For cyclists seeking a reliable and lightweight solution to carry gear, the updated 2024 T Rack emerges as a top contender. This minimalist rack is engineered to provide robust support without adding unnecessary bulk to your bike, making it ideal for everything from daily commutes to extended bike tours. The T Rack distinguishes itself with a thoughtfully designed platform and versatile mounting options, ensuring it meets the demands of diverse riding styles and bike setups.
What is the T Rack?
The T Rack is designed as a lightweight, minimalist bag support rack, perfect for cyclists who prioritize efficiency and practicality. It features a generously sized top platform, offering ample space for various types of bags and cargo. A key design element is the inclusion of triple bottle bosses on each side of the rack legs. These bosses dramatically increase versatility, allowing riders to attach small dry bags or water bottles using cargo cages or standard bottle holders. This feature is particularly beneficial for long-distance cyclists and bikepackers who need to carry extra water or easily accessible gear. The T Rack has garnered popularity among bicycle travelers over the years due to its blend of lightweight design and functional features, and the 2024 update enhances these aspects even further.
Updated Features for 2024
The 2024 iteration of the T Rack incorporates several key improvements based on user feedback and engineering advancements. These updates focus on enhancing durability, ease of use, and adaptability:
- Redesigned Mounting Hardware: Recognizing the importance of secure and reliable mounting, the T Rack now features completely redesigned mounting hardware. This update is specifically engineered to significantly reduce the likelihood of loosening over time, a common concern with bike racks, especially under the stress of loaded touring. While this improved hardware enhances security, regular checks for tightness remain a recommended maintenance practice, as with any bicycle rack system.
- Versatile Mounting Struts: To ensure compatibility with a broader range of bicycle frames and configurations, the 2024 T Rack now includes two sets of extra-long 350mm mounting struts. One set is straight, and the other is offset, providing greater flexibility during installation. This thoughtful inclusion simplifies the process of fitting the rack to various bike geometries, accommodating bikes that might have previously posed mounting challenges.
- Internal Dynamo Wiring Port: Addressing the needs of cyclists who utilize dynamo-powered lighting systems, the updated T Rack now integrates an internal dynamo wiring port directly on the platform. This feature allows for clean and protected routing of wiring for a headlight or tail light, enhancing both the aesthetics and functionality of dynamo lighting setups on bikes equipped with the T Rack.
- Enhanced Tube Design: The vertical leg of the T Rack has been upgraded with an increased 12mm tube diameter, while simultaneously employing thinner walls. This engineering approach results in increased stiffness, contributing to a more stable and secure load-carrying platform, and a reduction in overall weight. Despite the weight reduction, the load rating over the center of the platform remains a robust 30lbs, ensuring reliable performance even when carrying substantial gear.
Choosing the Right Size T Rack
The T Rack is available in two platform heights: 355mm and 380mm. Selecting the correct height is crucial for optimal fit and function on your bicycle. To determine the appropriate rack height for your bike, it is recommended to measure the vertical distance from your lower rack mount to the top of your tire. Once you have this measurement, add 25-50mm. This additional clearance ensures adequate space between the rack platform and the tire, preventing any potential rubbing or interference, especially when tires compress under load or when using larger volume tires.
Specifications and Load Capacity
The T Rack is engineered to be both lightweight and strong. The rack itself weighs a mere 470 grams without any mounting hardware. When including all mounting hardware, bolts, and the uncut 350mm struts, the total weight comes to 649 grams. Despite its light weight, the T rack boasts a total load limit of 30lbs. This weight limit includes 5lbs for each set of triple bosses, highlighting the robust construction of these additional mounting points. It is crucial to adhere to the specified load limit and ensure that the load on the rack platform is centered directly over the rack. Avoid positioning loads such that they overhang or are cantilevered off the end of the platform, as this can compromise stability and potentially damage the rack or your bicycle.
Mounting and Compatibility
Proper installation of the T Rack requires that your bicycle frame has suitable threaded load-bearing mounting points. These mounting points are typically located at the dropouts and seat stays, or fork crown for front rack applications. If your bike lacks upper rack bosses on the seat stays, seat clamps with integrated rack mounts are readily available as aftermarket solutions. For steel forks without upper bosses, a fork crown rack adaptor can be used. This adaptor attaches to the center hole commonly found on fork crowns, providing a secure upper mounting point. It is essential to ensure that all mounting points are correctly utilized and that all hardware is securely tightened for safe and reliable rack performance.
For detailed installation instructions and warranty information, please refer to the Rack Instructions and Warranty.
