Any tips on getting the rear rack to not slope backward?
The arms are nearly at their shortest possible point. I’ve read that you can trim the backs of the arms to make them shorter, but given that these are rigid arms, I don’t think that makes sense geometrically. Photos of arms and all possible mounting points attached.
by bruin_coffee
21 Comments
To follow up: not a huge issue for me, but aesthetically and (slightly) functionally, I’d like it to sit level
You can buy straight rack stays, instead of pre-bent ones. Or you can try to “lessen” the bend of the ones you currently have.
If you loosen all the bolts a smidge and gently bend the front rack stays to have less of an angle, that’d probably work.
Cut bars, bend out a little. Sorted.
Can you flip those two braces connected to the seat stays?
Cut several inches off the arms with an angle grinder.
Bend the arms and reattach them until rack is flat.
https://preview.redd.it/qd1s4yf15t8g1.png?width=905&format=png&auto=webp&s=a805067b36b9a304e1a95a256e0ca4e4e156bc9f
flat bars.. just bend them
I’m on team cut the back of the stays down a bit. It will allow you to insert them further into the rack, letting the rack come forward and level.
Do this:
https://preview.redd.it/yytlo6dg6t8g1.png?width=984&format=png&auto=webp&s=a50993c6d8c4c9b5fa5a5dcffd30f210ec4879f1
I would also try using the other frame mounting points and/or flipping the brackets upside down to see if any those combinations levels it out. Good luck!
You can get it with just bending if you don’t have any cutting tools on hand. Lessen the bend in the stays, flex or bend them under that bar they’re close to hitting.
The ideal tool to cut those aluminum stays is a hacksaw or boltcutter. You can make do by deeply scoring them with a knife and bending back and forth till they snap.
Here’s an alternative solution…
Salsa and some other brands (sunlite comes to mind) make rack mounts that either 1) replace your seatpost collar and add mounting points, or 2) clamp to your seatpost and add mounting points.
One of those collars, combined with flipping those struts upside down, will get you a lot closer to level.
The simplest solution is to replace the seatstay struts.
I’m thinking the cost of either solution will be similar.
I personally aim for level to slightly tilted towards the rider.
Straighten the arms. Cut shorter if necessary. Leaving them bent exposes you to a slight risk that under heavy load they could bend further and shift your panniers forward.
Seat post clamp mount could work. Salsa makes them.
I like the mono stay
Flip the rack arms so they bend up. You might need to do some bespoke bending to make the rack level while clearing the brake.
Did you try mounting the legs in the bolt hole further toward the back? That’s where I would start. I don’t think that’ll give you a perfectly flat rack but I think it’s clear that using the forward bolt hole is exacerbating the tilt unnecessarily. Good luck 👍🏼
The piece with the bend, can that be flipped over and reinstalled?
My stays (which are stainless and about 1.25mm thick) were easy to bend straighter by just stepping on them (off the bike, of course.)
When you buy these racks they forget to mention that there may be some “fabrication necessary”
Picture 3.. those are upside down.