Racks I Recommend
Winter Bicycles
Winter Bicycles makes custom bicycles and custom racks. I requested a 6x10 rack to support my randonneur bag.
My bags fit this rack perfectly. The backstop on this rack is full sized, by request, and gives a rock solid interface.
There is no bottom velcro, straps, or decaleur needed.
Also, it is amazingly lightweight.
https://winterbicycles.com/
My bags fit this rack perfectly. The backstop on this rack is full sized, by request, and gives a rock solid interface.
There is no bottom velcro, straps, or decaleur needed.
Also, it is amazingly lightweight.
https://winterbicycles.com/
Fitz CyCles
Fitz Cyclez in Santa Rosa, CA offers custom complete bicycles, framesets, and racks. This 6 x 8 randonneur rack was built in stainless steel and fits my bags perfectly offering full support of the rando bag profile.
I strongly recommend working with Fitz Cyclez, an absolute pleasure and easy ordering process from an experienced and passionate cyclist and constructeur.
http://www.fitzcyclez.com/
I strongly recommend working with Fitz Cyclez, an absolute pleasure and easy ordering process from an experienced and passionate cyclist and constructeur.
http://www.fitzcyclez.com/
velo orange
For off-the-shelf options, the Velo Orange Flat Pack Rack has a good shape that fully supports a randonneur bag or porteur bag.
The rack is very adjustable and includes a decaleur and host of accoutrements to fine tune installation.
A little bit heavier than a custom rack but you will appreciate the amount of adjustability when moving this rack from bike to bike.
https://velo-orange.com/collections/racks/products/flat-pack-randonneur-rack
The rack is very adjustable and includes a decaleur and host of accoutrements to fine tune installation.
A little bit heavier than a custom rack but you will appreciate the amount of adjustability when moving this rack from bike to bike.
https://velo-orange.com/collections/racks/products/flat-pack-randonneur-rack
Gallus Cycles
Gallus Cycles in Colorado makes complete custom bicycles, racks and decaleurs in any configuration. Racks are sold with custom frameset orders only. Contact the talented Jeremy Schlachter, constructeur and Paris Brest Paris 1200k Ancienne for more information: https://galluscycles.com/home.html
Ocean Air Bicycles
Erlen Rear Rack
The Erlen rear rack is a great support rack for the Ruthworks Audax rear bag.
It's designed by Rob at Ocean Air Bicycles and the version of the Erlen that I have is fabricated by Nitto in Japan.
The mounting point is rock solid and mounts between the seatpost clamp and the saddle rails. Keep in mind, this will raise your saddle height a little bit, so you might have to lower your seat/seatpost.
Overall, the quality is excellent, simple and elegant. I anticipate many years of hard use.
For questions, fit, specifications, and availability, please contact Rob at Ocean Air Bicycles.
And thank you to Rob and Nitto for designing and producing a simple, well-thought out product.
Available for purchase at: https://store.oceanaircycles.com/products/erlen-saddle-bag-support-nitto-production
It's designed by Rob at Ocean Air Bicycles and the version of the Erlen that I have is fabricated by Nitto in Japan.
The mounting point is rock solid and mounts between the seatpost clamp and the saddle rails. Keep in mind, this will raise your saddle height a little bit, so you might have to lower your seat/seatpost.
Overall, the quality is excellent, simple and elegant. I anticipate many years of hard use.
For questions, fit, specifications, and availability, please contact Rob at Ocean Air Bicycles.
And thank you to Rob and Nitto for designing and producing a simple, well-thought out product.
Available for purchase at: https://store.oceanaircycles.com/products/erlen-saddle-bag-support-nitto-production
Decaleur Fit
Will you need a decaleur with any of my Randonneur Bags?
Maybe.
If you are using a larger sized bag, running a heavy load, or riding on very rough dirt roads, you might benefit from using a decaleur.
However, some only use handlebar straps to the handlebars.
Will a decaleur fit my rando bag?
Maybe.
I recommend initially mounting the decaleur, rack, stem, and handlebar to your bike.
Second, measure (in inches) the distance from the rack deck to the center mounting holes of your decaleur.
That measurement will give you a better idea of what size bag will work best.
Contact me with questions.
What decaleurs are compatible with Ruthworks Bags?
Any decaleur will work with any bags as long as the measurement/fit is correct.
How do I punch the decaleur mounting holes in the bag?
After receiving the bag, measure, mark the hole location, then use a heavy steel hole punch, usually used for leather, to pop the holes. Anything sharp and strong will do, just be careful.
Maybe.
If you are using a larger sized bag, running a heavy load, or riding on very rough dirt roads, you might benefit from using a decaleur.
However, some only use handlebar straps to the handlebars.
Will a decaleur fit my rando bag?
Maybe.
I recommend initially mounting the decaleur, rack, stem, and handlebar to your bike.
Second, measure (in inches) the distance from the rack deck to the center mounting holes of your decaleur.
That measurement will give you a better idea of what size bag will work best.
Contact me with questions.
What decaleurs are compatible with Ruthworks Bags?
Any decaleur will work with any bags as long as the measurement/fit is correct.
How do I punch the decaleur mounting holes in the bag?
After receiving the bag, measure, mark the hole location, then use a heavy steel hole punch, usually used for leather, to pop the holes. Anything sharp and strong will do, just be careful.
front Rack compatability
Standard Randonneur racks work with the Randonneur Handlebar Bags.
However, the shape of the rack platform is rectangular and does not offer 100% support of the randonneur bag.
The racks listed below have a "randonneur" style back stop, which fits into the sleeve of the randonneur bags.
Typically, porteur or demi-porteur style racks use a wide and low back stop, which does not fit into the sleeve of the randonneur bag.
As always, custom randonneur bags can be fabricated to fit almost any rack. Contact me with questions.
If you have a suggestion for a rack to include in this list, message me at ruthworkssf@gmail.com
Production randonneur racks that work with my bags include:
Nitto M18
Nitto M1
Nitto M1B
Nitto M12
Nitto F32
Marks Rack
Velo Orange Randonneur Rack
However, the shape of the rack platform is rectangular and does not offer 100% support of the randonneur bag.
The racks listed below have a "randonneur" style back stop, which fits into the sleeve of the randonneur bags.
Typically, porteur or demi-porteur style racks use a wide and low back stop, which does not fit into the sleeve of the randonneur bag.
As always, custom randonneur bags can be fabricated to fit almost any rack. Contact me with questions.
If you have a suggestion for a rack to include in this list, message me at ruthworkssf@gmail.com
Production randonneur racks that work with my bags include:
Nitto M18
Nitto M1
Nitto M1B
Nitto M12
Nitto F32
Marks Rack
Velo Orange Randonneur Rack