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Specifically, one of these:
I'm trying to figure out (without buying one first) whether this rack will fit on a bike that doesn't have straight seat stays. My hardtail's a 2019 Whyte 529 and it's got nice curvy seat stays instead. Like this:
I suspect it won't fit. Anyone reckon otherwise? It's difficult to tell from just pictures alone whether there's any flexibility in the positioning of the 'feet' and ratchet straps, and whether both attachment points (at each side) need to be in line with each other... if that makes sense.
Ta!
No-one got one?
Does that mean they're a bit... erm... shit?
They were quite popular in NZ where they were sold by the original name. Thule then bought them and changed the name so they haven't been around as Thule Tour racks for very long, which might be part of why you aren't getting a lot of information.
Some mates would use them to do XC tours on their FS bikes. Old Ghost Road etc.
Can't remember what they were called though.
Yeah, cheers. They were originally called Freeload racks. I suspect I might just be able to fit one right up at the top of the seat stays at the narrowest part but I think it would then be far too close to the seat post and would end up being angled funny.
Lower part of the seatstays is far too wide for even a normal rack with p-clips.
That only leaves the curvy s-bend bit in the middle, but I don't think the Thule/Freeload rack has any flexibility in the front/back mount points... ie, I think they need to be perfectly inline, or thereabouts.
And there's no other mounting points anywhere on the frame (hence my other thread!) :o)
I've one of these, well a Freeload.
Flexibility is built in- the plastic collars on the frame that the struts bolt to rotate freely, and the end mounting points of the frame, which bolt directly to the mounting brackets have about 20 degrees of rotational movement. the struts are folded from thin steel so seem able to support some twisting to allow the rack to line up suitably. The rubber feet which locate onto the seat stays are fairly wide and flat, so that helps as well.
Fitting instructions are at https://issuu.com/freeload/docs/instructionmanualenglish  if you haven't seen them, explains the part names I've referenced.