Interesting.
Chris has done some hack on his to extend it. And he's worked out how to fit a better bag, with zips, on instead of their roll-top one (apparently the side zip doesn't really work well for access). But it's an expensive piece of kit to buy if you then have to mess around with it for usability, and fitting another bag on it doesn't look like it would be that easy.
Good that they have at least recognised the problem of saddle clearance and come up with an extender.
Surprising that lights were only an afterthought. Really should be a core part of it.
Yep, Chris has the original rack + bag. They now make that, plus they make a rack, plus they make a bag with integrated rack.
The original bag design has space for lights, in the form of a ladder thingy on the back to attach lights to. Two of them infact. *BUT* most German approved lights have to be physically attached to the bike, and so don't have a belt clip for This, hence the after market add ons.
Just had a look at Tailfin (beats working!).
I see that they do sell their rack separately from the bag, which might be interesting. £79 so not too bad. And I hadn't realised that the top of their rack was reasonably wide so it would be possible to fit other bags on it.
But their extender and their light mounts only work with their bag, not the rack, so it may be too short (hence why Chris W needed to bodge) and would need to rig up a light mount somehow = not cool. And more bodging would be required to fit another rack pack. Maybe velcro would work along with a bit of estate agent's sign.
I like the rack, but there are a lot of unknowns to get it to work.
Agreed. That's why I went for the bag/rack all in one combo. In ali. Along with the rack mount for the light, just if I feel like going that route. I also have a pair of cateye omni 3 lights, that I intend to fit vertically to the fin.
I'm not sure if it's adjustable but the rack looked quite tall. Given I have a small frame I was thinking that it might stick the bag up in the air and make the bike a bit top heavy.
It is not adjustable on the height stakes. Apart from anything else, a 700c wheel is still a 700c wheel, even on a small frame...
It does throw the bag up at the back compared to the front. Replicating the 'bikepacking bag' look. All the reviews say it's rock solid.
I'm thinking close, but no cigar for me.
Lots of riders were using it on RatN, Including 2 of the women.
Given how badly most luggage that isn't based around a rack goes, for women riders, it's hardly a surprise.
Taking the original Tubus Logo rack as a base point, it's 800g before you add a bag, the tailfin is about 900g all up. Yes the weight may be a little higher than something bungee'd tight to a metal rack, but in reality, I am not sure I'd notice it. You can always pack the heaviest item closest to the front at the bottom.
I'll post a proper review when mine has arrived.
J
