I can't decide if this is genius, or mental..
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tailfin/tailfin-ultra-light-carbon-bike-rack-and-panniers
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff
Tailfin bike rack
(16 posts)-
Posted 7 years ago #
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100% radio rental
Posted 7 years ago # -
Umm. I'll just say I am not in the demographic for that one. The backers seem very keen though?
Posted 7 years ago # -
Pretty bonkers. I wonder how much weight it really saves? Probably easier to throw some water out.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I like the idea of a pannier rack that is securely attached but easily removed. I don't like anything else about this.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I wouldn't say mental, I can see the point of a quick release rack. But carbon? You wouldn't want to leave it attached in the works bike racks, that's for sure, and if you drop the bike it'll be a goner.
An alloy Tortec Velocity rack is only 200g more but is only £19.99. And bombproof, so far.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Many bike panniers put too much weight behind the rear axle. This is no exception.
However... it is carbon so may appeal.In 'LB land' underseat bags or racks can keep weight between wheels which is ideal.
Upright load carriers like to trim weight fore and aft with front low riders. eg Surly / Galaxy style.With a drop bar bike weight can go over front wheel if you get down on drops. Pannier centre line here seems very far back though.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Visible carbon weave overprinted with the word "carbon" is very ten years ago.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I'll stick with my Nelson.
Posted 7 years ago # -
There's a worrying lack of things stopping the pannier from jumping into the spokes.
"Many bike panniers put too much weight behind the rear axle."
Even on my longest-wheelbased bike the seat-stay rack-stays have to be fairly long to stop child-seat occupants having their face rubbed by a backpack or to prevent panniers interfering with heels.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I wonder how much they are producing something for a non-existent problem, whether they are overdesigning for a real market, or whether they are about to produce a niche product for a sizeable, (growing), and reasonably affluent market.
Traditionally panniers have been for touring. This is essentially not for that.
This is clearly for cycle commuters.
To reduce this to simple stereotypes (based on CCEers!) there are those who value mudguards - and generally have bikes that will also take pannier and those keen to spend a grand (and more) on a stripped-down full-on lightweight racer.
(Some people have both switching between winter&summer, rain&shine).
The lightweight racer tends to mean having a bag on the back - advantages/disadvantages/personal choice.
There must be people who would like to add a pannier rack to their bike that is without the normal means of attachment. Mudguards have been produced for frames without eyes.
Pannier racks need something better than a flimsy clip system.
Attaching to the q/r skewer is a smart idea - BOB already has it for trailers -
http://www.bobgear.com/bike-trailers/bob-quick-release
Attaching to the seatpost (probably) makes sense - (extra undesirable stress on a carbon seatpost?)
An easily attached rack makes sense - but also means easy to remove. Will people take it into their offices?
I'm not convinced by the method for attaching the pannier - especially as it can only fit one sort of pannier.
It's a shame the site hasn't been proof-read to standardise the mentions of brake/break!
I was surprised to see that this a UK product - such things more commonly come from the US.
It's from that cycling city Bristol. What are people working on here??
For what it is, it's not outrageously expensive.
I don't know how much the use of carbon makes the product possible and how much it's marketing bonus.
Maybe time for some prototyping!
Posted 7 years ago # -
I think Mark Beaumont has the right idea for touring - keeping the weight central, on the frame, and as low down as possible:
Posted 7 years ago # -
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tor-tec-velocity-alloy-rear-rack-prod20132
Yep, just needs a longer legged version that can attach to a BOB skewer.
Posted 7 years ago # -
We have a Tortec Velocity-equipped bike in the house (not my bike though) and does seem to be a great rack if you've got the attachment points for it. I'm always surprised how little weight it appears to add compared to my hefty Topeak Super Tourist Disc, which appears to contain more metal than most bikes.
Posted 7 years ago # -
An alloy Tortec Velocity rack is only 200g more but is only £19.99. And bombproof, so far.
I have, no, had, said rack and really liked it, although it only lasted about 4 years. The problem was the plastic mounting points of the Ortleib panniers are actually harder wearing than the alloy of the rack, and gradually the lower point wore through one of the struts (I usually cycle only with 1 pannier). When it went, I dealt with the rattle on that side by joining it back together with some "harder than steel" mending tape and started using a pannier on the other side. Same thing started happening so when I replaced the bike I replaced the rack with a more regularly shaped Topeak one. I think the rubbing was exacerbated by the tapered design of the velocity.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"I'll stick with my Nelson"
(or Camper, or other variant)
+1 Steveo, especially using SQR on seatpost
Bombproof and timeless
Posted 7 years ago #
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