Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => The Knowledge => Topic started by: bikenerd on 11 April, 2008, 11:10:02 am
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Does anyone know of anyone / anywhere that can make custom racks? As in luggage carrying racks, rather than Sheffield Stands.
I'd like a couple made for my Moulton as I'm not too enamoured with those currently available and I can provide CAD drawings of what I'd like.
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Longstaffs in north Staffordshire make custom racks for their trikes. Robin Mather (sp?) also makes custom racks for his bicycles.
The cost, I suspect, will be astronomic! I'd expect a skilled fabrication company to charge waaaaay over £30 an hour for a job like that.
I bought a little pipe bender (8mm and 10mm) off eBay for a tennner and some aluminium hollow tube from B&Q to try and make a rack myself once. It didn't work, but it was a nice way to spend a weekend. Could you make up something yourself and take it to an engineering place and say "Braze that, please." ?
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I'd be interested in this if you find a source.
I'd like a front carrier for the touring bike that has a rack on the top of it, rather than the low riders it has now. I know it puts the weight a bit higher but I could carry tons more shite with me!
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I'd be interested in this if you find a source.
I'd like a front carrier for the touring bike that has a rack on the top of it, rather than the low riders it has now. I know it puts the weight a bit higher but I could carry tons more shite with me!
Take a look at the Nitto racks that on-one sell.
(their website looks to be mid-redesign, so you may have to ask).
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Doug Pinkerton does custom racks for Moultons and has done a convertable tandem Moulton. He sounds like a good bloke to start with, based near Redditch.
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Doug Pinkerton does custom racks for Moultons and has done a convertable tandem Moulton. He sounds like a good bloke to start with, based near Redditch.
Indeed, I was going to suggest Doug - I have his number and address etc if you PM me.
Rob
(and Hi! Dave in Oz)
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http://www.robinmathercycles.co.uk/
But you have to by a bike to go with it!
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I bought a little pipe bender (8mm and 10mm) off eBay for a tennner and some aluminium hollow tube from B&Q to try and make a rack myself once. It didn't work, but it was a nice way to spend a weekend. Could you make up something yourself and take it to an engineering place and say "Braze that, please." ?
Gordy, in what way did making your own rack not work?
I have a couple of contacts who may be able to do some brazing for me so this could be a possibility. I think the tubing would have to be cromoly to be brazed though?
Thanks! :thumbsup:
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You can braze aluminium - it's just a bit more difficult than steel.
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I bought a little pipe bender (8mm and 10mm) off eBay for a tennner and some aluminium hollow tube from B&Q to try and make a rack myself once. It didn't work, but it was a nice way to spend a weekend. Could you make up something yourself and take it to an engineering place and say "Braze that, please." ?
Gordy, in what way did making your own rack not work?
My brazing snapped... I bought some rods (again an eBay thing) that purported to be for aluminium brazing at blow-torch temperatures. But it was just too difficult for an unskilled person (me) to get a smooth, strong braze in hollow tube. I bought a beautiful Nitto front rack from On One in the end, which is a work of art in comparison to my scorched and spattered efforts. A broken rack on my once-a-year tour would ruin my plans for months. It's not worth it.
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I remember seeing a web page where some one made their own racks using bolts and nuts instead of brazing or welding, although I can't seem to find it now.
edit: found it http://www.bicyclinglife.com/HowTo/HeavyDutyRacks.htm
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I'd be interested in this if you find a source.
I'd like a front carrier for the touring bike that has a rack on the top of it, rather than the low riders it has now. I know it puts the weight a bit higher but I could carry tons more shite with me!
Like this? (http://thelazyrandonneur.blogspot.com/2007/11/surly-nice-front-rack.html)
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Could check what other smallwheel manufacturers sell like Bike Friday (http://www.foldingbikes.co.uk/bf_racks.htm).
(http://home.iprimus.com.au/kenhall/bike_friday/P1010002_1.jpg)
Dahon or Bromton should aso have something that could work if you bodge it!
Lots of builders in the states as custom racks are the latest vouge but they will cost an arm and a limb.
Alex Wetmore have good instructions and pictures on how to braze your own (http://blogs.phred.org/blogs/alex_wetmore/archive/tags/Rack+Building+Basics/default.aspx)!
:thumbsup:
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Alex Wetmore have good instructions and pictures on how to braze your own (http://blogs.phred.org/blogs/alex_wetmore/archive/tags/Rack+Building+Basics/default.aspx)!
Thanks for the link. I've been told by Mrs Nerd that under no circumstances am I allowed to get welding / brazing kit. :( ;)
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Alex Wetmore have good instructions and pictures on how to braze your own (http://blogs.phred.org/blogs/alex_wetmore/archive/tags/Rack+Building+Basics/default.aspx)!
Thanks for the link. I've been told by Mrs Nerd that under no circumstances am I allowed to get welding / brazing kit. :( ;)
Oh that was yesterday, before she saw what our neighbours had brazed in their garden shead....
(http://lh3.google.com/_B2016Yt17zI/Rs2DGC7cxII/AAAAAAAAA10/eFnAz5aYoyk/s800/DSC03164.JPG)
You can do it! ;D
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Excellent. What did they use for the tyres?