Show me bikes with racks that don't look nerdy
07-24-24, 10:36 AM
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Show me bikes with racks that don't look nerdy
I totally get the value of both front and rear racks for anything from commuters to grocery getters to full-on tourers. I get it. But most bikes I see with racks look ... utilitarian at best?
(EDIT: OK, I tried to sugarcoat it, but what I meant was *just bad* ... most bikes with racks on them look pretty crappy. But it doesn't have to be that way.)
So I'm looking for some inspiration here: bikes with front and/or rear racks that look great with them. Whatcha got?
(EDIT: OK, I tried to sugarcoat it, but what I meant was *just bad* ... most bikes with racks on them look pretty crappy. But it doesn't have to be that way.)
So I'm looking for some inspiration here: bikes with front and/or rear racks that look great with them. Whatcha got?
Last edited by denaffen; 07-25-24 at 07:09 AM.
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07-24-24, 10:45 AM
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Show me bikes with racks that Do look nerdy, so I can better understand your request.
Attractive appearance is subjective, you know.
Attractive appearance is subjective, you know.
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07-24-24, 10:49 AM
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07-24-24, 10:56 AM
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I totally get the value of both front and rear racks for anything from commuters to grocery getters to full-on tourers. I get it. But most bikes I see with racks look ... utilitarian at best? So I'm looking for some inspiration here: bikes with front and/or rear racks that look great with them. Whatcha got?
Of, relating to, or in the interests of utility.
Exhibiting or stressing utility over other values.
Of, characterized by, or advocating utilitarianism.
Let me think... Any rack that does not look utilitarian is just a poser. Yep!
Denaffen, you might want to consider another thread like I am considering a strong, good looking rack for my (?) bike...
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07-24-24, 11:00 AM
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I totally get the value of both front and rear racks for anything from commuters to grocery getters to full-on tourers. I get it. But most bikes I see with racks look ... utilitarian at best?
So I'm looking for some inspiration here: bikes with front and/or rear racks that look great with them. Whatcha got?
So I'm looking for some inspiration here: bikes with front and/or rear racks that look great with them. Whatcha got?
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07-24-24, 11:01 AM
#6
I totally get the value of both front and rear racks for anything from commuters to grocery getters to full-on tourers. I get it. But most bikes I see with racks look ... utilitarian at best?
So I'm looking for some inspiration here: bikes with front and/or rear racks that look great with them. Whatcha got?
So I'm looking for some inspiration here: bikes with front and/or rear racks that look great with them. Whatcha got?
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07-24-24, 11:09 AM
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utilitarian /yoo͞-tĭl″ĭ-târ′ē-ən/ adjective
Of, relating to, or in the interests of utility.
Exhibiting or stressing utility over other values.
Of, characterized by, or advocating utilitarianism.
Let me think... Any rack that does not look utilitarian is just a poser. Yep!
Denaffen, you might want to consider another thread like I am considering a strong, good looking rack for my (?) bike...
Of, relating to, or in the interests of utility.
Exhibiting or stressing utility over other values.
Of, characterized by, or advocating utilitarianism.
Let me think... Any rack that does not look utilitarian is just a poser. Yep!
Denaffen, you might want to consider another thread like I am considering a strong, good looking rack for my (?) bike...
But I'm sure that there are plenty of folks who've incorporated racks and enjoyed the utility while also finding a path to making them aesthetically pleasing, too.
I thought I was pretty clear up front that I didn't intend to dump on anyone's choice of using racks -- quite the opposite -- but clearly I failed at that. I'm just looking for the folks who're out there doing it so much better than I've ever managed to do.
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07-24-24, 11:35 AM
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Tubus rack on custom kirk
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07-24-24, 11:52 AM
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One of the things that makes French randonnée bikes more elegant is that the racks are designed to sit directly over the fenders. In fact, many of the French racks I have used have mounting holes and brackets that allow the rack to bolt to and support the fender. It makes for a clean look, with more strength than the separated modern designs.
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07-24-24, 12:27 PM
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07-24-24, 12:38 PM
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07-24-24, 12:39 PM
#15
Not nerdy.
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07-24-24, 12:44 PM
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07-24-24, 12:47 PM
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07-24-24, 12:59 PM
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https://bluelug.com/bike-catalog/9725/
and a Surly Disc Trucker 46cm built by Blue Lug (Japan):
https://bluelug.com/bike-catalog/6047/
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07-24-24, 01:04 PM
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They don't look nerdy until you add a milk crate or kitty litter buckets.
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07-24-24, 01:15 PM
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Someone mentioned the German Tout-Terrain bikes recently and I was struck by the elegance of their integrated rear racks.
I checked to see if they'd done something similar up front on their touring models, be they're just regular racks.
E-bikes, probably because weight is less of a problem, have some nice designs with integrated racks as well.
I checked to see if they'd done something similar up front on their touring models, be they're just regular racks.
E-bikes, probably because weight is less of a problem, have some nice designs with integrated racks as well.
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07-24-24, 01:16 PM
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07-24-24, 01:39 PM
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07-24-24, 01:57 PM
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07-24-24, 02:03 PM
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Someone mentioned the German Tout-Terrain bikes recently and I was struck by the elegance of their integrated rear racks.
I checked to see if they'd done something similar up front on their touring models, be they're just regular racks.
E-bikes, probably because weight is less of a problem, have some nice designs with integrated racks as well.
I checked to see if they'd done something similar up front on their touring models, be they're just regular racks.
E-bikes, probably because weight is less of a problem, have some nice designs with integrated racks as well.
Paul, I think you're onto something there. I think the bikes with very slim, elegant racks (like the Randonneur above and some others here) can retain their classiness. But the ones with chunkier aluminum racks struggle more. Integrating the chunkiness, even with matching paint, helps, I think.
That Schwinn is an exception to my theory. It looks pretty sweet, even with the chunkier rack.
Other things I think make a big difference:
- how well the rack is installed. I think as low and level as possible is better
- Quality of the mounting hardware. Cheap brackets look cheap.
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