Touring on Aluminium Road bike?

sleepyholland

Specifically the Felt F85:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f85-2011

I'm checking for a friend who is about to buy one of these.

Now he's primarily using it for all the other things it is designed for, but if down the line he wanted to do a bit of light touring, is it possible to mount a rack and/or panniers on this frame. Does it have eyelets? Or is there another decent solution? It is aluminium with a carbon fork.

He's not concerned about comfort or the shape of the bike, purely the mechanics and physics of carrying panniers on such a frame?

TinyExplosions

There aren't any eyelets for mudguards or racks, but you could stick some on with P-Clips and do some credit card touring without much issue

petethedrummer

P-Clips are a very compromised solution.

This looks better, though I've never seen it in action: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tubus-adapter-set-for-qr-axle-mounting

Coronal

I've done light credit card touring on a carbon fibre road bike using a Topeak RX seatpost clip on jobbie. No issues at all. I think that can take a max of 7kg of load, which should be adequate and not impact the frame.

CramCycle

sleepyholland wrote: »

He's not concerned about comfort or the shape of the bike, purely the mechanics and physics of carrying panniers on such a frame?

TinyExplosions wrote: »

There aren't any eyelets for mudguards or racks, but you could stick some on with P-Clips and do some credit card touring without much issue

The lack of eyelets for panniers would be a bigger issue, P-clips would work for mudguards but load bearing for panniers I can't see it working to well

leftism

I bought pannier racks which fit on the rear wheel skewer and the rear brake callipres. Have done some light touring with them and they're great. Work a treat for touring on a carbon or aluminium frame....

Captain Havoc

Light touring no problem. You can get racing mudguards which connect to the main brake bolt.

sleepyholland

leftism wrote: »

I bought pannier racks which fit on the rear wheel skewer and the rear brake callipres. Have done some light touring with them and they're great. Work a treat for touring on a carbon or aluminium frame....

Thanks for all the suggestions. Sounds like there are a few options alright. This one from leftism sounds like a safe way to bear the load.

Btw, "credit card touring"? Does this mean without carrying your accommodation or is it even more lightweight?

Coronal

Captain Havoc wrote: »

Light touring no problem.

Heh, light touring. Leave the workshop at home

sleepyholland

Capt Havoc - that is impressively light touring. Shapo.

Captain Havoc

Coronal wrote: »

Heh, light touring. Leave the workshop at home

Yeah, hard to believe there's a truing stand in there, eh

sleepyholland wrote: »

Capt Havoc - that is impressively light touring. Shapo.

Credit card touring is minus your accommodation and anything that is unnecessary. You buy anything you need on the way and stay in hotels/ hostels. I wouldn't be a fan of covering a short distance every day, I like to get as much done as possible.