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I used to have an MTB and a road bike with pannier mounts however since updating to modern bikes I don't have any pannier mounts on either anymore.
Is this the death of my pannier rack and panniers? I don't really want to spend £££ on bikepacking bags when I've got a rack and bags already and only use them infrequently but I don't know how to mount it without anything to mount to. Any ideas?
There are various racks you can buy that mount to bikes without mounting points so you can continue to use your panniers.
Simplest and cheapest is to use p-clips at the bottom.
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/mudguards/13mm-pclip-rubber-coated-black/
At the top then a seat collar with rack mounting points works well and is very easy to fit.
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/seat-posts/318-mm-mwave-seat-clamp-with-rack-mount/
Or you can get adapters, axles, quick release adaptors etc. Some are her
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/rack-spares/
Or get and Ortileb quick rack that can be moved between most bikes.
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/carriers-racks/ortlieb-quick-rack-black/
Thule and i think Topeak to racks that attach via straps to the rear triangle.
I've the Thule pack 'n' pedal rack which i fitted to a full suss.
pic -
I had a traditional bike p-clip snap years ago so I wonder if the plumbing ones would be better because they have a bit of cushioning
Might be worth visually checking if the racks that you have look like they will work with your current frame. Some old ones maybe don't work well with some modern rear triangles and clearance for 29er wheels etc.
Not sure if the link is working. Try searching the below. Different sizes available
Stainless Steel Rubber Lined P Clips Assorted, 20 Pcs 8mm Pipe Clips
I use a Topeak beam rake. You can see it on my Bromtom on the bike packing thread without the side frame.
https://www.topeak.com/global/en/products/91-Racks
What rack have you got? What are the bikes?
I have one of the first gen Ortlieb Quickracks which I used with the seat stay adapters. Worked fine on my MTB with non-Ortlieb panniers. I've now got a frame with drillings for a rack - but they're too low for me to use my existing Quickrack with the bolt on fittings - not enough tyre/mudguard clearance.
I liked the Quickrack I'd be happy enough buying one of the new bigger ones, selling the old one to partially fund this. Equally, I'd happily use a different rack if it's suitable - so what have you got? Would you consider an exchange?
plus one for p-clips. Super cheap and does the job fine. I wouldn't rely on them if I was doing the TransDivide but if it's just for the odd time you want to add them on it's the way to go. Get a massive box of them for a tenner on Amazon
The Quickrack seatstay adapters do work but they're a pain in the arse to fit.
Might be worth visually checking if the racks that you have look like they will work with your current frame. Some old ones maybe don't work well with some modern rear triangles and clearance for 29er wheels etc.
This is a good point...
P clips - genius! Thankyou, hopefully here lies the solution along with seat post adapter as long as the rack works with a 29er
What rack have I got? No clue, just 'a rack' that I've had for years
Bikes - orange p7 (had wondered about getting some attachment points welded (terminology?) on since it's steel. Road bike is an older carbon one, was looking to update but requiring pannier mounts reduces to a selection of 3 i think. Oh, and the road bike with the rack on at the moment is a very old trek 1000sl which requires new everything pretty much, hence wanting to upgrade to a newer bike
Ortileb quick rack is cool and solves the problem but I dislike the thought of having to chuck my perfectly good existing rack in the canal because noone puts mounts on bikes anymore. Plus it's £100
I've had commuter bikes with racks and p clips since 1997. I've broken 2.
My current commuter has 4 clips for the rack.
The M-Part seat collar adapter is solid, one of those plus a Tubus clamp kit or P-clips is the easiest & cheapest way to do it. Plumbing pipe clamps can also be good for lower eyelets, or plastic pipe cleats.
P clips are OK, not fab. I'd try and get an axel mount bracket. I did the KAW with P Clips and a 'bike light mount' on the seat post to hold my rack in place on a 'race' CX bike - it worked but didn't half flex - would get a right shimmy on really rough stuff. A set of axel mounts would have been way better (Quick release/skewer wheels)
I have a Topeak beamrack, which I like very much as the pack slides on and off easily - but I don't have the fold down pannier version and it would not take old panniers. I also use an Ortlieb Quick Rack on several bikes, My gravel/cross bike has no mounting points, so instead of the Quick Rack Seat Stay kit (which is fussy and a little ugly and I have but not used), I just used two P Clips. Works fine. I commuted 50 miles on Weds and it hasn't missed a beat. My OTHER commuter bike has bosses for a rack, but I like the QR so much, I added another set of mounting lugs and swap the rack over. It's that easy and works like any other rack when mounted.
I'm only carrying a single pannier with a laptop and a few clothes. Not a month's food shopping.