Touring Rack Performance: Fundamental Load-Carrying Rack Designs
(These are the critical designs and details that enhance touring bicycle performance through exceptional rack/pannier stability, precise gear distribution and great reductions of weight.)
- Direct, rack-to-frame mounting of front racks (no flexible connectors) to greatly increase rack rigidity (stability)
- Custom fitting of racks to develop the highest rack rigidity (stability)
- Tubular rack-to-frame connections (no flexible, flat connectors) to greatly increase rack rigidity (stability)
- Side platforms designed to create the widest spacing of pannier mounting hooks and fasteners (stability)
- Brazed-on rack fittings to create the most rigid pannier mounting (stability)
- Side platforms designed to allow the widest spacing of bottom pannier hooks and fittings (stability)
- Rack side platforms designed to create the widest vertical spread of pannier hooks and fasteners (stability)
- Very narrow top platform design to move panniers as close to the bicycle wheel as possible (precise gear location)
- A very narrow top platform to increase the effectiveness of triangulation struts (stability and weight reduction)
- Long top platform to best accommodate longitudinal gear loading (stability and reduction of wind resistance)
- Non-integrated triangulation struts (Expedition racks) to increase rack rigidity (stability)
- Rack side platform flare to allow long rear panniers to clear rear derailleur (precise loading vertically and laterally)
- Steep dual triangulation of front racks to create highest level of rack rigidity (stability)
- .028 4130 chrome-molybdenum steel rack tubing to create best rigidity-to-weight ratio (stability and strength)
- Symbiotic rack/pannier side platform design (Hummingbird racks) to create exceptionally low rack/pannier weight
- Four fore / aft mounting positions of rear racks (precise distribution of gear weight)
- Three fore / aft mounting positions of front racks (precise distribution of gear weight)
- Two side platform designs (to increase lower hook spacing, or conversely, to reduce rack weight)
- Superb performance-to-weight ratios: Hummingbird racks (racks that weigh as little as 8.75 oz.)
- Exceptional performance-to-weight ratios: RD / EX Hybrid and Expedition Hybrid racks
Standard Rack Features
- Pivot-Mount vertical / lateral adjustment mounting mechanism to mount rear racks (RD / EX and Expedition)
- Mid mounting position of front racks on fork blades (direct rack-to-fork mounting)
- Custom-fit mounting (Hummingbird racks)
- Single taillight fitting
- Fender mounts (makes fender stays dramatically shorter and fender mounting much more rigid)
- True fillet-brazed rack joinery: fillets shape, filed, sanded, blended to create perfectly smooth, seamless joints
- Superb overall craftsmanship: all rack fittings filed, sanded polished and silver soldered into place
- Black dual-coated powder coat finish
- Choice of four rear rack mounting positions (heel clearance and precise gear distribution)
- Choice among three front rack mounting positions (precise gear distribution)
- Forward extension of rear rack top platform to make Pivot-Mount adjustment tubes as short as possible
Touring Rack Custom Options
- Integrated, silver-soldered four-point pannier mounting fittings (eight)
- Strap guides on the underside of the top platform (in a set of four, 1/2" or 3/4" guides)
- External fender mounts (Hummingbird racks only)
- Dual taillight fittings
- 1/4" corner bracing (Hummingbird racks only)
- Single tab head light fitting
- Single head light tab on dropped platform extension
- Dual head light fitting on dropped platform extension
- Fittings to make head lights swivel vertically and horizontally
- Lighting wire guides of several types for battery driven lights, bottle dynamos and hub generators
- Internal lighting wires
- Dual-position (mid/high) mounting tubes and fittings (12) for mid/high panniers on front or rear racks
- Direct custom-fitting of racks
- Custom-made plates for mid/mount front racks
- Custom fittings to mount high/mount front racks behind the fork crown of bicycles
- Bumper fittings to guard racks against finish damage when they are leaned as bicycles are parked
- Fittings for mounting flags
- Brazed-on fittings for my Rack-Top Packs
- Custom paint choices
- Custom chrome or nickel plating
- Brazed-on fittings of which I have yet to design
Innovations in the Design and Construction of ATS Touring Racks
- Side platform design to create the widest spread of upper and lower pannier mounting fittings (1997)
- Side platform design to create the widest vertical spread of upper and lower pannier mounting hooks (1997)
- Symbiotic rack side platform/pannier tubular frame design to greatly reduce rack weight and materials (2003)
- Integrated single and dual triangulation in rear racks (2001)
- Integrated four-point pannier mounting fittings (1997)
- Pivot-Mount vertically and laterally adjustable tubular rack mounting design (1997)
- Strap guides for mounting gear longitudinally on the top platform of racks (1978)
- Dual, vertical pannier mounting positions for four-point pannier mounting systems (1997)
- Many types of lighting system custom parts (starting in 2000)
- External fender mounts (2004)
- Steep, dual-triangulation of front racks (Hummingbird racks 2004)