>Most people seem to be looking for the strongest rear rack they can >find. They're carrying engine blocks down pothole-lined streets, or >crossing Mongolia solo. I want the opposite - the lightest, least >obtrusive rack there is. The rack for minimalists. I want to use a >"trunk' bag but I hate the look of standard rear racks that bolt on to >the dropouts, and I'm never carrying anything at all heavy. Ideally I >want something about 1/3 that weight and complexity. What is out >there? >
You might like the Breezer Finesse rack. It might even be possible to attach one to your bike, if you have canti brakes. You might ask Breezer whether they'll sell one separately. See here http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/images/BreezerFull800.jpg Of course, because it does _not_ attach to the dropouts (the logical place to support the weight), the Breezer rack actually is quite heavy and complex. If you are willing to attach to the dropouts, you can get a much lighter, simpler rack. The Tubus Fly won't work for a rack trunk, because the platform is too small, but something along those lines might be a good solution. http://www.wallbike.com/tubus/fly.html For a minimalist custom-built rack, see http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/images/RHFedfull.jpg A rack like that weighs 330 g. The Breezer rack weighs 500 g... Here is a similar rack that doesn't rely only on the fender to hold it up, but instead attaches to the canti bosses. http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/images/herse1974.jpg I have weighed an aluminum version of the fender-mount on a 1947 Alex Singer (shown in our book 'The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycle'), and it weighed just 134 g, less than a third of the Breezer rack. Jan Heine Editor Bicycle Quarterly 2116 Western Ave. Seattle WA 98121 http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=.
