The Blackburn Central Seatpost Rear Rack permits nearly any bike, no matter dimension or kind, to hold a load, supplied there’s sufficient seat submit exhibiting. Its versatile design boasts two totally different peak settings plus fore and aft adjustment, so your load should not intrude together with your driving place or different package. The power to change the peak additionally means it could match a wide array of bikes.
It weighs in at 763g and has a 10kg/22lb carrying capability, which must be a lot for most individuals.
It prices $65.00, £59.99 or €69.99, and is offered in a single dimension and one color (black).
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The development
The rack is sturdily constructed utilizing plane grade 6061 aluminum tubing, and it attaches to any seat submit diameter from 22mm to 32mm through a four-bolt clamp. The clamp is 50mm tall, so you may want no less than that quantity of seatpost obtainable to make use of the rack. This neat method does allow frames with out standard braze-on rack attachment factors to nonetheless carry a load. There’s a fixing plate on the rear to which a lightweight could be hooked up – invaluable if the load will obscure your common mounting level.
It measures 517mm/20.375″ lengthy, 120mm/4.75″ extensive and 120mm/4.75″ deep and is completed in matt black.
(Picture credit score: Paul Grele)
I discovered becoming the rack to be simple, though attempting to carry the rack, faceplate and shim in place whereas bolting the components collectively required one hand greater than the 2 I already possess. It wasn’t too troublesome, it simply required some persistence. In the long run, I loosely bolted the non-shim facet, slid the shim in and screwed the opposite two bolts finger tight. I then made certain that the rack was straight earlier than torquing the bolts up (6.5-9Nm really useful).
To accommodate a dry bag secured with a bungee twine, I mounted the rack within the downward place, with the load part slid again so far as it might go. It wanted to be saved nicely again in order that the bag would not catch the again of my legs. I additionally needed to maintain the load as little as doable in order that the middle of gravity wasn’t too excessive.
Earlier than becoming, I made a decision to drill a few 5mm holes in order that I might match my Cateye rear gentle rack bracket. Two vertical holes are already pre-drilled, however I wanted two horizontal ones for my bracket. Being aluminium it was simple to drill, and I used to be happy with the result. My gentle might sit beneath the dry bag load and nonetheless stay seen.
(Picture credit score: Paul Grele)
The experience
As soon as out driving with a load the rack felt secure and safe and my bike remained nicely balanced. There have been no noises, flex or different detectable actions. My interior leg rubbed sometimes on the four-bolt faceplate, however an extended seat submit and smaller body would have enabled the rack to be bolted additional down, curing this interference. It was extra a quirk of my setup than a design problem.
There was a small quantity of vertical motion on the be part of between the seat submit clamp stub and the principle beam. Right here there’s a single bolt that allows you to set the beam in an upward or downward place. It did not make a noise or rattle, and it was laden by my bag, which saved it secure. I tightened the bolt to an inexpensive torque of 5Nm however could not get rid of the small motion. Nevertheless, it by no means turned an issue.
Within the downward configuration I favoured there was 35mm of fore and aft adjustment. When used the opposite method up there was circa 45mm of adjustment obtainable.
Blackburn suggests utilizing a rack-top bag, which appears to be a wise concept. I used to be unable to check the rack on this configuration as I not personal a prime bag, however my dry bag and bungee twine setup labored nicely sufficient and felt completely safe.
NB authors personal gentle fitted
(Picture credit score: Paul Grele)
Verdict
I discovered the Blackburn Central Seatpost Rack to be nicely made, versatile in setup and safe in use. I preferred that it had a rear gentle plate, which as soon as modified to swimsuit my Cateye bracket meant that I used to be extra seen. It felt safe on the bike and it carried my load simply. Though it’ll match most bikes with ease, it actually comes into its personal with bikes that do not have body eyelets for racks/fenders. It is fairly simple to suit and take away, however not really easy that I might need to do it typically.
Total it is a good possibility if it’s essential carry a bag however cannot match a traditional rack. It is even value contemplating even should you can!
