Lisa Frohmann
New Member
Has anyone successfully found a rack for the quest that holds panniers AWAY from the wheels? The current rack doesn't allow for holding down the panniers. Does the Silvio rack work?
pannier rack needed for quest
- Thread starter Lisa Frohmann
- Start date
DaveOBrien
New Member
I have used the Topeak MTX
I have used the Topeak MTX BeamRack (E-Type) on my Quest, along with the optional side frame for panniers.
As you can see in the picture, the panniers end up just behind the rear axle, with some clearance for the disk brake.
As is my experience with other Topeak products, the rack is thoughtfully designed and well built. As a bonus, the side frames are removable, so the rack manages to fit into the same suitcase as the bike.
This setup worked well during a couple of short tours last year. Since then, however, I've removed the rack and mounted some slim duffle bags below and behind the seat (using straps), to move the weight forward and down. If you pack a lot of stuff (I try to travel very light), then you might be able to do both (strapped bags and the rack with panniers).
Hope this helps!
I have used the Topeak MTX BeamRack (E-Type) on my Quest, along with the optional side frame for panniers.
As you can see in the picture, the panniers end up just behind the rear axle, with some clearance for the disk brake.
As is my experience with other Topeak products, the rack is thoughtfully designed and well built. As a bonus, the side frames are removable, so the rack manages to fit into the same suitcase as the bike.
This setup worked well during a couple of short tours last year. Since then, however, I've removed the rack and mounted some slim duffle bags below and behind the seat (using straps), to move the weight forward and down. If you pack a lot of stuff (I try to travel very light), then you might be able to do both (strapped bags and the rack with panniers).
Hope this helps!
Another Option
Hi Lisa,
Glad to hear you're enjoying your new Q559 - I'm awaiting one myself!
I stumbled upon another possible solution which Nanda Holz used on a 559 of a few years back. There's a number of pictures at this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spincyclz/sets/72157620963801982/page5/
These are RANS Rac bags, and they're even available in orange! http://www.shoprans.com/bags/rac-bags/
Haven't heard how well they may or may not have worked - and I do find them rather pricey - but an interesting approach. Let us know about whichever setup you ultimately choose, OK?
Best regards, Bill Bergerson
Hi Lisa,
Glad to hear you're enjoying your new Q559 - I'm awaiting one myself!
I stumbled upon another possible solution which Nanda Holz used on a 559 of a few years back. There's a number of pictures at this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spincyclz/sets/72157620963801982/page5/
These are RANS Rac bags, and they're even available in orange! http://www.shoprans.com/bags/rac-bags/
Haven't heard how well they may or may not have worked - and I do find them rather pricey - but an interesting approach. Let us know about whichever setup you ultimately choose, OK?
Best regards, Bill Bergerson
Charles.Plager
Recumbent Quant
I'd also recommend checking
I'd also recommend checking out this blog entry: Pannier bags for Cruzbike Quest 20" (wheel size: 451/22"), from Radical Design
I'd also recommend checking out this blog entry: Pannier bags for Cruzbike Quest 20" (wheel size: 451/22"), from Radical Design
kling
Active Member
Quest rack pannier support
Hi Lisa,
This previous post has some information that could be useful in/for your quest
http://cruzbike.com/nice-pannierpack-quest
Cheers
Kendrick
Hi Lisa,
This previous post has some information that could be useful in/for your quest
http://cruzbike.com/nice-pannierpack-quest
Cheers
Kendrick
Dudley
Member
Q3 rack
I bought a Quest because it seemed like it has great potential for touring. I got a Q3 and liked it so much that I found a second hand Q2 for my partner. So now we're a two Quest household. We only live a couple of kilometers from John so we may have the highest density of Cruzbikes in the world, apart from the Parker household.
Apart from the front suspension, the only other difference between our bikes is at the rear end.
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The 'eyelet' for the Q3 is much further back than the Q2.
I bought a Racktime Add-it rack as it seemed pretty solid and I liked the fact that it had two rails. This means that the panniers will be lower, plus there will still be some rack I can strap things to above the panniers.
The problems I had were that the rack is designed for a typical rear width so I had to pack things out, and the panniers would be too far back for my liking. What I've done is reverse the rack and used the 'slots' where the rear suspension is attached to the swing arm as an attachment point.
