Update on the front rack project (bodgect?).
After a lot of rummaging about in the garage yesterday I came up with an aluminium front pannier carrier off an old MTB, a 30-40mm hose clip, a 38mm exhaust clamp, various P-clips and some carrier brackets. This all looked promising. The top platform of the carrier measures 24X14cm and has a raised rail at the back. The round bar of which it is constructed measures 8mm. If I sawed the legs off, using just the top platform….
Ideally the steering head should have an exhaust clamp top and bottom to bolt to the rear of the carrier. Despite a trip to our local tool and fastener specialist I wasn’t able to find anything slimline enough to fit to the bottom without interfering with the steering rod attachment on top of the left fork.
I did come away with some 8mm P-clips and a thinner U-bolt that would pass through the P-clips when attached to the top of the steering head. The cannibalised carrier has a central channel to accept its third fixing. My plan B for the bottom fixing was to use a generic, much beefier, carrier support bracket fitted to this then bent to fit the front of the steering head and held in place with the hose clip. The bottom end of the support bracket has a bit of inner tube round it to avoid chafing.
After some experimentation, drilling suitable bolt holes in the carrier support bracket and cutting to length, the carrier fitted solidly to the bike. The fixings are strong enough that the carrier itself will probably give way first. I probably won’t be going to collect the coal on it but it ought to carry a sleeping bag/bedroll, a lightweight backpacking tent or a bike bag of basic tools or snacks. Now to find a suitable wedge shaped bag to suit!
While I was messing with the front end I noticed that the steering was a bit notchy, so adjusted that. The carrier scrubbed up well. Just need to touch up some of the paint that the U-bolt chipped off the bike while being aligned. Annoying, but it is the paint I put on myself last year, so I have a match.
I have tried to keep the rack at the same sort of nose up angle as the main frame. The result is that it is going to be going around with its nose in the air -anything but a lowrider.
I should regard this version as the Mk 1. If I come across another source of ideas or another suitable rack I might upgrade it.