bendo
Viscount
Posts: 538 
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Post by bendo on Feb 19, 2017 14:19:33 GMT
 New Victor rear rack by 弁慶, on Flickr I thought it time to return Victor to his English orthodoxy regarding portaging, i.e. putting it all on the rear wheel. The up front, French-style portaging is all well-and-good but I felt it was time for a change. So back on go his original bars (which TBH I'm a bit worried about because they're such lightweight alloy, I better replace them soon...) and original 70s white plastic handgrips. But instead of the old rack, I've put on a very minimal rack I used to have on the Jo Routens. Amazingly it reaches over the 27" wheel to the dropout eyelets. These racks were designed to bolt onto the mudguard directly in two places. But Victor's mudguards are pretty light and flexy so What to do?  New Victor rear rack by 弁慶, on Flickr Then I had the bright idea of attaching it to the brake bolt using a length of ordinary galvanised steel band. Easy to cut, easy to bend and already drilled. The bolt here is very short and attaches to a nut underneath the band. I've avoided drilling a hole in the mudguard until later when I'm absolutely certain of the placement.  New Victor rear rack by 弁慶, on Flickr The second tab I've just left as is. The leather coverings are to stop the panniers rattling.  New Victor rear rack by 弁慶, on Flickr The panniers are my old Ostrich ones, but I found the leather straps stretched and broke where they had holes punched. So I just bought some cheap carabiners from an outdoors shop. They're longer lasting and also quicker to get on and off. b |
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Post by kickstandman on Feb 19, 2017 18:14:58 GMT
Fine setup, aesthetically very pleasing. I've started using 40 spoke rims on the back wheel. I have had so much trouble with bikes, I end up carrying loads and on 36 spoke wheels, I have had plenty of small problems.
Even though it is not as pleasing to the eye, I've certainly carried a lot on the front with a front basket if it works with the handlebars. The weight distribution on the bike seems satisfactory.
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bendo
Viscount
Posts: 538
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Post by bendo on Feb 19, 2017 21:14:28 GMT
Thanks! One unintended consequence about using a rack as light as this is that it can't take too much of a load, so I have to be thoughtful about what I take.
What sort of troubles? Broken spokes?
In Melbourne of lat I've noticed the porteur rack is starting to go mainstream. It seems to be a good solution for a lot of people: load on over the front where they can see it and a big flat platform that's very flexible in terms of the kind of loads it can handle.
Baskets are great! I always have one on the Spacemaster. b
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Post by triitout on Feb 20, 2017 1:49:40 GMT
Just repurposed my Gran Touring for some attempt at commuting, at least to my local pool and I'm still working on a good, safe route to work once the days get longer and warmer. Put on an old Blackburn that used to be attached to my mt bike and a child seat for my daughter. She's 20 years old now so that's done. Dug up a previously gifted set of 1980's Cannondale Overland panniers. Took the maiden voyage to the pool today and it seems to be working well. Bendo, once again the Victor looks great. It's always part of the fun to repurpose these Viscounts!  DSCN1079 by Michael Pitzer, on Flickr  fullsizeoutput_48c by Michael Pitzer, on Flickr  fullsizeoutput_48a by Michael Pitzer, on Flickr |
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bendo
Viscount
Posts: 538
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Post by bendo on Feb 20, 2017 7:53:22 GMT
Bendo, once again the Victor looks great. It's always part of the fun to repurpose these Viscounts! You can say that again! It's like having a new bike. Love that saddle! b |
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