I'm looking to fit front pannier racks to my Saracen HiRoad hybrid. On the (suspension) forks there are rear-facing threaded lugs about 13cm above the axle. I'm wondering if these are for this purpose and if so, what sort of rack could I use? I've seen several bikes with side-facing lugs which would appear to be suitable for the Blackburn Low Rider type of rack. Grateful for any advice!
|
 |
 Those are probably tabs for mounting disc brakes and only appear on one side.
|
|
No Nobby, I've seen what you mean on another Saracen. These are quite different and are similar in looks to the bottle cage lugs AND are on both forks.
|
|
Dunno then.
|
|
 Have a look at Tubus and OLd Man Mountain racks which have fiting kits that adapt them to just about any bike.
|
|
Thanks John. A bit put off by the prices though £56 to £77!
|
|
 I work on the theory that if you need front panniers, you're obviously carrying too much 
|
|
Could be Jen but when you're cycle camping you need to spread the weight a bit. I've found that using only rear panniers and maybe a bar bag makes your front end a bit skittish. Before I retired I did a really stupid thing and sold my front carrier and front and rear panniers on Ebay - and an old Dawes Super Galaxy I was originally keeping for spares. Doh!
|
|
I only use rear panniers and a bar bag, with the tent on top of the rack - works for me 
|
|
if i remember correctly most front panniers clamp round the forks rather then through any bolt holes, see if yoy can find a set like that which will take the added thickness of the suspension forks
|
|
 I've got a front OMM Sherpa rack I was thinking of selling, if you're interested.
|
|
Think you're probably right then Jen about me having too much! Thanks for that info Ernie. Monty - how does your rack fit onto the steed. How much are you looking for it?
|
|
It mounts via the QR and V-boss mounts - pic. Hadn't got as far as a price yet, let me think about it.
|
|
Right. Are those brackets I can see home made or did they come with the rack? Immensely enjoyed reading (still am) about your trip to Xinjiang! Just about shit myself laughing at some of the descriptive bits like the "boxy bits of crap" Ladas and the village apparently kept for plug-ugly mem sahibs. For some reason it reminds me of the time I met an Aussie cyclist on the way to Cape Wrath. He was travelling light and referred to hills as "floaters" and he and his saddlebag certainly floated to the top of them but he always waited for me at there. Must have been a bit of a hill-man like you! The laughs we had between Torridan and Scourie!
|
|
Actually, I'm going to keep hold of the rack, but to answer your question - no, the struts come with the rack, and the whole set-up is very solid (and adjustable). I've been using OMM racks front and rear for 4 years and like them very much.
|
|
OK Monty, no problem. I'm going to see if I can adapt a pair of Halfords low-rider types which are in a sale due to the lack of fixings! Apologies for the stumblebum comments about you cycling to China. I put it down to senile dementia...
|
|
|
|
|