This is my prototype which seems to work pretty well even though I have used some cable ties and some dowels with a hole down the middle. It basically consists of a couple of aluminium arms with a bracket that keeps the two arms together. All held together with M5 bolts.
This is the front connection point. Just slots in and gets bolted together.
I ordered some aluminium spacers that will replace the dowels. In the prototype I just wrapped some masking tape around the dowel in the suspension slot to pack it out a bit and also to provide some padding. I received the aluminium spacers today and have wrapped some soft plastic from a yoghurt container lid around it to stop any rattling. Seems to work well. I used 1/2 inch diameter spacers.
The rear spacers just have an M5 bolt running through them.
I'm planning front panniers that will hang under the seat and will be made from a lowrider rack which will hang from the water bottle boss(?) under the seat and from the bracket at the top end of the suspension. I've worked it out in my head, I just have to implement it.
I bought a Quest because it seemed like it has great potential for touring. I got a Q3 and liked it so much that I found a second hand Q2 for my partner. So now we're a two Quest household. We only live a couple of kilometers from John so we may have the highest density of Cruzbikes in the world, apart from the Parker household.
Apart from the front suspension, the only other difference between our bikes is at the rear end.
The 'eyelet' for the Q3 is much further back than the Q2.
I bought a Racktime Add-it rack as it seemed pretty solid and I liked the fact that it had two rails. This means that the panniers will be lower, plus there will still be some rack I can strap things to above the panniers.
The problems I had were that the rack is designed for a typical rear width so I had to pack things out, and the panniers would be too far back for my liking. What I've done is reverse the rack and used the 'slots' where the rear suspension is attached to the swing arm as an attachment point.
This is my prototype which seems to work pretty well even though I have used some cable ties and some dowels with a hole down the middle. It basically consists of a couple of aluminium arms with a bracket that keeps the two arms together. All held together with M5 bolts.
This is the front connection point. Just slots in and gets bolted together.
I ordered some aluminium spacers that will replace the dowels. In the prototype I just wrapped some masking tape around the dowel in the suspension slot to pack it out a bit and also to provide some padding. I received the aluminium spacers today and have wrapped some soft plastic from a yoghurt container lid around it to stop any rattling. Seems to work well. I used 1/2 inch diameter spacers.
The rear spacers just have an M5 bolt running through them.
I'm planning front panniers that will hang under the seat and will be made from a lowrider rack which will hang from the water bottle boss(?) under the seat and from the bracket at the top end of the suspension. I've worked it out in my head, I just have to implement it.
John Tolhurst
Zen MBB Master
Some racks are for front fork
Some racks are for front fork mounting and attach with a longer skewer. This might be a more sturdy mounting.
Yes, highest density of Quests in the world perhaps, until we start selling in Hong Kong!
Some racks are for front fork mounting and attach with a longer skewer. This might be a more sturdy mounting.
Yes, highest density of Quests in the world perhaps, until we start selling in Hong Kong!
Heavy Duty Seatpost Rack
I use an Axiom Odyssee Seatpost Rack for daily commuting with a Quest 451.
You may have to troll eBay or Amazon to find one, but it can hold up to 55lbs. and has support for the lower pannier hooks.
Here is one site with a picture that came up on a search.
Hope this helps.
---H
I use an Axiom Odyssee Seatpost Rack for daily commuting with a Quest 451.
You may have to troll eBay or Amazon to find one, but it can hold up to 55lbs. and has support for the lower pannier hooks.
Here is one site with a picture that came up on a search.
Hope this helps.
---H
Hugh Mitenko
New Member
pannier capable rack
Hi,
I coped with the rack that comes with the Quest 2.0 for a while (somewhere here it's noted that the screw holes on the frame near the hub of the rear wheel are in a slightly different position on the newer models). I use it to commute to work every day here near Perth, and it has worked OK.
Like you, I would prefer the ability to mount panniers. I found a "Topeak one fits ALL REAR RACK" at my local bike store and so far it seems OK. If you google exactly what I have in quotes there you get the pdf for the instruction manual, which shows it better than I have in photos. Get the one with the 'disc mounts' as the Q has disk brakes.
I have attached part to the frame at the hub, and part to the seat post, which alarms me a bit due to the rear suspension. However, the way it attaches has me thinking it might serve well in the long run, even with that in mind. It looks quite a bit sturdier than the rack it comes with.
