7 Jan 2008, 4:16pm

Re: Front Rack?

Post by willem jongman »

Loading the bike at the front rather than the rear is indeed a French tradition, and there is something to be said in its favour. However, it also presupposes French style low trail geometry.
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