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My bike has lugs for mudguards/rack down by the rear drop-outs, but not in the usual places at the top of the seat-stays.

My two options seem to be:

  • use P-clips around the seat-stays
  • fashion a single bracket extending from the centre of the rack to the bolt-hole on the rear brake bridge

The first option seems easier and less fussy, but perhaps there's another way.

Weiwen Ng
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Daniele Procida
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  • Sunlite racks actually come with a bracket that fits to the brake bolt. I personally prefer p clamps because they allow a higher position, but they can run the paint off even if they are rubber coated – Andrew May 27 '20 at 00:59
  • @Andrew: Wrap rubber or duct tape around the seat stays before you tighten the clamps. – Michael May 27 '20 at 06:05
  • The bracket I made has broken. https://www.topeak.com/global/en/products/99-Replacement-Kit/815-CENTER-BOLT-CLIP looks like a stronger way of uniting the rack with the frame; are there other parts available that do the same job? – Daniele Procida May 20 '21 at 20:37

2 Answers2

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The two options you mention are widely used.

Another option is a seatpost clamp with rack mount points
There are a variety of makers and styles, here is one example.
enter image description here

David D
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  • I have an old steel frame in which the clamp is part of the seat-tube, so the clamp you suggest sadly won't work (otherwise it would have been ideal). – Daniele Procida May 26 '20 at 22:27
  • @DanieleProcida, in that case just make/purchase some shims and clamp around the post only. ¯\(ツ)/¯ – Lamar Latrell May 27 '20 at 10:09
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    @DanieleProcida What is the downside with P clamps? I don't like them because they are ugly and clunky but I'd use them if I had to. Is clamping to the seatpost an option? There are versions of this clamp for seatposts. Old steel frames are wonderful – David D May 27 '20 at 13:19
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You can attach the rack to the brake bridge, yes, any decent bike shop should be able to do that when installing the rack.

Or you buy a rack that clamps to the seat post: the Pletscher quick rack system will attach directly to the seat tube, so no need for the eyelets. https://www.pletscher.ch/index.php/en/products-en/carriers-en/quickrack-carriers-en They carry up to 25 kgs, as other racks.

Or you can go fancy https://www.tailfin.cc/

EarlGrey
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  • A rack which attaches to the brake bridge will be much lighter. For example the Tubus Fly weighs 420g while the Pletscher Athlete is 940g. – Michael May 27 '20 at 06:07
  • @Michael I guess the Pletscher is a bit over-engineered, because it provides the quick removal possibility, with no tools it can be removed simply by releasing the QR and rotting backward and sliding out. – EarlGrey May 27 '20 at 14:40
  • +1, single strut to brake bridge is the right answer. – Nathan Knutson May 28 '20 at 18:10