All terrain rack

[Riverman]

Apologies as I know there are a lot of these topics.

I've been advised to buy the following for my mountain bike

Blackburn TR1 Trail Rear Pannier Rack.
http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/2371.html

It's only £18.38

Would it be better to get a Blackburn MTB instead, as it's designed for a mountain bike.

http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/2365.html - £22.28


I know this is abit of a stupid question but as I may use the rack on a hybrid if I ever get one, would it be better to get the TR1 instead?

What are the benefits of buying the MTB one? What justifies the higher price tag? Is the TR1 heavier?

Thanks.

 

[Paulus]

Riverman, Hi. Blackburn racks are vey rugged. A MTB rack will be slightly shorter to fit a MTB frame and seat/chainstays where the drillings or the lugs are. Remember that a MTB stays are smaller than a Hybred/tourer because of the wheel size. 26inch as opposed to 700c

 

[Tim Bennet.]

Blackburn racks are vey rugged.

Blackburn racks these days unfortunately are only 'so-so'. In their pioneering days they were built in the USA but are now made, along with most other brands, together in the far east.

Buy the one that fits, but if you wish to save money, look at all the other brands and make a judgement on each as you see it. Most will be made the same way as the Blackburn and you will save their name surcharge.

I ditched my (American made) Blackburn after the welds began to fail and replaced it with a generic, unbranded one that was originally fitted to an Orbit bike, but had been discarded when the owner 'upgraded' to a Blackburn.

 

[MacB]

A quick trip to the local tip can often secure a rack, you can even get the bike it's attached to for £10

 

[chris667]

At that price, I reckon they're all much of a muchness. MacBludgeon's idea with regards to secondhand bikes is spot on.

Ultra light ones are not as strong, really I reckon they're funny confection for audax types. But if you're only calling a small amount and want to save weight, get a saddlebag instead.

So don't worry, get a saddlebag, or get a beater. Or you can always make your own!

 

[Crankarm]

Blackburn racks these days unfortunately are only 'so-so'. In their pioneering days they were built in the USA but are now made, along with most other brands, together in the far east.

Buy the one that fits, but if you wish to save money, look at all the other brands and make a judgement on each as you see it. Most will be made the same way as the Blackburn and you will save their name surcharge.

I ditched my (American made) Blackburn after the welds began to fail and replaced it with a generic, unbranded one that was originally fitted to an Orbit bike, but had been discarded when the owner 'upgraded' to a Blackburn.

+1. Sadly I have to concur with Mr Bennet. The quality of Blackburn racks is poor. I have had two Blackburn racks EX1 and EX2s where the welds have broken. One after just over 2 years use and the other only after 3 months !! This was everyday commuting by road.

The most recent rack I bought was a Madison Summit for my Kona MTB about 18 months ago. It was about £26 IIRC and will fit 26" and 700C bikes. I have to say I am well impressed with it as the welds are all still going fine, they look solid and go around the joints all 360 degs unlike 30 degs on Blackburn racks. The quality of the Madison looks so much better than the Blackburn. You could go for Tubus but they are very expensive in comparison plus no longer made in Germany but instead China. For those that aren't aware Madison is Shimano is Madison.

So I would avoid Blackburn.

Topeak aren't too bad as far as I have seen although IMHO the MTB rack for disc brakes has a weird dog leg foot that looks like it may break prematurely under load and continual vibration.

 

[Crankarm]

A quick trip to the local tip can often secure a rack, you can even get the bike it's attached to for £10

You haven't been to the tips around here then .................

 

[MacB]

You haven't been to the tips around here then .................

well ours seems to be staffed by various East Europeans, has been for several years now, and is a very good operation. They have a proper, for sale, section of all sorts of goods. They also keep any bikes that haven't disintegrated to one side and you can peruse. These are cleared out once or twice a week, though a Sunday afternoon is a good time for a nose. But I've bought two complete bikes and been allowed access to others with my allen keys and socket set.

On a general level I've always had clear direction for where rubbish needs to go and ready assistance when I've maybe bitten off more than I can chew.......what's not to like........some of the tips described elsewhere seem 'rubbish' by comparison

 

[Crankarm]

well ours seems to be staffed by various East Europeans, has been for several years now, and is a very good operation. They have a proper, for sale, section of all sorts of goods. They also keep any bikes that haven't disintegrated to one side and you can peruse. These are cleared out once or twice a week, though a Sunday afternoon is a good time for a nose. But I've bought two complete bikes and been allowed access to others with my allen keys and socket set.

On a general level I've always had clear direction for where rubbish needs to go and ready assistance when I've maybe bitten off more than I can chew.......what's not to like........some of the tips described elsewhere seem 'rubbish' by comparison

McB this wouldn't be you by any chance on your way to or from your tip ?

 

[MacB]

McB this wouldn't be you by any chance on your way to or from your tip ?

way too upmarket for me

 

[Piemaster]

Topeak aren't too bad as far as I have seen although IMHO the MTB rack for disc brakes has a weird dog leg foot that looks like it may break prematurely under load and continual vibration.

I've swapped a Blackburn disc-specific rack for a Topeak super tourist rack as I never found the attachment too convincing (this was changed for a camping trip). The amount of leverage that could be exerted on the end of a 5mm bolt concerned me.
The Topeak did need a little tweaking in a vice to get the stays to line up with the frame but now bolt only has a shear force on it, not shear + bending. No issues with it clearing the disc brakes either.

 

[Crankarm]

I've swapped a Blackburn disc-specific rack for a Topeak super tourist rack as I never found the attachment too convincing (this was changed for a camping trip). The amount of leverage that could be exerted on the end of a 5mm bolt concerned me.
The Topeak did need a little tweaking in a vice to get the stays to line up with the frame but now bolt only has a shear force on it, not shear + bending. No issues with it clearing the disc brakes either.

I thought the Topeak rack you bought looked good part from the lower dog leg mount. But I guess if you've fitted one, given it some abuse and it's still going strong then I must be unduly worrying. The lower mount is stronger than it looks.

 

[Piemaster]

It was also swapped partly as the Topeak gave a nice flat area across the top of the rack with my bikebins fitted, which was better for loading the larger camping stuff. The bins sat at an angle and above the top of the blackburn rack. Generally the topeak just fitted my Giants frame better.

 

[Riverman]

I take it the madison summit won't fit a frame with disk brakes?