[Closed] Topeak Beam Racks - the ones that attache to the seat post

need to make a couple of moddifications to the raleigh one to make it better provided its the one with the sides ....

you need to brace out the sides - we used bits of an old rack and some zip ties - this stopped them bending under load.

we also sent the rest back after this issue on my bosses bike ...utter garbage. Topeak one has faired better - even the amoeba one has faired better !

Blackburn ones are superb and can take some decent loads as well so the principle is fine if not the actual product you describe.

Cheaper ones that use bolts to clamp the rack work better. they stay tight. Topeak ones don't

I had no problems with the Topeak one when I did the Trans Cambrian, the benefit I saw was that the quick release bolt has a hex head in it so you can really get it done up tight. It hasn't yet moved for me, worth the money I think. I tightened up much better than the Axiom one I got but decided not to use from CRC.

trail_rat
I had a problem with the rack moving - couldn't get it tight enough on the seat post. Maybe a Topeak is worth a punt.

I've just got the Topeak one and with 3kg's of kit on it, with the QR done up just average tight, it's as solid as a rock. Really impressed.

a well timed question - just been looking at these.

what's the difference between the versions of the mtx rack?

thinking of one for this:
[img] [/img]
only needs to carry sleeping/bivy/thermrest - couple of kg(?).

Differences between MTX racks are for different sized frames, for more details check out ExtraUK, the importer's,site.

I looked at the Topeak QR beam rack a while back but decided the QR itself wouldn't be up to the job. It's obviously up to the user to decide how much they can trust their seatpost to take the combined weight of themselves and a beam rack cantilevering off the back of it but the Topeak kit is "only" rated to 9kg.

This piece of kit is much better imo:

http://www.windwave.co.uk/windwave/171375-01.html

This has a large clamping area, big beefy alu extrusions and the back of the clamp has steel nutserts so it'd be difficult to strip out when cranking up the bolts. It's also rated to 15kg and they do a QR option if you really have to have that "convenience."

If you need sides for panniers then go for this:

http://www.axiomgear.com/products/gear/racks/rear-racks/odyssee-seatpost/

Axiom are making an OEM version of this for Halfords. The only difference I can see is that the Halfords version lacks the steel nutserts. Not really an issue imo unless you are really careless with gear.

Unfortunately Windwave dont / wont import the version suitable for full suss bikes so i've been looking at buying from Canada direct.

Hope this helps

Cheers folks. I'm liking the look of the [url= http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_390559_langId_-1_categoryId_165643#dtab ]Halfords (Axiom)[/url] one.

May have a trip down later.

I have used the Toppeak on the road and it was fine but offroad any weight on it and I couldnt stop it waving from side to side no matter how tight I did up the QR. Tescos are doing a version of the Topeak beam rack at the moment might be worth a go if you want to try one.