https://aeroe.com/products/spider-rear-rack
I'm after a rear rack. As usual I started off looking at stuff for £30, then went up fiver by fiver thinking 'well that looks a bit nicer' until I reached 'don't tell anyone' prices.
The thing is this seems like it would work for me as I could move it even to my MTB when needed. On the other hand it is expensive, quite heavy, and odd. Does it really work without wobble?
I'd love to hear from anyone who has ridden with one.
Used one last week to bikepack on my Ragley from Aberdeen to Ballater. Works really well and build quality seems good too. An added bonus is that it’s really easy to take on and off the bike, so I could use the bike for some enduro trails whilst I was out there.
Nice one scotroutes, that counts for a lot coming from you. If it works during some of the things I've seen on your blog it'll work for me.
There are routes where I'd choose not to use the rack in conjunction with the side bags, preferring the soft (in-line) bags instead. These would include anything with extensive singletrack through deep heather/bracken and if there was a lot of hike-a-bike. This is just down to load width. On most trails they're just fine and definitely give me more packing space than the seatpack. Of course, there's always the option of using one Aeroe cradle mount (on top). That would also have the benefit of freeing up the dropper post.
I have their front cradle and rear rack, works really well,I use it with the alpkit bags and they have the hoops on for the straps to go thru and are a lot cheaper than aeroe's bags, versatile and solid,would post some pics but no idea how to do it on here.
Can't say I would be comfy using it on a carbon frame although they say you can
Nice one scotroutes, that counts for a lot coming from you.
Not sure why I bothered answering now.
Sorry @Kramer, if you look at the post times I was writing my reply to scotroutes as you posted so I hadn’t seen what you wrote then.
That’s really useful info as I’ll be switching from one bike to another, and yes it’s a real bonus being able to use it for touring but remove it for fun.
I love asking questions here as I always get so many useful (and often hilarious) replies no matter what the topic.
@easily no offence taken.
It was asking questions on here that made me choose the Aeroe rack in the first place.
My mate was using a bar harness and pack along with a frame bag and a seat pack. One advantage of the Aeroe rack was that I was still able to drop my seatpost when using it, although it did mean having the cradle set up transversely rather than longitudinally.
Feel free to ask any more questions.
I have the pannier version on my Shan 26. I think it's great, but everyone (slight exaggeration) on here told me it sits too high and will also snap my seat stays
Haven't used it fully loaded yet though
Recently did the Jennride. I was briefly riding behind someone who was using one of those racks with a fairly sizeable drybag on top...it looked rock solid. They were pleased with it
Didn't this system get reviewed / feature in FGF on STW recently?
Thank you footflaps, yes it did:
https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/through-the-grinder-155/
That review was spot on IMV. If I were bikepacking regularly I’d probably go for a specific bike and set up. But for occasional use, especially where you want to use your bike as transport to get somewhere to ride it whilst carrying your gear on the bike, and you’d like to do it across more than one bike then it’s perfect.
Just did my first trip using mine, two side pods. https://photos.app.goo.gl/JoSwfU6edS5tfJSS6
I kept the two bags as light as possible to avoid too light a front end.
When hike a biking there was a minor accommodation needed to avoid banging in to the bag.
Overall very pleased with them. I did buy them over tailfin because of the price difference but having seen tailfin at bespoked I was superimpressed with their gear and in hindsight I'd choose the aluminum tailfin over aeroe I think.
Well I've happily spent loads of money, and then spent loads more.
I bought the rack, spider cradle, and bag. I'm really pleased with how they work, so I also bought the pannier rack and top bag.
Thanks for the advice everyone,
I'm looking at rear rack options that swap easily between frames with different axle/dropout standards, with/without mounting points, and finding it hard to see past the Aeroe for this. The bags are a bit rich for my tastes, though, although they're not rinsing the consumer the way Tailfin are.
I've used Alpkit bags with my Aeroe rack - 13L Airlock Extra. The straps fit through the loops in the bags too.
They are expensive, and I may be naive, but are Tailfin rinsing the customer?
Relatively low volume sales at this point, lots of R&D (from clever people who could probs earn good cash elsewhere), marketing costs, warranty risk, etc. I surely this all costs a lot? .
I’ve got the Aeroe racks. IMO they’re a completely different standard of build quality than the Alpkit ones. They’re really robust.
Alpkit airlok 13l are out of stock, any other recommendations with loops that fit the rack or will any dry bags do?
So what is the difference between these and a normal rack held on with p-clips and a threaded rod thru the rear axle?
I recently did the Sandstone Way in Northumberland using the Aeroe rear rack with a 2o litre Alpkit bag. It is a superb bit of kit and the rack never budged on the whole trip. My mate who I did it with was riding with a Tailfin rack. The big difference with the Aeroe rack compared to others is that it still allows you to use your dropper post.