The only DIY bit was getting a bunch of washers to use as a spacer for the attachment point at the top of the seat post; and bending the braces 'just so.' Hope this helps... now if only I could figure out how to lock out the front suspension...
Hugh
Hi,
I coped with the rack that comes with the Quest 2.0 for a while (somewhere here it's noted that the screw holes on the frame near the hub of the rear wheel are in a slightly different position on the newer models). I use it to commute to work every day here near Perth, and it has worked OK.
Like you, I would prefer the ability to mount panniers. I found a "Topeak one fits ALL REAR RACK" at my local bike store and so far it seems OK. If you google exactly what I have in quotes there you get the pdf for the instruction manual, which shows it better than I have in photos. Get the one with the 'disc mounts' as the Q has disk brakes.
I have attached part to the frame at the hub, and part to the seat post, which alarms me a bit due to the rear suspension. However, the way it attaches has me thinking it might serve well in the long run, even with that in mind. It looks quite a bit sturdier than the rack it comes with.
The only DIY bit was getting a bunch of washers to use as a spacer for the attachment point at the top of the seat post; and bending the braces 'just so.' Hope this helps... now if only I could figure out how to lock out the front suspension...
Hugh
Charles.Plager
Recumbent Quant
Hi Hugh,
The only issue I see
Hi Hugh,
The only issue I see is that you are somewhat short-circuiting the rear suspension by attaching the bottom of the rack to the rear "triangle" and the top to the seat. This is the same thing that I did on my Sofrider, but I found that the rear suspension works better if you can bring up a mount for the top of the rack from the bottom of the shock (or somewhere else on the rear triangle).
The only issue I see
Hi Hugh,
The only issue I see is that you are somewhat short-circuiting the rear suspension by attaching the bottom of the rack to the rear "triangle" and the top to the seat. This is the same thing that I did on my Sofrider, but I found that the rear suspension works better if you can bring up a mount for the top of the rack from the bottom of the shock (or somewhere else on the rear triangle).
billyk
Guru
connecting suspended and non-suspended parts = fail
Hi Hugh -
Charles is right. I originally built a setup like yours for my Quest 2. It worked fine for a while but the constant flexing of the curved connectors to the seat post eventually broke them by metal fatigue.
Now I use the original Quest rack, but zip-tied a sheet of thin plywood to it (via small holes in the plywood) to make it the usual rack width. This supports a trunk rack (from Banjo Brothers, seems to be one of the best). This has fold-down mini-panniers, about the height and width of a standard manila folder, so I can carry papers back and forth from work. They don't seem to flop against the wheel, even when heavily loaded with groceries. The extra inch or so of my plywood compared to the original rack makes the difference.
I'll try to post photos later.
BK
Hi Hugh -
Charles is right. I originally built a setup like yours for my Quest 2. It worked fine for a while but the constant flexing of the curved connectors to the seat post eventually broke them by metal fatigue.
Now I use the original Quest rack, but zip-tied a sheet of thin plywood to it (via small holes in the plywood) to make it the usual rack width. This supports a trunk rack (from Banjo Brothers, seems to be one of the best). This has fold-down mini-panniers, about the height and width of a standard manila folder, so I can carry papers back and forth from work. They don't seem to flop against the wheel, even when heavily loaded with groceries. The extra inch or so of my plywood compared to the original rack makes the difference.
I'll try to post photos later.
BK
Hugh Mitenko
New Member
rack for the Q
Hi Charles and Billy:
I think you might be right. I plan to tighten the rear suspension anyway to make the whole thing stiffer (again: any help to lock the front suspension...? maybe I'll start another thread on that as when I last tried to I got nowhere and am still living with it).
I have tried to put a curve on the supports that fix the rack to the seat post such that the supports bend very little; and also the points where the supports fix to the rack are such that I have allowed them to slide back and forth against the rack.
I won't be at all surprised if the rack supports break; but then, maybe I'll just replace them. I will try to keep you posted if and when things break...!
Thanks,
Hugh
Hi Charles and Billy:
I think you might be right. I plan to tighten the rear suspension anyway to make the whole thing stiffer (again: any help to lock the front suspension...? maybe I'll start another thread on that as when I last tried to I got nowhere and am still living with it).
I have tried to put a curve on the supports that fix the rack to the seat post such that the supports bend very little; and also the points where the supports fix to the rack are such that I have allowed them to slide back and forth against the rack.
