2nd Laing's suggestion to cutting an Allen wrench down so that it fits into a tight space. I've done that to a 3.5mm Allen to loosen the upper pulley on a rear derailleur, like an older Deore XT. I keep it in the tool box just for that purpose.
JohnS On Monday, December 8, 2025 at 11:54:26 AM UTC-5 [email protected] wrote: > Thanks Laing. I think that's what I'm going to try if/when I get around to > remounting that rack. > > Chris > > On Monday, December 8, 2025 at 8:53:07 AM UTC-7 lconley wrote: > >> I don’t think that I saw anyone suggest this, but it is many times >> possible to attach the rear upper rack struts to the inside of the fittings >> on the frame. I seem to have dozens of Allen wrenches (many parts come with >> a cheap Allen wrench) so I shortened one in order to mount a rack strut to >> the inside of the frame - the first one is easier than the second one if >> you want to do only one side. This enables the strut to clear the brake >> cable. >> >> Laing Conley >> Delray Beach FL >> >> >> >> On Sun, Dec 7, 2025 at 7:17 PM Christopher Young <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> So I have apparently solved this problem, though I think it's more like >>> I finessed it rather than actually got to the bottom of it. >>> I removed the basket from the back rack on the AHH and went ahead and >>> bought a Sackville Bagboy, which hangs from the back of the seat, and >>> actually has more volume than the bag I had in the basket. Hence the rack >>> is now a safety measure to ensure the Bagboy never hits the rear tire (I >>> don't have fenders). I did a 45 mile ride yesterday with plenty of stuff in >>> the bag and had no shimmy, even going fast down hills! I'm thinking I could >>> strap something light like a jacket on the rack and it would still be OK, >>> but we'll see. >>> >>> Meanwhile, I have moved the basket to the rear rack of my new (to me) 64 >>> cm Clem and today I rode that with the same bag in the basket that I had >>> been using on the AHH when I had the shimmy and......no shimmy! So I've got >>> 2 big bikes that can carry stuff on the back with no shimmy. I still want >>> to work on redoing the forward struts on the rack on the AHH, but in the >>> meantime, I'm riding smoothly and happily on both bikes. I guess not >>> everyone approves, but I like to ride without hands on the bars when I'm on >>> a smooth, safe road or path (it gives my hands and arms a break), and the >>> shimmy was really spoiling that. >>> >>> Somewhere in this chain someone said that rack shimmies are mysterious, >>> and I strongly agree with that. Some bikes seem to have them and others >>> don't, even with (seemingly) similar setups. But it does seem like bigger >>> bikes are more likely to have the issue. I'm just glad to not be dealing >>> with this anymore. Fingers crossed! >>> >>> Thanks for all the discussion and suggestions. >>> >>> Chris Y. >>> ABQ >>> >>> On Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 8:09:12 PM UTC-7 Pam Bikes wrote: >>> >>>> I've never had a shimmy and ride w/lots of weight on my rack but I ride >>>> a 50 and I have bags so I try to get ,my loaded weight down as low as >>>> possible to lower my center of gravity. The basket keeps it up high in >>>> addition to you already having a high center of gravity on a 60. Maybe >>>> I've never noticed a shimmy b/c I rarely ride no hands and certainly not >>>> w/heavy loads. I used to have a front basket on the front on a bike and >>>> it >>>> never handled well this the rack and panniers set up I have now. Or >>>> w/heavier loads I use a Burley Travoy getting the weight even lower and >>>> only trailing. >>>> >>>> On Friday, November 28, 2025 at 2:30:03 PM UTC-5 Gregory Johnson wrote: >>>> >>>>> Chris, >>>>> >>>>> Another option is to try a different rack. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Thu, Nov 27, 2025, 1:41 PM Christopher Young <[email protected]> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> BTW, to be fair to the Riv guys, as part of my attempt to fix this >>>>>> problem, I also moved the back strut attachment points up a little from >>>>>> the >>>>>> attachment points right at the dropout to the next ones, a few inches >>>>>> higher. I was thinking that would make them a little shorter/stiffer and >>>>>> make the angle a little different, but it didn't help. >>>>>> >>>>>> Chris >>>>>> >>>>>> On Thursday, November 27, 2025 at 2:36:51 PM UTC-7 Christopher Young >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Thanks Eric! I think your assessment is right. Looking at this rack >>>>>>> installation vs. others, what really stands out are those very long >>>>>>> vertical struts, which don't form anything like a triangle (though >>>>>>> there is >>>>>>> a diving board attachment, so 5 total contacts with the frame). Anyway, >>>>>>> I >>>>>>> like your solution, but there is an issue that might not be apparent >>>>>>> from >>>>>>> the photo. There are indeed attachment points higher up on the >>>>>>> seatstays, >>>>>>> but they blocked by the brake, which sticks out a bit on either side. >>>>>>> It's >>>>>>> going to take some pretty creative bending (a bend one way and then >>>>>>> another >>>>>>> back) to get those struts to attach to those upper points. I'm thinking >>>>>>> it >>>>>>> can be done, but was wondering if anyone else had already dealt with >>>>>>> this >>>>>>> on an AHH so I don't end up demonstrating how poorly I can bend struts. >>>>>>> Ironically, I installed a rack (I think the same model) on my wife's 60 >>>>>>> cm >>>>>>> Platy and because it has V brakes that aren't in the way I was able to >>>>>>> have >>>>>>> the upper/forward struts go almost horizontally from the front of the >>>>>>> rack >>>>>>> to the seatstays, so no bending. It doesn't look as elegant as this >>>>>>> installation, but it definitely has that triangular strut setup and she >>>>>>> doesn't have any vibration from the rack. