Here are a couple of prototypes I picked up from the metal shop today.
The rack fits on the VO rando frame and can also be used with p-clamps on other frames. It should work with all types of brakes.
The the tube is a rear LED light that can flash or stay lit for about 50 hours. It mounts to the rear dropout eyelet.
I'll have both the rack and light mounted tomorrow and photos soon after. Any thoughts?
23 October, 2006
Prototypes and Ideas
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19 comments:
Kossack,
I like the tail light a lot. It looks more classic than Bruce Gordon's rocketship look. You're getting really close on the rack. Any thought of doing both a sidepull and canti version? I suppose Nitto has the cantis covered.
I'm looking into a very nice stainless steel canti-rack that looks a lot like the Nitto. These are also made in Asia and the price is great. It seems like a better way to go than a canti version of this rack. But they want us to buy a container load, well almost.
Will you be posting some dimensions? I need a front rack which will mount to the low-rider-style mounts on my front fork. It *looks* like your rack is going to mount too high on the fork for me. I think the Berthoud would probably work. I like yours better, but not with p-clamps
I really like the rear light idea but wish it could be refined just a wee bit, ala the (now defunct?) Sogreni light. In particular, I don't care so much for the assymetrical flare tab. Still, it's great thinking and, once they're available, I'll almost certainly make the purchase.
Do you know if anyone in asia makes an attractive headlamp mount that mounts to the side of a front rack? Or would one have to buy a rack with a brazed on mount, like the one Araya uses?
It would be great if someone were to sell something that would work with any of these racks, perhaps small section of stainless tube nice curved with appropriate fixtures on both ends . Or one could just buy another B&M handlebar mount and not bother with another bit of unnecessary fanciness tha is likely to get damaged.
Do you have a photo of this fender mounted lamp? If I can figure out how to fabricate a fender mount for the rivendell rack I'd like to use a headlamp up front, it looks a bit empty with the long 650B fender and no 2nd stay or headlamp ahread of the rack.
Great job! Is there any way to have a variant of the rack made up that bolts on to the centerpull brake studs (rather than using the tab that slips between the fender and the fork crown)? I personally think that type of rack is particularly fetching. /djd
Like Nate, I'm looking for a front bag support that mounts to mid-fork lowrider brazeons. I'm not sure what the top mount would be (I have single-pivot sidepulls). Ideally it would probably be aluminum since I don't need much load capacity--I just want to carry 10 pounds.
By B&M retro, do you mean this headlamp on the Wanderer Wanderer uses, which I believe is round B&M headlamp fitted inside an aluminium shell? It would be about the right size to be mounted on a fender.
So, wait: The rack will fit on the VO randonneur frame--presumably on the lowrider mounts--but not on other bikes' lowrider mounts? Why not? Are the VO mounts that differently placed?
James, I can't be sure,but it looks like the same light.
Ian, The VO Rando frame does not have low rider mounts. It has tabs on the fork like on a Herse:
http://www.reneherse.com/1984-Rene-Herse-Cyclo.html
The issue of fitting various rack mounts doesn't seen that hard. The diagonal would have to be on a pivot at the top and the fork mount would would have to be a clamping device, similar to the top adjustment on a Nitto rear rack. Note, I'm not talking p-clamps, but something that mounts either to brake studs or existing braze-ons. The struts would have to be over-length and be cut to size, but that's not really an issue for this group. Incidently, the photo backgrounds are...well, fetching.
How bright will the tail light be? Does it compare to your average Cateye blinkie?
The light is pretty bright. I'd use it as an only light if caught out at dark on a long ride. But I like to have two blinkies if I know I'll be riding at night.
The only problem I see with this light is the $35 cost. They are hand turned on a lathe.
It should be CNC turned or made on a screw machime. You may want another supplier.
We may try to build a rack with adjustable struts, but right now we have four models of racks we are trying to get produced so R&D expenditures are high. In addition we are looking at importing two models of very nice, but inexpensive, racks that I don't think have been sold in the US.
Plus, my head will explode if I do any more racks.
I agree that P-clamps are not ideal, but for many older racing bikes they are the only solution. If you paint the P-clamps to match the fork,they look a lot better.
philberto, don't knock yourself out. You can get just exactly what you're looking for if you source a Berthoud front rack from Wallingford (www.wallbike.com). No worries.
Hi Chris. FYI, if you decide to sell the retro looking B&M headlight I'll buy one or two. Do you know if it has the standlight feature?
Greg, They are available with, or without, the standlight feature. I was going to try to order some without the standlight today. Any opinions on what I should try to get?
Hi Chris. Emailed you on the @velo-orange.com account. The Lumotec Retro Plus 1706CNDi is the light for me. Retro styling, switched, standlight, famous B&M optics. That would just light up my life. Cheers!
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