I won't be at all surprised if the rack supports break; but then, maybe I'll just replace them. I will try to keep you posted if and when things break...!
Thanks,
Hugh
Dave_M
New Member
Timbuk2 panniers mounted "inboard" on Quest
Greetings- this is my first post. I purchased a lightly used Quest about 3 months ago and have been enjoying using it as a daily commuter bike. After getting past the well known initial process of getting familiar with the front wheel drive, I must say the bike has been a joy to ride. After logging about 400 miles so far, my other two bikes are gathering dust in the garage.
I thought I would share a mounting method for a set of Timbuk2 panniers (great for commuting) that I came up with after trying various rear rack setups. This is a simple setup made from .080 aluminum sheet that bolts to the seat back and standard rack mounting holes. (No holes drilled in the Quest). The Timbuk2 panniers are designed to drape over a rack, and are secured with velcro. This has worked great so far, and results in the weight distribution being towards the center of the bike.
Greetings- this is my first post. I purchased a lightly used Quest about 3 months ago and have been enjoying using it as a daily commuter bike. After getting past the well known initial process of getting familiar with the front wheel drive, I must say the bike has been a joy to ride. After logging about 400 miles so far, my other two bikes are gathering dust in the garage.
I thought I would share a mounting method for a set of Timbuk2 panniers (great for commuting) that I came up with after trying various rear rack setups. This is a simple setup made from .080 aluminum sheet that bolts to the seat back and standard rack mounting holes. (No holes drilled in the Quest). The Timbuk2 panniers are designed to drape over a rack, and are secured with velcro. This has worked great so far, and results in the weight distribution being towards the center of the bike.
I bought the heavy duty rack
I bought the heavy duty rack for the Quest, which, inexplicably, did not have the sides for the panniers. So I zip tied a regular rack over the top. It needed some surgery as it wasn't quite wide enough. But at least this setup keeps the panniers up on the main frame and doesn't increase unsprung weight at the back.
BTW, Dudley, I also live a couple of k's from john and have a Quest.
You would think that the roads around here would be clogged with Quests but I haven't seen any. (apart from mine)
I bought the heavy duty rack for the Quest, which, inexplicably, did not have the sides for the panniers. So I zip tied a regular rack over the top. It needed some surgery as it wasn't quite wide enough. But at least this setup keeps the panniers up on the main frame and doesn't increase unsprung weight at the back.
BTW, Dudley, I also live a couple of k's from john and have a Quest.
You would think that the roads around here would be clogged with Quests but I haven't seen any. (apart from mine)
Emeljay
WiskersBlowinInTheWind
I'm posting about a rack so I will do it here even though my motivation was to put a rack on my Green QX100 thread. I already had a bracket made for a rack on my Q, but I wanted more room between the bracket and the tire. You know El Nino has already given us here in Phoenix extra rain and we are drowning and i am thinking i may need fenders for the winter rain.
So I bought a 22 inch long by 1 inch by 1/8 inch piece of steel. I thought about lighter aluminum but was directed to steel because the steel would be less likely to fail in the middle of where am I when I need help with the lighter broken alum brace. So I put the steel into a vice, and my experienced Dad using a hammer gently (really not so gently but not full force either) bent the strap steel. It was in his shop also as I actually only pretty much have only a bicycle multi tool! Anyway he did the heavy lifting while I measured the angle, then we did the next angle. Then I double checked (hey does this mean I am quality control?) the newly bent steel soon to be a bracket on the Q, and now it is time to drill. Dad is a retired engineer so he was measuring and marking the bracket where the drilling was to be, but I said the tolererances don't need to be that close. He continued to be ever so precise in marking and counter punching that I just went with the flow because he was doing a good job for me. Then i clamped the bracket into the vice on his drill press with 3 way adjustment (I have a hand held drill with max drill bit of somewhere just larger than 1/4 inch and any adjustments depend on my shaking hands) but his way more precise AND also safer. He drilled while I added drops of oil to the hole so the bit would not overheat ( I think this is why this is done - growing up I added the oil when Dad was drilling). Finally this 22 inch piece of steel is bent to needed angles and holes drilled. Now placed onto the Q it looks GREAT. So we made another fo my X100. Now you have to decide if this is right for your type of riding. A rack holding panniers to the rear is not as stable as say the load held under the seat where the center of gravity is more central. Also panniers low is not as aero but that is not my concern but it may be yours.
