Hybrid Result/Rack Question

Saint said:

Well, firstly thank you to all who replied to the threads I posted
during last week regarding choice of hybrid. After much
looking/deciding/undeciding and deciding again I finally decided. ;-)

Got myself a Dawes Discovery 301 today from my LBS and am really
pleased with it although I have only ridden it to the top of the road
as the weather has been awful today. It's a lot heavier/sturdier
than my 'posh' bike - Scott Roadster S1 but will be ideal for me to
do more leisure stuff and winter riding on.

I need a rack for it and don't wanna fot one of those hideous fixed
ones that I have sen, but rather would prefer a seatpost one that I
can attach/take off as necessary. I am only likely to need it to
carry odds and sods from the shops etc but don't know which ones are
any good.

Wiggle do a couple at around 20 - 30 quid but I can't see from the
pictures whether it actually comes with the sprung bit that lifts up
to enable you to fit your items to it - does anybody use one?

Hope the weather is better tomorrow - just have to decide which bike
to take put now. Hard life innit?

Not used one, but you do know most of them only take 5 kilos or so? I'd try
the LBS again - the bike shop I tried were cheaper than Wiggle and EBC on
their racks.

Saint said:

I need a rack for it and don't wanna fot one of those hideous fixed
ones that I have sen, but rather would prefer a seatpost one that I
can attach/take off as necessary. I am only likely to need it to
carry odds and sods from the shops etc but don't know which ones are
any good.

Seatposts racks don't work as well as proper fixed racks. Not as strong
and sturdy (for obvious reasons) and they have tend to swivel round the
seatpost (that problem can be solved but it is a bother). You might not
think you need much strength but odds and from shops can add up. Some of
the more sturdy racks aren't light and convenient to use anyway. Proper
racks needn't be hideous looking or very heavy.

Having said all that, I do use a Zefal Quick Rack seatpost rack on my road
bike -- but that's only because it would be awkward/impossible to fit a
proper rack to this particular "race" bike and I really want to keep
weight down to a minimum. This rack is a mostly-palstic job that can only
take a very light load (like the spare jersey or rain jacket and extra
tools, etc I carry about), not shopping. And I never bother riding
without it now, by the way. I previously tried a Piumi seatpost rack,
which broke. Topeak ones are probably better.

I have a normal rack on my more practical bike. You'd be mad not to get
one for yours, IMO.

Quoted message said:

Wiggle do a couple at around 20 - 30 quid but I can't see from the
pictures whether it actually comes with the sprung bit that lifts up
to enable you to fit your items to it - does anybody use one?

Ordinary bungy cords can be used instead, on any rack, and in fact work
better.

~PB

On Sat, 26 Jun 2004 15:58:32 +0000 (UTC), "Saint" <[email hidden]>

wrote in message : said:

I need a rack for it and don't wanna fot one of those hideous fixed ones
that I have sen, but rather would prefer a seatpost one that I can
attach/take off as necessary. I am only likely to need it to carry odds and
sods from the shops etc but don't know which ones are any good.

No! Don't do it! You really can't beat a proper dogleg rack with a
rear-lamp bracket welded on, the seatpost-mounted ones are a fudge for
bikes with rear suspension. A good rack enhances the aesthetics of a
bike - it is the finishing touch which says you are a proper utility
cyclist not one of these fair-weather johnnies :-)

You can even get them with a D-lock stowage under the platform. You
can hang panniers on, or a rack pack, like the Ortlieb Bike Box. All
you need to decide is whether to go black or silver.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

Saint said:

I need a rack for it and don't wanna fot one of those hideous fixed ones
that I have sen, but rather would prefer a seatpost one that I can
attach/take off as necessary. I am only likely to need it to carry odds and
sods from the shops etc but don't know which ones are any good.

Another in the chorus of "don't go there!"...
Seems a bit daft to add a Sensible Bike to your stable and then
compromise its ability to be Sensible by putting on a comedy rack that
will be less stable and less able to take Real Loads than a fixed one.

"Odds and sods from the shops" can be a whole lot more than that with a
decent rack and appropriate bungees/panniers etc. Might as well let
your bike take freight weight, and a solid fixed rear rack is the best
way to do that. And it gives you the perfect mounting spot for a back
light too.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/