On Sunday, June 19, 2016 at 3:56:14 PM UTC-6, dstein wrote: > > Very unfortunate to hear and glad you're ok. That definitely makes me > nervous. When you say fork crown strut/tang, are you referring to the 2 > struts that connect to the top of the fork crown like here > <http://oceanaircycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/10.28-Marks-Rack-WP-1140800.jpg> > or > the single (flimsier) tange that connects to the centerpull brake bolt like > this <https://www.pinterest.com/pin/21814379422044040/>. > > Are using fork crown bolts any more stable than the single centerpull bolt? > > I'm referring to the single flat tang -- the flimsy one with the channel in it http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/rh1-20219.htm -- that runs from the rack to the fork crown hole. The VO Porteur rack uses the same lame 3-point connection (a similar tang with holes in it as well as the two dropout eyelet connectors). Ocean Air has their act together and mentioned the problem in this post: http://oceanaircycles.com/2013/10/18/upper-porteur-mounting/ . That's the best way to handle the problem but the other way is to rig p-clamps to each side of the fork instead (a little lower down) somewhat like the "updated" factory set-up on the Soma Deluxe Porteur Rack: http://ep.yimg.com/ay/yhst-3773699254952/soma-porteur-rack-stainless-steel-8.gif . Click on that photo for detail and you'll see the same tang design as the M18 or VO Porteur. If that sucker breaks due to flex, guess where that rack would be going without the side fork "interface" to hold onto it? Yup, straight foward! According to a source at VO, he's only seen two breakages in 5 years -- almost certainly due to the bending involved in aligning the tang to connect with the fork crown hole. Two incidents are two too many but I'm sure there are others that haven't been reported. Have at look at the illustrative photo in this blog post to see the contortions sometime necessary to get things aligned: http://velo-orange.blogspot.ca/2014/02/porteur-rack-versatility.html (sixth photo down, click on it for detail). Once bent like that -- and my M18 tang also needed to be bent some -- the tang/strut section right behind the two rack bolts is where the flexing and stress occurs. *That's where my tang broke.* With only a little prodding on my part, VO updated their Porteur Rack page to include links to both the Surly rack kit and the p-clamps: http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/vo-porteur-rack.html . Apparently this fix was mentioned earlier this year in a blog post: http://velo-orange.blogspot.ca/2016/04/buy-cheap-stuff-go-camping-mount-racks.html . Now get this -- the VO Porteur Rack is rated as holding a maximum payload of 50lbs!! I wouldn't trust it with a 15lb dry bag if a single (heavily bent) tang was holding things together as per normal. Keep in mind that the generous/obscene rating is for the standard rack with no extra beef-up using the Surly kit and the p-clamps or direct fork eyelet connections. I think the main problem here is that most riders simply don't use their bikes enough to have things go tits up. Here's a classic example: http://velo-orange.blogspot.ca/2016/05/raw-camargue-shredeur-mtb-history.html . Note that the hotdog riding/"having fun" on that bike has got an empty front rack. Try doing the same thing with a loaded (50lbs?!) Porteur rack and carry on for 1000 miles over bumpy trails (or bumpy pavement for that matter). Oh, *be sure to check your life insurance coverage before doing so*. Cass Gilbert of Whileoutriding -- who actually rides his bikes a great deal -- had a Porteur rack installed and pointed out the shaky nature of the 3-pointed beast: http://www.whileoutriding.com/gear-reviews/gear/review-velo-orange-porteur-rack . Nice looks but no brawn.
*No pics, Lungimsam.* I have the rack still mounted with straps wrapped around my dry bag and handlebars and will be using the broken rig for relatively-safe nearby steep hill climbs with little speed involved. I've been training for a trip down the GDMBR and have to use what I have until a replacement VO Porteur rack shows up with the Surly rack kit and some p-clamps. I have a Revelate Designs harness but the 15lbs is near its limit and I find the harness crowds the bars too much since I have a couple of feedbags there as well. I actually like the feel of the front load a little lower and a rack does that. Keep safe out there! I'm still a little shaken up after realizing what could have happened at a greater speed.... -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
