Bicycle rack - A structure mounted on a bicycle that allows you to carry your main load. The main advantage of a bike rack is that it relieves the burden on the cyclist's shoulders.
In tourism, most often, they use special bicycle backpacks installed on bicycle racks - the so-called bicycle bags.
The main requirements for tourist bike carriers in a serious hike:
- withstand up to 25kg of static load and dynamic over 50kg
- maintainability
- good support for the pants of the bike bag, due to the additional temples, so that the pants of the bike bag do not fall into the bicycle wheel
Materials from which bike carriers are made
Steel.
…… + High strength
…… + Price
…… - High weight
…… - Rattling of the structure
Aluminum alloys.
…… + Light weight
…… + High strength
…… - Price
Titanium and other rare materials.
…… + Best strength / weight ratio
…… + Corrosion resistance
…… - Very high price
At the moment, the main material for the production of trunks is aluminum alloy.
Bicycle rack designs
Structurally, all bike carriers are different:
1.bike mount option
1.1. to the upper feathers and to the cock of the rear triangle.
1.1.1. shape and number of racks
1.2 to the upper stays with clamps.
1.2.1. shape and number of racks
1.3. to seatpost
1.4. to the bike fork
2.shape and dimensions of the cargo area of the trunk
3.the presence and absence of a spring-loaded bracket
1.1. Attachment option to the upper stays and to the rear triangle cock.
The load on the lower mount of the bike rack should go as close to the vertical as possible, otherwise the metal of the rack may not withstand even minor loads.
1.1.1.1. The simplest bike rack is a single-column design.
The cargo area of the trunk is made of steel. When driving, it rattles, but has a margin of safety. The pants of the bike bag on such a rack will fall into the spokes of the wheel, and the cyclist will feel discomfort all the time. This bike rack has a lot of weight and low cost. It is not repairable in the field.
1.1.1.2. Fully welded bike rack, relatively rigid two-post construction.
The carrier is positioned strictly vertically. Similar structures are welded from both steel and aluminum alloys. An additional slanting strut provides good support for the bike bag's pants. This type of steel bike rack is heavier than the previous type, the price is slightly higher; aluminum - very light, but the price is much higher than steel. The attachment points of steel and aluminum trunks are practically impossible to repair in the field, and the welded joints of the bicycle rack made of aluminum alloy can last for some time, tightly tied with a rope or tightly wrapped with electrical tape, in contrast to welded joints of a steel structure.
Bicycle rack Longus Weld, made in Slovenia, a prime example of this type is the fully welded two-post structure.
Quite reliable bike rack, rigid, due to the non-separable welded structure. Due to the fact that the bike rack has a stepped height adjustment of the movable strips, which are the lowest anchorage points, it can be installed even on bicycles with a wheel diameter of 29 ". The condition of the movable strips must be monitored, periodically checking them, as they may crack. The bike rack has a removable spring-loaded bracket.There is also a mount for the pump.To adjust the length of the upper brackets, you need a 10 open-end wrench, which is a rarity in a cyclist's kit. The protective bars that support the bike carrier pants have a beautiful curl, which makes this bike carrier especially elegant.
1.1.1.3. A variant of the two-post design in which the rear rack racks support the bike bag pants more than they perform a supporting function.
1.1.1.4. Bicycle rack with three racks.
In this type, all racks not only perform a supporting function, but also support the pants of the bike bag at the same time. Manufactured from steel and aluminum alloys. As in type 1.1.1.2. the attachment points of steel and aluminum trunks are practically impossible to repair in the field, and the welded joints of the bicycle rack made of aluminum alloy can serve for some time, tightly tied with a rope or tightly wrapped with electrical tape, in contrast to welded joints of a steel structure.
Bicycle rack Author ACR-20N-Alu, made in the Czech Republic, a vivid example of this subtype - a bicycle rack with three racks.
A very robust bike rack for tricky autonomous hikes. The minimum number of joints gives high reliability. Adjustment of the upper attachment points using a standard set of hex keys. Competently curved dog's foot protection will not allow the pants of even a large bike bag to rub against the knitting needles. The lack of a spring-loaded bracket in this model indicates that this bike rack is made for real tourism. The price for such high reliability is the lack of versatility, due to the lack of height adjustment. This bike rack is for 26 "bikes only, but it can also be used on a hybrid if it has very low rubber.