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Something I tried but that didn't fix it was to lower the rack a bit >>>>>>> (no fender, so plenty of clearance) and I brought it forward, sliding >>>>>>> more >>>>>>> of the diving board under the rack. I hoped that might make that >>>>>>> connections shorter/stronger and stiffen things, but if it did, it >>>>>>> wasn't >>>>>>> enough. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I will not be too upset if going for a Sackville Bagboy is a good >>>>>>> solution (just looking for an excuse to buy one of those). For this >>>>>>> bike, I >>>>>>> think that would look really nice and then the rack is just a backup to >>>>>>> keep the bag of the wheel. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Chris >>>>>>> On Thursday, November 27, 2025 at 2:09:37 PM UTC-7 Eric Daume wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Riv did a poor job of installing that rack. The forward struts >>>>>>>> should go to the forward/upper attachment points on the seatstays. >>>>>>>> That >>>>>>>> will increase the triangulation and stability. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Eric >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Thu, Nov 27, 2025 at 2:56 PM Christopher Young < >>>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Hi All, >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I have a 61.5 cm AHH with a rear rack installed by Riv when I >>>>>>>>> bought the bike. The rack looks great, but I've noticed that when I >>>>>>>>> have it >>>>>>>>> loaded, I often get a front-end shimmy when I am riding fast and take >>>>>>>>> my >>>>>>>>> hands of the grips, and people riding behind me have confirmed the >>>>>>>>> rack is >>>>>>>>> moving a lot. It sounds exactly like what Paul M described in a 2024 >>>>>>>>> post >>>>>>>>> about his 64 cm Clem: >>>>>>>>> "I also experienced a front-end shimmy if I took both hands off >>>>>>>>> the handlebars with a loaded rear rack trunk mounted on the top of >>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>> rack". Exactly!! >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Because of the size of the frame and the way it's installed (see >>>>>>>>> picture), my theory is that those vertical supports are very long and >>>>>>>>> hence >>>>>>>>> not so rigid and I'm getting some sort of harmonic motion (like a >>>>>>>>> mini-version of the Tacoma Narrows bridge). Anyway, I've tried some >>>>>>>>> minor >>>>>>>>> adjustments to try to make the rack supports shorter and hence more >>>>>>>>> rigid, >>>>>>>>> but with only minor (if any success). At this point, I'm thinking of >>>>>>>>> a >>>>>>>>> couple of options: >>>>>>>>> 1. more radically changing the attachment points for the rack to >>>>>>>>> get those longer supports a lot shorter. This could get tricky >>>>>>>>> though, >>>>>>>>> working around the rear brake. >>>>>>>>> 2. Removing the basket (it can go on my newly acquired 64 cm Clem >>>>>>>>> L) and changing to a rear bag (e.g. Sackville Bagboy) that hangs from >>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>> saddle and hence doesn't really rest all its weight on the rack. I >>>>>>>>> can >>>>>>>>> still strap lighter stuff on the rack. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I'm strongly leaning toward option #2 because I like the look of >>>>>>>>> the rack as is and I think the behind the seat bag might look very >>>>>>>>> nice. I >>>>>>>>> guess another option is to install a different rear rack with more >>>>>>>>> rigid >>>>>>>>> supports, but again, I like the look of this rack and this isn't my >>>>>>>>> bike >>>>>>>>> for hauling heaving loads (that's be the Clem). >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Have others experienced this sort of problem and if so, how did >>>>>>>>> you fix it? >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> thanks >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Chris Young >>>>>>>>> ABQ >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>> To view this discussion visit >>>>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/b0c1484f-a662-4193-8f21-d74e892a3a71n%40googlegroups.com >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/b0c1484f-a662-4193-8f21-d74e892a3a71n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>>>>>> . >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>> >>>>> To view this discussion visit >>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/e07cb869-3f31-4799-ab40-258612b0a2ean%40googlegroups.com >>>>>> >>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/e07cb869-3f31-4799-ab40-258612b0a2ean%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>>> . >>>>>> >>>>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> >> To view this discussion visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/767cbfe7-4d2e-49b7-acdc-a124e82f76b2n%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/767cbfe7-4d2e-49b7-acdc-a124e82f76b2n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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