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So I am planning on commuting to work and want to use my mountainbike (Bird TR10) to carry laptop and change of clothes and need advice on suitable racks. I went off the halfords and bought a Pannier Disk Rack Turns out I dont have seat tube threaded holes which I see are on my road bike to fit to. So this isn't going to work so was returned.
Anyone have helpful suggestions on a good rack that doesn't cost the earth and will fit. Hopefully you can see from this link what the rear triangle looks like on my Bird hardtail. Bird TR10 (Tip: Use back button if opening images)
Cheers.
P clips
or seatpost rack?
rucksac?
Handlebar bag?
Bikepacking type seat pack?
frame bag?
Google pannier seatppst clamp and go back to halfords to buy the rack again.
Not sure if it will fit your frame. But you may be able to use a seat clamp like this
You might then be able to use that rack
Thule pack n pedal or Topeka tetra rack both strap onto seat stays. One of those might fit although both are pricy.
SJS sell both and may be able to advise.
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/rear-rack/?page=2
The weight is taken by the axel, so you can always bodge a seatpost clamp, or better till the P Clips.
I'm commuting 26 mile return on the canal on my 90's MTB, but it's got tonnes of mounts. Laptop goes in the pannier, but within a shock proof wallet (about £20 off Amazon).
The seat post clamp with rack mounts work really well and very cheap
What you need is another bike. Perfect excuse.
P-clips work great and are super cheap. Preferable to threaded eyelets in the frame IMO, as I've had bolts stick in those after a salty winter.
not sure if you have a full-sus or a hardtail. If you've got enough seatpost (non dropper) then a topeak beam rack works well, and your stuff stays less shaken than something strapped to the suspended part of your frame.
As other say, either P-clips or seatpost clamp
Thule Pack N Pedal are good too but tbh for a hardtail a regular rack goes on and off easier
Thanks for all the advice and ideas folks. Thought I would update to see what I went for in the end for those also considering. The fact the seat stay tubing didn't have the threaded bolt holes, which my road bike has, was the most difficult part of getting the rack to fit.
This is what I did in the end.
Bike Rack - Bike Rack
Seat Post Clamp - Seat Post Clamp
P Clips - P Clips
Had it all fitted lovely then tried it out and feet were hitting the bag. Had to move it back as far as possible. This is probably due to the short chain stay length.
https://www.axiomgear.com/products/racks/streamliner-racks/streamliner-disc-dlx/
Best rack I've ever used on a disc mtb and a disc road bike. Both frames had lower fixings so didn't need the axle mount. Throws kit right back out of the way.
I fitted a Thule pack n pedal to my Scott genius 920 as although I have a dropout mount, its meant for a full mudguard/pannier system and theres nothing in the seat tube/stay bridge area for a second fixing. I couldnt get a hold of the proper racktime system at the time. So this seemed the simpler solution.
One thing to note is the Thule is only a rack, and to stop the panniers hitting the spokes you need to fit the Thule side frames which is another 30 odd quid.
Another thing is the mounts appear to be better suited to rounder shaped seat stays and mine are square so at some point in the future im going to need to shape some rubber triangular shaped adaptors to better seat the mounting points against the stays. I'm not sure what shape the Topeak ones are, but they sit ok currently and i've had a fair weight in them so they arent moving or doing anything untoward.
I think the topeak is cheaper than the Thule, and since buying I saw a few on ebay sell for a lot less than I paid typically, so maybe £40 will get you one of those 2nd hand.
Check the manufacturers site as theres different models for Front/Back mtb or road.
Yep, seatpost clamp mount and P-clips work fine here too (mk1 Switchback).