Long story short I’ve come across this 2019 Norco Threshold Carbon for sale at a price that I feel is far too good to pass up. I’m planning a 3 month bike packing tour through Europe later this year and hoping this bike is the one to take me on this journey. The only frustrating part is it doesn’t have rack mounts and therefore takes a fair bit more diy solutions, the main being the following:
– Using an Ortelieb quick mount rack (https://www.abbotsfordcycles.com.au/product/ortlieb-quick-rack/) – expensive and has a weight limit of 20kg
– adding a seat-post clamp and using my current rack (https://www.99bikes.com.au/seat-post-clamp-carrier-mount-28-6mm) – definitely unsure about the variables here so would love some advice
– get this relatively cheap rack that doesn’t require mounts/eyelits with a supposed 45kg load (https://www.amazon.com.au/Bicycle-Luggage-Aluminum-Mountain-Reflector/dp/B071DPXNZ1/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8&th=1)
Any advice, experience or alternate solutions would be greatly appreciated!
by Breaditorr
9 Comments
I don’t see any eyelets on the second photo, am I missing something?
Your idea of mounting your current rack with a seatpost clamp is wouldn’t work due to the lack of eyelets.
Likewise the Ortlieb Quick Rack is out due to the lack of eyelets near the axel. Ortlieb does sell seatstay adapters that clamp on, but they state these aren’t for use with carbon bikes.
For similar reasons, I wouldn’t recommend the amazon rack for the same reason Ortlieb doesn’t approve their seatstay adapters for carbon bikes. Both systems would be bearing the majority of the weight on the thin carbon seat stays, which likely aren’t designed to be clamped, let alone bare weight.
As far as I’m aware that leaves you with two options: Old Man Mountain and Tailfin.
Old Man Mountain make traditional racks and sell axel mount kits, so the majority of the weight is then on the axel rather than the carbon seat stays (the higher up mounting points don’t matter as much as they are just to stop the rack from rotating).
Tailfin make a really nice rack and pannier/trunk bag system that also mounts to the Axel and is designed specifically for carbon bikes, but they are extremely expensive and you have to buy into their proprietary system.
I’d think seriously about whether carbon is the frame material you want to do this trip on. Unless you’re credit card touring and staying in hotels, 3 months of travel requires a fair amount of gear. You’ll be carrying so much weight it’ll entirely negate the point of having a carbon bike to begin with.
Thresholds are great, I used to own one but sold it for a rig with the necessary bosses for touring.
Why not get a bike meant for bikepacking?
Try Old Man Mountain. I just bought a Divide rack, it mounts to the QR Skewer or Axle. Then, it straps to your fork.
https://oldmanmountain.com
I think you should get a steel bike. However, that ortleib quick rack is supposed to be really good. If you’re doing more credit card packing and won’t be carrying a ton I’d do the quick rack and buy that thing. Looks like a nice bike.
Look up Old Man Mountain for racks. I have it on my bike that had very limited mounting points. It can hold up to 70 pounds (I wouldn’t do that on carbon)
Just completed 1200km with a road bike. Heaps of options for you.
Looks like a nice bike.
I went saddle bag, custom frame bag and handle bar harness.
It seems that you want to add a heavy load to the bike. You would probably have to change the cassette and the chainset to add lower gears.
Fast and light setup – yes, but adding 20+ kg only to the back of this carbon bike – maybe get another bike.
I personally wouldn’t force this bike into bike touring. You’re gonna be way happier not compromising this early. I wouldn’t want to rely on carbon for that and if you’re committing to a big trip, I’d commit to a big bike.