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An Ultralight Rack For Carbon Bikes
An elegant solution for a problem we shouldn't have
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.
Enter a caption (optional)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.
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Enter a caption (optional)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.
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Enter a caption (optional)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 responsiblyAnd, 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.
PrototypesAssuming 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.
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Comments
Kat, your comments make perfect sense and being undecided without testing is completely understandable. I'm keen to send you a rack as soon as we have one off the moulds.
In response to your biggest criticism - I'm not suggesting that you load up your road bike with 40lbs of gear. There are different use cases for Tailfin - you can load your road bike for commuting then whack it on your touring/cyclocross/hybrid bike and load it to the max. Alternatively, if you've only got 1 bike, then it gives you the option to make it more versatile by commuting during the day then going for an evening road ride on the same bike as it's quick release.
It's designed to offer a different option to what's available at the moment - heavy, clunky, ugly racks that once attached never leave your bike, backpacks that make you sweat & seatpacks that swish and sway. Tailfin offers some big advantages but it really is horses for courses - it won't be everything to everyone but hopefully enough people think the same way as I do.
We did a new video doing a 'head to head' against some of the different options. I'm curious to know what you think! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POaLHC8_mWI
Nick
p.s. The guy in the main video has size US13 feet and still clearance for bigger feet. Getting those angles 'just right' was part of the design process - we had a telescopic upper strut at one point but it didn't add much value.
Hey Nick! Thanks for the details and video update. I agree that (like *anything* bike related) it won't be for everyone, but I'd love to get my hands on one. The attachment system alone seems more user friendly than any I've seen in the last few years.
Sorry, only just saw your reply! It has been tested on small frames too. In fact the lady in the video is 5'2" and is riding a small white specialized amira.
Very cool - I'll put you on the list to get one of the first review units. Can you email the address. nick at tailfin dot cc. Also, would core77 be interested in following the journey I'm going through at the moment taking it from kickstarter through to mass manufacture including working overseas? The fact that the product contains pretty every manufacturing technique around could be interesting... Carbon, Forgings, CNC, Castings, Mouldings, Sheet metal, Pressings, Soft goods and standard parts.
Cheers,
Nick
And if you think a pound actually matters, you can tell me from the podium of a grand tour, one of the classics or if winning a race puts food into your child's mouth. Any other setting is irrelevant.
Do you really need more than 1 bike?
I've been using this similar rack for years. I only own one bike, a carbon road model with a non-carbon seat post. I use it for commuting, exercise/fun, and towing my children. Every bike accessory I own goes on and off in less than 5 minutes. So, I'd consider this rack. At 0.6 lbs, it's not that much lighter than my 1.7 lb rack when you consider that you're typically carrying another 5+ lbs of laptop and work gear in a bag. The carbon rack carries more (not that I've ever exceeded the 25lb limit of mine) and it attached to the skewer which is nice as mine can spin if not quite tight enough.
So what would you recommend for bikes that do have a carbon seat post, or seat mast like those used in this example? This product specifically targets bikes where traditional racks like yours don't safely work. (And to say a pound of difference isn't much might put you in the minority of carbon bike riders.)
Due to the cost of a bikes, I could only justify purchasing 1 bike. I went with a race bike as well (BMC). I am commuting to work, so I need to bring a lunch and work clothes. I went with a rvelate designs viscacha which fits everything once I fold and roll the clothes.. It is a seat mounted bag, and I can swap it off in no time. It also doesnt have to clamp onto anything, so it is tool free and wont scratch anything. The only problem I have is that it sways a lot when chugging out of the saddle.