Advice on panier rack please

monkeysnapper

Hi everyone...

I've a road tour coming up end of September and I'd like to take my aluminium road bike but it doesn't have eyelets for panier rack....

I want to take light weight tent/ sleeping bag.... ect

Just wondering is there a good system out there to clamp to bike as i have panier bags ....

I'm restricted to 28mm tyres aswell so if anyone has an opinion on this or best tyres as I need new ones ....

Thanks folks

Mefistofelino

Firms like Tubus or Tailfin make racks or rack adapters that can be used on frames without eyelets, though can be quite pricey (esp. Tailfin). The usual approach is to mount the lower legs on the QR or through axle, with a clamp-on collar at the seatpost to locate the top of the rack. I suspect it may be possible to use the Tubus kit to mount another brand of rack but thats just a guess.

https://www.tubus.com/en/products/accessories-rear-carriers/tubus-product/adapter-set-for-qr-axle-mounting

https://www.tailfin.cc/category/pannier-racks/alloy-racks/?v=d2cb7bbc0d23

As its an aluminium frame, it might be possible to use P-clips for all the carrier mounting points but they may scratch and damage the frame if over tightened.

Macy0161

I don't know whether other brands do them, but my AL Defy has eyelets at the dropouts but none higher, but giant themselves do a dfuse collar with mounting points.

A lot of people bike pack with a saddle bag and frame and handle bar bags too. Not sure I see the benefit over panniers myself, but then I like my comforts too much to bike pack in the first place (unless it was credit card style!).

Mefistofelino

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120803328#Comment_120803328

On the GCN documentary about the 2020 GBDURO, one of the racers had her bike fall over while leaning against a tree (not crash, just fall over) and this was what happened to her €350+ carbon rack.

nilhg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058303626/advice-on-panier-rack-please

Rubber lined P Clips will allow you to fix a rack to your Alu bike safely and securely

https://www.genfitt.ie/shop/items?i=538255&c=27503&n=Rubber-Lined-P-Clip

Link for illustration only, just try to make a decent estimate of the tube sizes you'll be fixing to. pics below of a rack i fitted to an Alu CX bike i had

Squidgy Black

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120803328#Comment_120803328

Think it’s because they’re pretty much the only option for carbon bikes, nobody else has bothered to compete in the space so they can charge the outrageous prices

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120803329#Comment_120803329

I have those type of bags. The main advantages they have is that you don't need to fit a rack to your bike, they're easy to put on and take off, and you can quickly change them from bike to bike.

Squidgy Black

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120804857#Comment_120804857

Most don’t even think about it these days, people just buying mid range road bikes for the commute to the office, which used to be all aluminium bikes but now carbon is more common, and then not wanting to use a backpack after a while but they’ve no other option

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120804857#Comment_120804857

Not everyone wants a stable of bikes for different situations. If you've got a carbon bike, and you want a pack on the back then a tailfin is what you need.

Francis Cade did a ride across America on a carbon bike with a tailfin

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120804899#Comment_120804899

I don't think that he would. However, he did do what I said. I brought it up to show that it's not impossible to use a carbon bike for touring/bikepacking

I think people get too caught up on specialising their bikes. Any given bike is probably much more capable than what most people think

monkeysnapper

Thanks for that ... I ll investigate that ... if it doesn't work out for this tour it would still work out handy for work commute with lighter bags on racer.

I also can't get over the huge cost of some of these racks....

I'm also wondering if I'd get away with gatorskins 28mm or would I have to go for a marathon plus 28mm .... I'd prefer a gatorskin for rolling but there's the spoke issue I'm having to deal with.

Alanbt

Gatorskins are an abomination in the wet. Made the mistake of having them on commuter years ago. Very sketchy.

Fully recommend never ever buying them