Bike racks

Even without eyelets, it’s possible

This is the real change in this category. For a long time, fitting a rack meant having mounting eyelets on the seat stays and rear dropouts, which most recent road and mountain bikes no longer have. Several systems now fit without any eyelets, clamping to the seat stays and resting on the wheel axle. So a gravel or mountain bike without mounting points can become a touring bike.

Three questions before you order

• Your eyelets. If you have them, a conventional bolt-on rack remains the stiffest and cheapest option. Check that there are eyelets at both levels: low down near the axle and higher up on the seat stays.
• Your brakes. A disc brake takes up the space where a rack support used to run. Recent models are designed to accommodate this, but check that compatibility is explicitly stated — an older rack may touch the calliper.
• Your wheel axle. With a thru-axle, the lower mount requires a specific axle or an adaptor, chosen to match the right diameter and thread pitch. It’s the part people forget.

The maximum load

The manufacturer specifies it, usually between 18 and 27 kg, and it isn’t just theoretical: exceed it and the rack comes under strain while the bike becomes unstable. Two full rear panniers can quickly reach 20 kg. And this limit must be considered alongside that of the frame itself, which the bike manufacturer specifies separately — the lower of the two limits applies.

Rear, front and special cases

The rear rack rear carries most of the load. A front rack front, mounted low, balances a bike that’s too heavily loaded at the rear and steadies the steering over long distances. Versions are available for fat bikes and for platform setups, which carry a strapped-on waterproof bag rather than panniers with hooks.

Your rack determines your pannier options

Several manufacturers have their own proprietary mounting system : the pannier clips onto a dedicated mounting plate rather than hanging from universal hooks. It’s quicker and more secure, but limits your choice of panniers. If you already own panniers, check compatibility before front choosing the rack — doing it the other way round costs more.

To find out more: How to choose a bike rack

See also: Panniers · Bikepacking bags · Bike mudguards