titanium rack - anyone used one?

[tim_f]

The tubus airy has just arrived and so far I am very pleased with it

There was a knock at the door, and then my Son said, "Dad, someone has just delivered an empty box for you"...it's that light

The quality seems excellent, nothing superfluous.

I've fixed it to the seat clamp which seemed the simplest, and will have a look at the other options at the weekend

Now the rack has arrived I'm going to order the 400 gram Arkel Panniers (for the pair)

The Arkel panniers might not be a good match for the Airey as these panniers lack a stiff backplate and the rack does not have supportive struts in the right place at the back to support bottom corner of pannier.

[mnichols]

The Arkel panniers might not be a good match for the Airey as these panniers lack a stiff backplate and the rack does not have supportive struts in the right place at the back to support bottom corner of pannier.

Thanks, I'm keen to try them but I'll check the returns policy before ordering

[foxyrider]

The Arkel panniers might not be a good match for the Airey as these panniers lack a stiff backplate and the rack does not have supportive struts in the right place at the back to support bottom corner of pannier.

Thanks, I'm keen to try them but I'll check the returns policy before ordering

You could add stiffeners using corrugated plastic sheet (available on ebay in small sheets for next to nothing.

[Dudley Manlove]

I bought an Airy a few years ago when I was rather flusher (or stupider) than I am now. I have it on a Roadrat built up in CX mode but wanted some carrying capacity as required without much extra weight. Just to echo what others have said:

- it's nice and stiff;
- it *can* take full sized panniers if required, although the rails *are* a little short. I've had full size Ortliebs on it containing 20kg of junk, no probs;
- if you want to lash stuff to the top, it's pretty narrow.
- no paint to scratch, but it does rub and polish at the contact points (looks good imo)
- it's a great (looking) rack, but there's probably better ways to spend you're money.

I'm glad I bought one when I could and have been very happy with it, but it would not pay the extra cost nowadays for the sake of a few hundred grams vs a steel rack.

[GideonReade]

We (2) bought a Tubus Ti rack for both our tourers. Pound for gramme, it was one of the most cost effective weight savings.

But we swapped mine for a steel Tubus Cargo, before our long trip, because my Carradice Super C panniers don't appreciate the lower rail on the Ti rack, and the Cargo's 40Kg max load was 10Kg more (I'm usually around 20Kg in practice).

Well, the remaining Ti rack has done about 25k kilometres now. OTOH a steel Tubus Duo front rack bust a mounting bracket - and was welded back on about an hour later.

[andrew_s]

My concern would be how easy does titanium weld if broken? Steel can be welded anywhere.

Having failed to notice the original dates soon enough, and since it hasn't been answered, I shall do so.

Titanium doesn't weld easily.
It's a specialised job, since any air that gets at the titanium when it's hot will contaminate the weld, leading to the weld cracking (again?). That includes any air that's inside the rack tubing.

[foxyrider]

My concern would be how easy does titanium weld if broken? Steel can be welded anywhere.

Having failed to notice the original dates soon enough, and since it hasn't been answered, I shall do so.

Titanium doesn't weld easily.
It's a specialised job, since any air that gets at the titanium when it's hot will contaminate the weld, leading to the weld cracking (again?). That includes any air that's inside the rack tubing.

Of course, in the unlikely event of failure Tubus offer a global replacement warranty provided you register your purchase.

Mine is still looking well pukka btw

[pwa]

If a rack cracks while you are out in the sticks somewhere you can fix it without welding. I managed to break one of those Blackburn alloy things on the border between France and Spain in the late 1980s. It took me about 20 minutes to create a splint using metal camping cutlery, jubilee clips, wire and string. I pack stuff like that. I initially intended it as an emergency fix to get me to the next town, but it worked so well that it saw me to the end of the tour a couple of weeks later. So forget the welding.

[elPedro666]

a splint using metal camping cutlery, jubilee clips, wire and string ... saw me to the end of the tour a couple of weeks later.

...unfortunately it was meant to be a three month tour but was cut short due to food poisoning caused by eating with dirty fingers...


Joking aside, a splint & a couple of jubilee clips are now going on my equipment list, cheers!

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly using hovercraft full of eels.

[Username]

Looking at doing a bit of weight saving on the touring setup

Thinking of putting a titanium rack on the titanium bike for some planned long distance and mountainous, but mostly credit card tours - staying in hotels, motels and b&bs

Anyone used a tubus airy, or similar, or know of any in the sales?

Weight saving over current rack is about 400grams

Weight saving? On a tourer? didn't astronauts try that with the Moon when they brought back some lunar rocks?

For weight saving I would start with taking less stuff if possible. Only take the absolute essentials such as lights, emergency beer and a some sort of lock.

[landsurfer]

So ... You buy a super light rack .... Then add weight to it .... Really !
And you point is ...

[PH]

Weight saving? On a tourer?

So ... You buy a super light rack .... Then add weight to it .... Really !
And you point is ...

I don't know anyone who only uses their touring bike for touring, or anyone who goes to the trouble of removing the rack when not doing so.
I don't have a ti rack, but some of the component choices on my touring bikes are based on their entire use.

[elPedro666]

Weight saving? On a tourer?

So ... You buy a super light rack .... Then add weight to it .... Really !
And you point is ...

I don't know anyone who only uses their touring bike for touring, or anyone who goes to the trouble of removing the rack when not doing so.
I don't have a ti rack, but some of the component choices on my touring bikes are based on their entire use.

On a bike where the all-up weight of machine and gear is going to be... let's say 'significant', then surely it's all the more important to ensure that each individual is as light as feasibly - and affordably - possible. Otherwise why not carry a luxury four man tent and a full-size camping stove! [emoji12]



I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly using hovercraft full of eels.

[landsurfer]

I'll just loose another 5kg .... even cheaper ..

[Gattonero]

Weight saving? On a tourer?

So ... You buy a super light rack .... Then add weight to it .... Really !
And you point is ...

Since the OP was in 2015 he may have lost some body weight by now, and ready for the next step?


Being realistic, some people do realize that cycling, especially uphill, is a challenge against gravity, areodynamics, and other forces. And some people is wise enough to understand that a lighter bike does not make them going super-fast all of a sudden, rather going at the same speed with a little less effort.
And those people would understand that a "lighter bike" would not come at the snap of the fingers by replacing one or two components. You need to see the global picture, 100 grams here, 400 grams there, within all the bike you can make a few kilograms of difference.
I can say it was quite nice when I toured in Norfolk with a bike that packed with all the camping gear and food, was tipping the scales at 15kg. I slashed one tyre while trying to be cool and riding trough a ploughed field then patching the tyre with gaffer tape, next stop in a cycle shop they were impressed how light the bike was. And no carbon fiber nor space-age tent (actually a £90 one from GoOutdoors ).

It's all about choosing what one wants: I like cycling, not faffing around in a tent, so I don't mind a simple flysheet that still allows me to sit up inside. And I like sitting on the grass, so camping chairs are not on my list.
But obviously, we all have a different approach and different needs, it's good to have a choice.