On choosing front racks

[TunaAndBikes]

I want to attach a wald 139 on front of my trusty 1990 Cannondale SH400.
I want the wald to be on a front rack, but i'm hesitating between the minoura gamoh king porteur rack and nitto m12, as they're pretty much the same price and both ain't too shabby!
Groceries and such; will go as heavy as a 24 pack on there and have it secured without any after thought.
Any comments?

[fthefox]

I have a new Nitto M18 front rack for sale if interested.

F

[nash]

You're going to want to look at weight capacity to give you a ballpark for what the rack can safely carry. The nittos do not have very big load carrying capabilities if I remember correctly. But one thing you can is use a nitto rack and run the wald basket struts down to mid fork eyelets or fender eyelets. That's what I've done with my velo orange rack and it increases the sturdiness. There are pics on rivendells site of this too.

[Ken Robb]

A rear rack and a huge saddlebag worked well for me on my Riv Allrounder. Then I replaced the rack with fenders and the rear one supports the bag fine too. I stiffen the the bottom of the bag by inserting a piece of coroplast cut from an old open house sign.

[blakcloud]

I have Nitto Mark's rack and I have owned two of the Gamoh's and without a doubt if you are carrying anything of weight the porteur rack is the way to go. Every time I go to carry something slightly heavy I kick myself for going to Mark's Rack and Wald basket set up because of how unstable it is. I also tried the Wald basket with the struts and no rack and if you are carrying anything heavier than a box of Kleenex you are in for a nice surprise.

[TunaAndBikes]

I have Nitto Mark's rack and I have owned two of the Gamoh's and without a doubt if you are carrying anything of weight the porteur rack is the way to go. Every time I go to carry something slightly heavy I kick myself for going to Mark's Rack and Wald basket set up because of how unstable it is. I also tried the Wald basket with the struts and no rack and if you are carrying anything heavier than a box of Kleenex you are in for a nice surprise.

Well that settles it!
Thanks!!

[adamhell]

whatever you do, don't put a basket on the M12. it will break. it's for supporting a bag that's already supported by a decaleur.

i use a nitto 32f and a nitto M18 on two different bikes, both with baskets. on their own, they sway quite a bit, but if you use a john's irish strap or some paracord run through the loop of the basket and over the handlebars (& tighten), this will take some of the load off the rack and make it more secure. the irish strap is ideal because it has that mechanism that helps you cinch it down tight.

however, if you want to carry large loads, just get a porteur rack. the nittos are great for carrying a small lock, some lunch, a kombucha, and a sweater. you can push it but it's not great.

[TunaAndBikes]

however, if you want to carry large loads, just get a porteur rack. the nittos are great for carrying a small lock, some lunch, a kombucha, and a sweater. you can push it but it's not great.

I don't want to be limited by what i'll carry up front, even though this is indeed what it will carry 85% of the time, trading kombucha for my coffee mug though, I'm not at all that artisanal!

[adamhell]

I don't want to be limited by what i'll carry up front, even though this is indeed what it will carry 85% of the time, trading kombucha for my coffee mug though, I'm not at all that artisanal!

i've definitely pushed it with my nitto racks and gotten like 25lbs of crap in them. it was slightly precarious, but i rarely do that and the minimal weight of the racks is really nice. i kinda feel like the weight up front negatively affects a bike's handling before it compromises the rack. & you gotta always be portaging something heavy to make sure the heavy duty porteur is worth it.

[TunaAndBikes]

i've definitely pushed it with my nitto racks and gotten like 25lbs of crap in them. it was slightly precarious, but i rarely do that and the minimal weight of the racks is really nice. i kinda feel like the weight up front negatively affects a bike's handling before it compromises the rack. & you gotta always be portaging something heavy to make sure the heavy duty porteur is worth it.
I might not always have heavy stuff in, but my usual grocery is pretty heavy and as that will be the main use of having a front rack on this bike, I think i prefer having the security of a full porteur rack.
It might still feel flimsy, fork's more than likely to start wobbling before the rack, so someone here might have a killer rack for a good deal! :p

[adamhell]

fwiw,
nitto 32F filled with:

about 20 huge bananas
a large box of coconut water
a thing of tofu
a thing of jackfruit
a large hummus
a LB of strawberries
almond butter
blackberry preserves
salad dressing
my portable coffee mug (full of coffee)
my bike lock
my sweater
some straps & bungees
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h184/adamleibow/36A3B8A4-7874-4682-9C05-3B8A82F896E6_zps5r6z809d.jpg

and i think you could get away with even more.

[ColonelJLloyd]

Velo Orange rack and Wald basket.

https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8473/8132525925_1a149525db_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/doDjCe)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/doDjCe) by ColonelJLloyd (https://www.flickr.com/photos/51002114@N03/), on Flickr

[Coaster]

I've been happy with my Paul Flatbed rack. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but I think it looks cool on my around town bike and it has been pretty solid.

[TunaAndBikes]

Velo Orange rack and Wald basket.

https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8473/8132525925_1a149525db_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/doDjCe)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/doDjCe) by ColonelJLloyd (https://www.flickr.com/photos/51002114@N03/), on Flickr

I'm liking your style!

[TunaAndBikes]

fwiw,
nitto 32F filled with:

about 20 huge bananas
a large box of coconut water
a thing of tofu
a thing of jackfruit
a large hummus
a LB of strawberries
almond butter
blackberry preserves
salad dressing
my portable coffee mug (full of coffee)
my bike lock
my sweater
some straps & bungees
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h184/adamleibow/36A3B8A4-7874-4682-9C05-3B8A82F896E6_zps5r6z809d.jpg

and i think you could get away with even more.

It does look pretty full and like a nice setup, although chances are i'm going to party like Colonel pal.
Throw in a a blanket and lunch and have a picnic machine.
I'm set on my idea, i'll update if i don't hate it! If i do hate it, i'll update as well. Pics to come!