You can see that all the racks of these types of bike carriers are supported on one support, but this requires increased strength of the mounting assembly. There are several ways to solve this problem: by creating several support legs resting on the frame, or by improving the fastening assembly itself. At the moment, the best solution for the mounting assembly option is the usual through hole in the support rack, through which the bike rack is screwed to the frame with screws.
Advantages and disadvantages of these types of rack attachment to the bike:
…… + standard fasteners
…… + good lifting capacity
…… + good stability due to low center of gravity
…… + loading of the rear wheel - improved cross-country ability
…… - a lot of weight with the bike (it becomes too heavy with a heavy load)
…… - reduced bike control
…… - heavy load on the rear wheel, spokes - the likelihood of rupture of the spokes increases
…… - poor compatibility with disc brakes
1.2. To the upper stays with clamps.
In terms of the shape and number of racks, it is similar to the attachment to the upper stays and to the cock of the rear triangle.
Advantages and disadvantages of this type:
…… + compatible with disc brakes
…… + suitable for frames that do not have special holes
…… + good carrying capacity
…… + good stability due to low center of gravity
…… + loading of the rear wheel - improved cross-country ability
…… + better weight distribution over the support points of the trunk
…… - non-standard design
…… - a lot of weight with the bike (it becomes too heavy with a heavy load)
…… - reduced bike control
…… - heavy load on the rear wheel, spokes - the likelihood of rupture of the spokes increases
1.3. To seatpost
A representative of this type is the Author ACR-160-Alu bike rack
Quick-detachable bike rack, console type, Czech-made Author.
This bike rack fits over the bike seatpost and has one attachment point - the clamp. Quick installation or removal of the bike rack is achieved by an eccentric. The purpose of such bike racks is double suspension, because you cannot install a regular bike rack on a bike with a rear shock absorber, or for transporting a small load, because the declared maximum load capacity of such a rack is only 10kg.
On some models of console-type bike carriers, side arches can be installed, (for example, the Author ACR-S149 spacers for the Author ACR-149 bike carrier), they allow you to support the pants of the bike carrier so that they do not swing from side to side when riding.
Advantages and disadvantages of this type:
…… + placement of additional cargo
…… + applicable for all types of bicycles
…… - low carrying capacity
…… - at loads exceeding the permissible, there is a high probability of damage to the seat post or trunk console
…… - no support for bicycle racks (some models)
1.4. To the bike fork
The representative is - Author ACR-30-Alu bike rack
Suitable for small loads that will always be "at hand" (food, light clothing, camera, video camera, flask with water, etc.)
Advantages and disadvantages of this type:
…… + convenient placement of additional cargo
…… + original
…… - very low carrying capacity
A basket can be installed on road bikes.
The bike rack can also be fitted with a child bike seat.
2. The shape and dimensions of the cargo area of the trunk
Not only reliability, but also the convenience of fastening the bike bag depends on the shape of the cargo area, so the best decision would be to try when buying how securely and conveniently the bike bag is attached to the cargo area. Ideally, the middle part of the bike bag will be exactly above the carrier, without any displacement back or forward. Select the bike carrier and bike rack in such a way that the landing dimensions of the bike carrier area correspond to the dimensions of the load area of the bike carrier. This will help to avoid distortions of the bike bag.
3. Spring loaded bracket
A spring-loaded bracket on a two-week hike is a completely useless thing, due to the fact that the cargo area is occupied by a bike bag. The spring-loaded bracket is more often used on city trips or on uncomplicated hikes for small items (cover, windbreaker, etc.)
Often, poor fastening of bike racks leads to breakdowns - if the screw is not tightened, the fasteners can loosen and, as a result, either cut off the screw or crack the metal of the bike rack from the load. To prevent loosening of screw and bolt connections, it is recommended to place a spring washer (spring washer) under the screw / bolt.
conclusions
The choice of trunk must be taken very seriously. To begin with, decide for what purposes it will be used, with which bike carrier, what load will be on the bike carrier, what type of bike carrier is attached, whether this type of bike carrier is suitable for your frame. It is better to select the bike bag at the same time as the bike rack, so that later there will be no problems, either with the fastening of the rack to the bike or with the installation of the bike rack on the bike rack. Whether it will be a universal bike rack or a cargo rack for autonomous long hikes or a console or bike rack for a fork - you decide, but when buying, you need to make sure of the good quality of the welded seams, because repairing a bike rack from improvised means in the field is not a pleasant thing.
