V20 rack in back!

[TransAm]

I thought I'd do a quick post on my latest project. I want to be able to carry some SLR camera gear on my V20. So I decided to mount a rear rack to carry and protect it. Looked at lots of options, and settled on the Blackburn Local Deluxe rack. It's variable width, so you can narrow it down, but it's wide enough to clear disc brakes (I may remove some metal to narrow it more later). It's a front/back rack, so it has a short throw toward the frame for front mounting, which helps keep it from trying to go too far under the seat back. It's fairly minimal and light (990g). It has a solid top deck which acts as a fender. It works with the quick release, so you don't need mounting lugs on the rear dropouts. The height is adjustable, which is a must.

I think it actually looks pretty good:

Almost like it was custom made! Note that I put the front hoop around the headrest rails. I had shimmed the seatback up 1-2 deg using 1.5 x 16" lumber yard shims, so that created some clearance between the seatback and the headrest rails. I skipped the stabilizer rods that usually connect forward to the top frame lugs, and just attached the front hoop to the seatback using the small pipe clamps supplied with the rack. I set the rack height so the the deck was just slightly nose up.

The skewer is a Cannondale long trainer skewer (without the spacers):

Amazon.com : Cannondale Quick Release Trainer Skewer - 130/135mm KA048 : Sports & Outdoors

I think the integrated quick release spacers on the rack could be ground down so it takes a standard rear skewer to narrow it down some more.

Here's my source that had the rack in stock (out of stock at Amazon):

Blackburn Local Deluxe Front or Rear Bicycle Rack (bicyclebuys.com)

I'll post more pics when I get it outside for a ride.

 

[Frito Bandito]

Nice mod you have going there. It would look a bit crude, but you could also add some panels along the sides connected with velcro for a bit of aero to get the wind off the rear wheel. Looking forward to seeing the finished project though. I have been wondering about a rear rack for longer tours as well.

 

[M.J]

That's cool, nice work!

 

[Robert Holler]

This is awesome.

Robert

 

[TransAm]

This is awesome.

Robert

Glad you like it. Here is a side profile view with the Blackburn Local Trunk Bag on top. The paniers are folded in the side pockets, and the bag is loaded with a full-frame Canon DSLR body in a body bag and pro zoom lens (EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L) in its stock bag:

The one issue is that the front hoop on the rack rubs against the headrest rails, so I don't want them to rub through. The workaround I am using is to wrap the headrest rails with some spiral cable wrap. Overall I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I'm planning an overnight trip tomorrow, so I may have more updates soon....

 

[Frito Bandito]

It looks great. 1 thing that might work is using a piece of tire or tube to protect the headrest rails. Coincidentally, I saw this advertised locally. It is a front rack and designed only for 2kg max load, but the concept would work for the seat stays on the V20. It is called Nitto MB1.

http://nitto-tokyo.sakura.ne.jp/carrier-E.html

 

[cpml123]

Glad you like it. Here is a side profile view with the Blackburn Local Trunk Bag on top. The paniers are folded in the side pockets, and the bag is loaded with a full-frame Canon DSLR body in a body bag and pro zoom lens (EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L) in its stock bag:

The one issue is that the front hoop on the rack rubs against the headrest rails, so I don't want them to rub through. The workaround I am using is to wrap the headrest rails with some spiral cable wrap. Overall I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I'm planning an overnight trip tomorrow, so I may have more updates soon....

That looks great!

 

[TransAm]

It looks great. 1 thing that might work is using a piece of tire or tube to protect the headrest rails. Coincidentally, I saw this advertised locally. It is a front rack and designed only for 2kg max load, but the concept would work for the seat stays on the V20. It is called Nitto MB1.
View attachment 11103
http://nitto-tokyo.sakura.ne.jp/carrier-E.html

Problem is that rack goes to the rear brake mount bolt, which won't work for the V20, unless you drill a hole in the frame between the headrest rails.

 

[Mathew Fy]

I like your Blackburn solution.
I have a Nitto R-14 that’s worked very well for me. See here.
Previously I used p-clamps to attach to the stays, but using the quick release seems better. A bit of hassle when removing the rear wheel for transport, though, and I’m worried about adding extra stress onto the quick release. The last time I used this rack, I only used the rear struts as I didn’t put much weight in the tail bag, just wallet, sandals, jacket, snacks & such.

 

[Frito Bandito]

I see how you attached yours, and like how it connects to the skewers. I don't run disc brakes, so that is fine. On 1 hand I like how the Nitto connects to the frame (with a rubber strip to protect the paint) and has adjustable arms, but on the other hand the MB1 isn't rated to carry enough weight. At least 5kg would be great.

 

[TransAm]

Here's another pic showing the south end of a northbound bike.

Note the Garmin Varia radar taillight is mounted sideways on the rack tab. You can see how the rack has plenty of clearance for disc brakes. I have the front attachment points pulled out to provide extra side impact protection for the bag.

