Front rack for an MTB

[Garry Booth]

I recently posted a query about a Blackburn front rack for Mrs B's bike.

I'm also looking for a suitable front rack for my early Nineties Orange C16R MTB. I'm repurposing it as an expedition bike. Problem is that while it has braze-ons by the front drop outs it doesn't have braze-ons halfway up the front fork. All of the front racks I see listed need securing at the midway point on the front fork.

Anyone know of alternatives out there?

[531colin]

https://www.tubus.com/en/products/
go to "accessories/front carriers"

[hamster]

This one (and Blackburn FL-1) use U-bolts round the fork which work fine.
https://www.bikeparts.co.uk/products/m- ... 665d&_ss=r

Alternatively use this with P-clips for the fork stay.
https://www.bikeparts.co.uk/products/m- ... lloy-black

[TheBomber]

Problem is that while it has braze-ons by the front drop outs it doesn't have braze-ons halfway up the front fork.

Presumably it was intended for the old design of front rack which was basically the same as a rear rack but facing the other way. This results in panniers being sitting much higher than the more modern arrangement. As I recall the current lower position of front panniers was pioneered by Blackburn through it's introduction of that 'Blackburn low rider'. But that may be because my mind was indoctrinated by reading the hype filled Freewheel catalogue during the 1980s.

[Tompsk]

This one (and Blackburn FL-1) use U-bolts round the fork which work fine.
https://www.bikeparts.co.uk/products/m- ... 665d&_ss=r

Alternatively use this with P-clips for the fork stay.
https://www.bikeparts.co.uk/products/m- ... lloy-black

Be careful with the U bolts as a set I have will only go round fairly 'skinny' road forks and are not suitable for fatter fork blades. Another 'gocha' are straight bladed forks as the design (on the set I have) assumes a curved end to the forks. This means the carrier tilts at an angle unless you drill the U bolt holes - if there is enough metal to do that...
As mentioned on another thread is the possibility that lightweight forks may be a bit too thin in the middle to accept a direct load half way down. You should be safe if it is a disc fork or more 'basic' plain gauge one.

[andrew_s]

This one (and Blackburn FL-1) use U-bolts round the fork which work fine.
https://www.bikeparts.co.uk/products/m- ... 665d&_ss=r

The problem with those is that the plate at the top blocks the anti-jump catches on most modern pannier hooks, which wrap below the rail.

I'd be inclined to go for a Tara with the clamp-on boss accessories.

Alternatively, there's the "Jack the Rack" handlebar rack, coming to a website near you some time over the summer (July/Aug, I'd guess).

[gregoryoftours]

The Tubus clamp mounts mentioned above are the most robust method for attachment that I've seen. They should work well, especially if you have this style of Orange rigid fork

rather than the unicrown type with tapering legs (although it would still work with the latter type).
I'd also second the Tara. It is rock solid.

[Garry Booth]

Thanks a lot everyone. A bit more research revealed that Topeak do a sturdy looking 'universal' front rack for road and MTB called the TetraRack.

(@gregoryoftours - the fork on mine is more rounded and doesn't have the crowns, maybe slightly fatter towards the top.)

[st599_uk]

Would a Jack the Rack be enough?

https://off.road.cc/content/review/rack ... eview-9117

[Garry Booth]

Nice rack but now looking to hang front panniers on as well as bungee stuff on top.

[asinus]

I have a Blackburn rack and an old MTB that I wanted to fit it to - but indeed the stanchions of the front form were too thick for the U-bolts. I took it to Wingit, Bodge and Shim, who made a couple of P-clips out of thin stainless sheet enclosed in short lengths of inner tube to protect the fork. When I tried to fit it, I found that the thick part of the stanchions got in the way of the hoop that goes up and forwards, so I used extra long bolts with spacers so that the hoop would pass outside them. (That will increase the bending moment on the bolts, so I'll have to keep the load down - as I should anyway - 10 kg should be safe and more than I want to carry anyway).
Just need to test it - and Lancaster has plenty of rough roads for the purpose.

[cycle tramp]

I recently posted a query about a Blackburn front rack for Mrs B's bike.

I'm also looking for a suitable front rack for my early Nineties Orange C16R MTB. I'm repurposing it as an expedition bike. Problem is that while it has braze-ons by the front drop outs it doesn't have braze-ons halfway up the front fork. All of the front racks I see listed need securing at the midway point on the front fork.

Anyone know of alternatives out there?

Does the front fork have rim brake bosses?
Old Man Mountain racks used to fit to the drop outs and the front brake bosses. Not sure if they still make that model, might be worth a Google.

[cycle tramp]

. ..failing that there is the camper front rack from velo-vision (freshtripe) which also fits drop outs and brake bosses.

It's also stainless steel which is nice, and at 170 squids it should be, too.

[Sweep]

This one (and Blackburn FL-1) use U-bolts round the fork which work fine.
https://www.bikeparts.co.uk/products/m- ... 665d&_ss=r

The problem with those is that the plate at the top blocks the anti-jump catches on most modern pannier hooks, which wrap below the rail.

I'd be inclined to go for a Tara with the clamp-on boss accessories.

Alternatively, there's the "Jack the Rack" handlebar rack, coming to a website near you some time over the summer (July/Aug, I'd guess).

plus 1 to the tara and those tubus clamps - have used on a hybrid with steel forks - all solid.

[RickH]

I got an Old Man Mountain front rack for use on a Circe Helios 20" wheel Tandem

It doesn't need any fixings as it come with its own QR mount system (although I mostly used it mounted to the fork eyelets with spacers) & uses struts to the brake posts for the top mounts.

I don't use it these days (I found a lowrider-for-small-wheel-bikes rack) & was considering putting it in the For Sale board. If you would be interested & wanted to make an offer, feel free to do so.

SJS do the OMM Sherpa racks but, like many things, they are much more expensive than they were when I got mine as you now have to buy the fitting kit separately & that costs more than the rack itself.