Luggage carrier

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A rear rack mounted on a bicycle for road use. Bicycle rack.JPG
A rear rack mounted on a bicycle for road use.
A porteur-style front rack and rear rack with panniers on a utility bicycle. Large front rack on a bicycle.jpg
A porteur-style front rack and rear rack with panniers on a utility bicycle.

A luggage carrier, also commonly called a (bicycle)rack, [1] [2] is a device attached to a bicycle to which cargo or panniers can be attached. This is popular with utility bicycles and touring bicycles.

Contents

Bicycle luggage carriers may be mounted on the front or rear of a bicycle. The rear mount is more common. Racks on the front are mostly reserved for utility and cargo bikes. A special type of front rack is a low rider which is mainly used for bicycle touring.

The term luggage carrier can also refer to a device with two wheels used to wheel luggage or something of similar weight from one place to another, similar to a dolly (hand truck) but lighter and usually able to be folded up.

Mounting

Bicycles may have eyelets, tapped with a standard thread, at the dropouts on the rear chainstays, and on the front fork blades. Mounting a bike rack is possible without these eyelets, but requires additional hardware. A style of rack clamps only to the seatpost, does not require eyelets or additional hardware, but has a limited capacity.

Luggage carriers can be mounted on recumbents and on folding bicycles, but may require customization or additional hardware. Additionally, specialized or customized luggage carriers are often required on bicycles with (rear) disc brakes or full suspension.

A common type of child seat designed for carrying an infant on a bicycle mounts to a rear luggage carrier. [3] Some models of child seat are not attached to a luggage carrier but are fixed to the seat tube.

Some luggage carriers come in more than one size to accommodate different sized frames. A common variation is for there to be a different model for road bicycles and mountain bikes.

Capacity

Rear-mounted luggage carriers are typically designed and tested for a maximum load of 25 kg (55lb), some models even for up to 40 kg (90lb). For front-mounted carriers, a typical design load limit might be 2×10 kg (2 × 20lb). Most luggage carriers are not designed to withstand the weight of an adult person.

Construction

Luggage carriers are commonly constructed from aluminum, steel, or some combination of the two. Components may consist of tubing, extrusions, or castings. They may be welded, riveted, or bolted together.

Panniers may be mounted to front and rear luggage carriers. Removable panniers hook onto the top edge of the carrier and then are held in place by a spring or elastic cord that hooks near the wheel axle at the bottom. Some luggage carriers have an extra, lower, rail to hang panniers on, this provides better stability and more space on the platform.

Some bikes, such as longtail bicycles, porteur bicycles, or the Dutch typical transportfiet, may be built with an integrated front or rear luggage carrier. These are usually tested to a higher weight capacity.

In Europe, it is common for rear racks to have a mounting point for a reflector or rear light. It is common for the mounting point to have 2 holes which fits M5 bolts, spaced 50 or 80 mm (2″ or 3″) apart. [4]

Standards

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cargo bike</span> Human powered vehicle to carry goods

A cargo bike is a human powered vehicle designed and constructed specifically for transporting loads. Cargo bike designs include a cargo area consisting of an open or enclosed box, a flat platform, or a wire basket, usually mounted over one or both wheels, low behind the front wheel, or between parallel wheels at either the front or rear of the vehicle. The frame, drivetrain and wheels must be constructed to handle loads larger than those on an ordinary bicycle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Touring bicycle</span> Bicycle designed or modified for touring

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pannier</span> One of a pair of baskets, bags, boxes, or similar containers

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Utility bicycle</span> Bicycle for practical use (commuting, transport)

A utility bicycle,city bicycle, urban bicycle, European city bike (ECB), Dutch bike, classic bike or simply city-bike, is a bicycle designed for frequent very short, very slow rides through very flat urban areas. It is a form of utility bicycle commonly seen around the world, built to facilitate everyday short-distance riding in normal clothes in cold-to-mild weather conditions. It is therefore a bicycle designed for very short-range practical transportation, as opposed to those primarily for recreation and competition, such as touring bicycles, racing bicycles, and mountain bicycles. Utility bicycles are the most common form globally, and comprise the vast majority found in the developing world. City bikes may be individually owned or operated as part of a public bike sharing scheme.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bicycle trailer</span> Cargo accessory for bicycles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xtracycle</span>

Xtracycle is the name of a company and the name commonly used for the variety of load-carrying bicycle, a longtail or a longbike, that results from use of the company's products: the FreeRadical kit, complete long-frame bicycles and associated accessories. Web forums and blogs often use the shorthand Xtrabike, Xtra, or simply X to refer to either the FreeRadical extension or the entire extended bicycle. An Xtracycle may be constructed by modifying an existing bicycle with a Free Radical extension, or by custom-building an extended-tail bicycle frame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bicycle parking rack</span> Device used to park bicycles, not to be confused with a kick stand

A bicycle parking rack, usually shortened to bike rack and also called a bicycle stand, is a device to which bicycles can be securely attached for parking purposes. A bike rack may be free standing or it may be securely attached to the ground or some stationary object such as a building. Indoor bike racks are commonly used for private bicycle parking, while outdoor bike racks are often used in commercial areas. General styles of racks include the Inverted U, Serpentine, Bollard, Grid, and Decorative. The most effective and secure bike racks are those that can secure both wheels and the frame of the bicycle, using a bicycle lock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bicycle basket</span> Bicycle-mounted basket for carrying cargo

A bicycle basket is a bicycle-mounted basket for carrying cargo, usually light cargo. They are usually used for light shopping duties such as going on daily visits to the shops for fresh bread or milk. Baskets are often mounted on the handlebars and made of traditional basket weaving materials such as wicker and cane or even woven plastic that merely looks like wicker or cane. They can also be made of other materials such as metal mesh. Euroboxes or milk crates are also used as bicycle baskets.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of bicycles</span> Overview of and topical guide to bicycles

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to bicycles:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bikepacking</span>

Bikepacking is how a bicycle is packed for bicycle touring. As with backpacking, lightweight packing is a popular topic within bicycle packing. Any kind of bicycle can be used for bikepacking, and specialized touring bicycles often have attachment points from the factory such as low riders and luggage carriers, but most types of bicycles can be equipped with a frame bag, saddle bag, top tube bag and handlebar bag.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Low rider bicycle luggage carrier</span>

A low rider is type of luggage carrier for bicycles on which luggage can be carried with a low center of gravity. Low riders are most commonly used by cycling tourists who carry luggage in panniers on the front wheel.

References

  1. Brown, Sheldon. "Sheldon Brown Glossary: Rack". Sheldon Brown. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  2. "Bicycling Life: Heavy Duty Touring Racks" . Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  3. Blue, Elly (2012). Everyday Bicycling: How to Ride a Bike for Transportation (Whatever Your Lifestyle). Microcosm Publishing. p. 89. ISBN   978-1-62106-725-2.
  4. JustAnotherCyclist (2010), Mounting tail lights on bikes , retrieved 2014-05-08
  5. "Carrying Children on Bicycles - RoSPA". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  6. FAQ - MIK "MIK is an open platform. What does this mean?" "Unlike other solutions, MIK is an open platform system. This means that other brands can be adapted with the MIK system. As an open platform, there’s no limit to the kinds of products you can use to customise your bicycle. Furthermore, you can use accessories from a wide range of different brands."
  7. INFINITY UNIVERSAL SYSTEM - SKS GERMANY
  8. MIK carrier system
  9. MIK Rack System Technology | Giant Bicycles US
  10. Brands that participate with MIK (2023)