#HTE

An Ultralight Rack For Carbon Bikes

Is this carbon road bike rack a good idea? My one person jury is hung.

To use the proper tool for the job is a great guiding principle, but one that people seem to chuck out the second they get a bicycle. Is it wrong that folks try to do triathalons on knobby-treaded mountain bikes, or that be-spandexed weekend warriors want to lug groceries on their twitchy carbon steeds? Of course not, but it’s uncomfortable. And that type of awkward, self-centered, everything-looks-like-a-nail determination is often what fuels human innovation. The Tailfin Rack system is an interesting, inventive and stymying solution to just such an avoidable need: a lightweight pannier rack that fits even super lightweight road bikes.

The apparent pros: the Tailfin’s form and attachments appear simple, secure and quite sexy, as racks go. Carbon does keep weight down, at ~9.7oz total, and keeps integrity up with a maximum load of 40lbs. The frame attachment system avoids common fit and stress issues by mounting to a proprietary skewer instead of the frame. And by anchoring to the seat post with a single hinged stay, it stays more versatile than most road racks. It’s quick to mount, and looks like it would fit a decent array of mid-size frame types.

The Tailfin rack works with the company’s carbon-stiffened proprietary bags, but you can add extending pins to use other brands of (Ortlieb style) bags too. The strength, security and design of these pins is a little vague, but the attachment position seems traditional.

The cons: it’s difficult to tell whether the mounting systems are secure enough to avoid wobbling or destabilizing weight shift when the bags are loaded. It’s also hard to see if the bags mount far enough back to avoid heel interference. And on larger bikes, the top stay looks… a bit aftermarket. 

But first, last and foremost: racing bikes aren’t made for this. It’s explicitly not their job to hold anything more than your sweaty body, and forcing them to do so often creates serious issues, from unstable rides, to failing rear wheels, to serious frame damage from rub or load. This design skirts around some of these by being carbon-conscious in its seemingly elegant attachment system, but an overall increase of load will still affect delicate road parts and drastically change ride quality. 

How to carbon responsibly

And, to reiterate, high end road bikes are defined by their focus on the ride. They feel light and responsive and are intended to go fast and long. If you want to do more than that, hybrid, cyclocross and touring type bikes blend road biking elements with more utilitarianism, adding different attachment options and durability features. If you know you’re going to want to carry stuff, why would you get a racy bike? Because humans shop erratically, emotionally, and we change our dang minds. Clearly, because many, many people want this thing to exist, despite its structurally awkward inbetweenness.

Prototypes

Assuming you weren’t going to use your race bike to lug your textbooks and jugs of water every day, does this solve an important design issue? Is the Tailfin the right type of tool for road warriors who bike shop on the weekends? A comfortable middle path for people with long fast commutes and very light work clothes? Would you use one?

The Tailfin campaign runs through May 31, 2016.