Bicycle racks:  an overlook!

Arkel makes incredible panniers, so it is only natural that you would want a rack that is up to par. After all, even the best panniers (Arkel!) can't stop a poorly made rack from making your bike sway like a wet noodle.

Here is a quick look at some of the racks available. This short list is by no means complete nor does it cover the best or the worst. These are all good quality racks and are a good example of what is on the market today (until Arkel comes with its own racks!). If you are using a rack that you believe is worth mentioning, feel free to send us an e-mail and tell us why you think it's a good choice.

 Rear racks

		Beckman Beckman has been building his rear racks for nearly 3 decades. They are elegantly made and very sturdy, but also rather expensive and only available through Beckman (it can take up to a year or more to get one). They have more bells and whistles than any other rack, so be sure you need the feautures beforehand. They offer the longest platform of all racks (along with the Jandd) making it great for bikes with short chainstays.
		Blackburn Arguably the standard by which all others are judged, the Blackburn Expedition has been on the market for a long time, and has been copied time and again. Probably one of the best designs ever, with incredible lateral rigidity paired with low cost. Its drawbacks are the rather short platform, sometimes creating heel clearance problems. Even so, it is still the rack we use most here at Arkel.
		Bruce Gordon Bruce is known for his strong opinions and equally strong bikes. His racks are designed to match that strength. The purist will like the clean lines. This rack doesn't have triangulation but the flawless construction makes it bombproof. The platform is not particularly long so it should only be used with touring bikes that have ample chain stay length. It is rather expensive but it's one of the lightest and most elegant.
		Jandd Expedition The Jandd expedition is a rack with a very long platform making it suitable for bikes with short chainstays and heel clearance problems. The price is right but the weight is also on the portly side making this rack the heaviest of the lot. Side support for the panniers is great and the solid platform makes it easy to load the top. Lateral sway is acceptable even though there's no triangulation.
		Nitto These racks are rare, expensive and quite unique. Some love the look, others don't. Everyone we have heard from that has used this rack liked it. It doesn't have any special or outstanding features, but neither does it have any serious drawbacks. A solid performer if you like the rounded look.
		Old Man Mountain Red Rock We are big fans of OMM racks - they are innovative and made in the U.S. of A. The Red Rock has a long platform with solid top, lots of lateral support for panniers, strong bottom attachment plate and a weight that's just right. The paint is a bit fragile, but not bad by today's standards. The upper attachment system works with brake bosses making it the most bike compatible rack we know of - though sometimes we wish for a more conventional system. The price isn't cheap but worth every penny.
		Old Man Mountain Sherpa This rack fits bikes without bottom nor upper eyelets - instead it relies on a special quick release attachment. The rack is strong, well made and will withstand a lot of abuse. On the other hand, it has one of the shortest platforms and little lateral support for the panniers. It's an awesome rack for mountain bikes with panniers with slim profiles like our XM-40.
		Tubus Cargo Tubus enjoys a reputation for having some of the best racks available. This reputation is well deserved as they have lots going for them. The tubular Cro-Moly construction is a wise choice and the design is sound. It has a medium length platform with a notably open and airy top, and the lateral stability is very good. Rubber caps at the end of the tubes can be lost leading to water seepage inside. The bottom tends to chaff on the panniers, which could wear through the fabric. Probably the rack we recommend most if within budget.
		Headland SideWinder While double suspension bikes can be fitted with Old Man Mountain racks, for lighter loads there's nothing like a seat post rack. The Headland is the strongest we know that allows the use of regular panniers, albeit small ones with a limited load. It's a great rack for short rides or mostly supported tours.

 Front racks

Quick lexicon: High platform (aslo called over-the wheel racks) :   These racks are similar to rear racks with a platform over the wheel. One of the only options for optimum ground clearance if using a mountain bike, but also less stable because of the higher center of gravity. Mid rack :   A rarity, those racks allow to attach the panniers about a quarter of the way down the fork blade. They are usually part of a High platform set-up and allow you to use the panniers a little lower without sacrificing too much ground clearance. Low-rider rack :   The most stable set-up for front panniers and usually the lightest set-up as well. Some allow the bike to be packed in a box without removing them. Not recommended for unpaved roads.
		Beckman Beckman's rack will carry an amazing load but its large size makes it heavier and impossible to pack the bike for transport without removing it. It's a High / Mid rack allowing the use of top loading panniers and still keeping the platform for stuffing more gear. Very expensive and a long waiting time (up a year or more).
		Bruce Gordon This low-rider is the simplest of them all, making BG the preferred choice of purist. Very strong with few things that can go wrong. The hoop means that the rack has to be removed if he bike has to be boxed. Since it's a one-piece design, the rack can be damaged during transport - but it's a super sleek rack.
		Nitto Another fine example of a High-Low rack (in actuality the Low bar isn't at the lowest nor at the Mid position, but somewhere in between). A peculiar setup that is nice for world travelers but might be overkill for most people. Very expensive, and a pain to remove the front wheel for fixing a flat.
		Old Man Mountain AC This rack, while technically a low-rider, sits the panniers higher than a regular low-rider. As such, it fits bikes with 26" wheels very well. The design is the most adjustable low-rider with a hoop we know of. It is deceptively light and adequately robust but the look is a bit busy.
		Old Man Mountain Ultimate The Ultimate can be installed on bikes without eyelets, which makes this rack the only one we know who can do the job well in these circumstances - like on suspension bikes. The clever design allows you to attach the panniers either in a Low position (on-road) or a Mid position (off-road). Good for people touring from paved roads to fire-roads all the time. The look is an eyeful, but the performance is stellar.
		Tubus Duo In our humble opinion the Duo constitutes the best low-rider rack we know of today. The hoop-less design means that the bike can be boxed without removing the rack, but the bike needs dedicated through-the-fork eyelets to install it. The rack is rock stable. Hoop-less also means that should a side be damaged after a crash, it will not affect the other side.
		Tubus Tara Another version for forks without a through eyelet, the Tara has a hoop which means it is necessary to remove the rack for boxing the bike. Thankfully, it is the easiest rack to remove and install as well. We like the airy design but be careful of the many prongs sticking out that can grab clothes. We applaud the open design, which allows trouble free wheel removal.