 

[Frito Bandito]

That is plenty of room. I have to say that I like how you have your bike set up. The bars are uncluttered, your gear range looks like it'll climb well too. I can see it getting you a lot of mileage in speed and comfort.

 

[TransAm]

That is plenty of room. I have to say that I like how you have your bike set up. The bars are uncluttered, your gear range looks like it'll climb well too. I can see it getting you a lot of mileage in speed and comfort.

Thanks. I also worked to eliminate the birds nest around the stem. The low gear is 50:50t, but that's not enough. I'm thinking about adding a small ring up front, but with no front derailleur so I can keep the narrow/wide chainring. If I had to stop climbing, I could manually switch to the granny gear to get going again, then switch back later.

 

[Mathew Fy]

@TransAm ,
I’m curious to know how much range is possible with your derailleur, SRAM Eagle, was it? The Eagles’ max cassette range of 10-52 teeth is 520%. Better than my V20’s 473%, but not as good as my S40’s 617%.
I wonder how much range more you can get before the derailleur fails to wrap the chain adequately. (I think there’s a better term for this.)

 

[TransAm]

@TransAm ,
I’m curious to know how much range is possible with your derailleur, SRAM Eagle, was it? The Eagles’ max cassette range of 10-52 teeth is 520%. Better than my V20’s 473%, but not as good as my S40’s 617%.
I wonder how much range more you can get before the derailleur fails to wrap the chain adequately. (I think there’s a better term for this.)

The Eagle AXS derailleurs work with the 10-52t XD driver cassette, but I'm running the much cheaper 11-50t cassette that fits on a standard 10s Shimano hub. SRAM just came out with a 40% less expensive GX Eagle version that's just a bit heavier but otherwise similar. So it's a really attractive wireless option now:

SRAM GX Eagle AXS Review | Best Mountain Bike Drivetrains (bicycling.com)

The only thing with running wireless shifting on a Cruzbike is that there is no cable holding the derailleur in place. So when you remove the wheel, the derailleur is only attached by the chain. The good news is that you don't have to worry about bending the hanger because it's only attached to the derailleur. The bad news is that you better get good at untangling chain loops. But I think the bike looks a lot better without a big loop of cable sheath hanging below the hub.

 

[McWheels]

I see why you've got with such a wide rack now; the platform for the camera bag makes perfect sense. I was about to chirp up with things like connector nuts, the Tor Tec Velocity or the Tailfin.

However for your gear range question, I have only today discovered a thing from Classified (in Belgium I think) which appears to do what Sturmey Archer offer, but at a weight, cassette size, and integration point that's a lot more palatable.

 

[TransAm]

I see why you've got with such a wide rack now; the platform for the camera bag makes perfect sense. I was about to chirp up with things like connector nuts, the Tor Tec Velocity or the Tailfin.

However for your gear range question, I have only today discovered a thing from Classified (in Belgium I think) which appears to do what Sturmey Archer offer, but at a weight, cassette size, and integration point that's a lot more palatable.

The Tor Tech looks similar to the Axiom Streamliner. But both are for paniers only. The Tailfin stuff looks interesting. The Classified Powershift looks really interesting, but also really expensive.

 

[M.J]

I'm thinking that Classified is looking to license their product to or get bought out by one of the big groupset makers. SRAM in particular has been on a technology buying spree lately.
If you want to spend the money and be an early adopter, then it's all good. If the technology pans out and really does work the way they say it does, though, then I'm betting prices will be significantly lower in a couple years.

 

[TransAm]

I ended up taking everything apart and putting it all back together again today. I did a 30mi test ride yesterday, and the Blackburn Local Trunk Bag started fraying open at the bottom of the one panier I had opened to carry more stuff. So that bag is a bag of dicks. I had also purchased another bag on Amazon:

Amazon.com : LULUME Bike Reflective Rack Bag, Water Resistant Bicycle Trunk Bag, Multi Pocket Chest Bag, MTB Bike Pannier Bags, 8L : Sports & Outdoors

This bag is a little longer, so I can fit the camera body with the long zoom lens mounted, but it hangs off the back of the rack some. It has a sloped front that fits well under the sloped headrest rails. It's designed for an open deck rack, though, so I had to cut slots in the rack deck to pass the straps through. I also drilled and tapped new height adjustment holes between the two options that were too high and too low, so now the rack sits a little lower and closer to the tire.

I mounted the tripod in an adjustable wine bottle cage under the seat pan, and tied the top to the headrest rail (it's mounted high/back to clear the frame bag zipper):

I also strapped a jacket that folds into a pocket to the back of the headrest. The bungee around the bag is just for securing the bike on a train, but I could also use it to hold loose clothes.

I'm planning a long photo safari trip tomorrow....

 

[benphyr]

@TransAm That is one sweet looking, high visibility bike. Is the chain line ok for the rear derailleur? It looks as though you have two headlights one above the bottom bracket and one behind it on the chain stays. Is that a light or something else?