The new rack for the Q holding the load up behind the seat is more aero but I already have a rear rack. See pics.
So I bought a 22 inch long by 1 inch by 1/8 inch piece of steel. I thought about lighter aluminum but was directed to steel because the steel would be less likely to fail in the middle of where am I when I need help with the lighter broken alum brace. So I put the steel into a vice, and my experienced Dad using a hammer gently (really not so gently but not full force either) bent the strap steel. It was in his shop also as I actually only pretty much have only a bicycle multi tool! Anyway he did the heavy lifting while I measured the angle, then we did the next angle. Then I double checked (hey does this mean I am quality control?) the newly bent steel soon to be a bracket on the Q, and now it is time to drill. Dad is a retired engineer so he was measuring and marking the bracket where the drilling was to be, but I said the tolererances don't need to be that close. He continued to be ever so precise in marking and counter punching that I just went with the flow because he was doing a good job for me. Then i clamped the bracket into the vice on his drill press with 3 way adjustment (I have a hand held drill with max drill bit of somewhere just larger than 1/4 inch and any adjustments depend on my shaking hands) but his way more precise AND also safer. He drilled while I added drops of oil to the hole so the bit would not overheat ( I think this is why this is done - growing up I added the oil when Dad was drilling). Finally this 22 inch piece of steel is bent to needed angles and holes drilled. Now placed onto the Q it looks GREAT. So we made another fo my X100. Now you have to decide if this is right for your type of riding. A rack holding panniers to the rear is not as stable as say the load held under the seat where the center of gravity is more central. Also panniers low is not as aero but that is not my concern but it may be yours.
The new rack for the Q holding the load up behind the seat is more aero but I already have a rear rack. See pics.
Emeljay
WiskersBlowinInTheWind
Here are the pics I have to give credit to someone who posted about this type of bracket previously but I could not find the posting to give proper credit. The updated bracket gives additional room for the distance the shock will let the seat boom travel when bumps go boom!
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Emeljay
WiskersBlowinInTheWind
Robert, since you brought it up lets open a discussion on racks for the Q/X. When I bought my Q in Jan'15 I also ordered the heavy duty rack since it was made for the Q. It worked but my panniers flopped around too much ( the new rack that you just posted the link to was not available then). I thought about adding some type of side supports to the heavy duty rack but did not have the time. So since I had 6 DFs with racks, and 3 of them that i used for comutting had the same rack, I just took the idea of the bracket from this forum and put one of those racks on my Q. It worked for me for over 3,500 miles since a Jan. Then I bought my green X100 and wanted to try one of the new racks, but could not justify the cost of the new rack Cruzbike is offering even tho i wanted to try it out. So I decided to make a bracket for my X and cannibalize another rack from one of those 3 DFs to put on my new X, and wanted to do it right. Thought I might as well also make the same improved version for my Q. New brackets on both bikes now giving additional clearance between tire and bracket (so I could put bigger tires on or mudguards if I wanted).
I am not concerned about being aero, and I also have trunk bags that fit in the groove of these racks with both panniers attached so I am happy.
But for those who do not have spare racks and bags specially fitted to those racks tell us the benefits of the new CBQ tour commuter rack.
I am not concerned about being aero, and I also have trunk bags that fit in the groove of these racks with both panniers attached so I am happy.
But for those who do not have spare racks and bags specially fitted to those racks tell us the benefits of the new CBQ tour commuter rack.
The new rack is very robust. The top portion is also Racktime compatible (as it is made out of a Racktime top and specially made side panels) so those brand of bags simply click on.
The HD rack is no longer being made so this is going to be the new rack for the QX100. I think I have 6 or 7 of the HD racks and then they are gone. This new rack on the QX100 goes on and off with QR levers so it can be removed easily. It is on the expensive side, but all things accessory in the recumbent world are since we have to deal with small production runs.
The new rack also looks pretty cool IMHO.
Robert
The HD rack is no longer being made so this is going to be the new rack for the QX100. I think I have 6 or 7 of the HD racks and then they are gone. This new rack on the QX100 goes on and off with QR levers so it can be removed easily. It is on the expensive side, but all things accessory in the recumbent world are since we have to deal with small production runs.
The new rack also looks pretty cool IMHO.
Robert
