The Blackburn Central Seatpost Rear Rack allows nearly any bike, no matter measurement or sort, to hold a load, offered there’s sufficient seat submit exhibiting. Its versatile design boasts two totally different top settings plus fore and aft adjustment, so your load should not intervene along with your driving place or different equipment. The flexibility to change the peak additionally means it may possibly match a wide array of bikes.
It weighs in at 763g and has a 10kg/22lb carrying capability, which ought to be a lot for most individuals.
It prices $65.00, £59.99 or €69.99, and is on the market in a single measurement 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 at the least that quantity of seatpost out there to make use of the rack. This neat method does allow frames with out typical braze-on rack attachment factors to nonetheless carry a load. There’s a fixing plate on the rear to which a lightweight might be connected – invaluable if the load will obscure your common mounting level.
It measures 517mm/20.375″ lengthy, 120mm/4.75″ huge and 120mm/4.75″ deep and is completed in matt black.
(Picture credit score: Paul Grele)
I discovered becoming the rack to be easy, though making an attempt to carry the rack, faceplate and shim in place whereas bolting the elements collectively required one hand greater than the 2 I already possess. It wasn’t too tough, it simply required some endurance. Ultimately, I loosely bolted the non-shim facet, slid the shim in and screwed the opposite two bolts finger tight. I then made positive that the rack was straight earlier than torquing the bolts up (6.5-9Nm beneficial).
To accommodate a dry bag secured with a bungee wire, I mounted the rack within the downward place, with the load part slid again so far as it might go. It wanted to be stored properly again in order that the bag would not catch the again of my legs. I additionally needed to maintain the load as little as attainable 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 mild rack bracket. Two vertical holes are already pre-drilled, however I wanted two horizontal ones for my bracket. Being aluminium it was straightforward to drill, and I used to be happy with the end result. My mild might sit beneath the dry bag load and nonetheless stay seen.
(Picture credit score: Paul Grele)
The journey
As soon as out driving with a load the rack felt steady and safe and my bike remained properly balanced. There have been no noises, flex or different detectable actions. My inside leg rubbed often 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 subject.
There was a small quantity of vertical motion on the be part of between the seat submit clamp stub and the primary 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 stored it steady. I tightened the bolt to an affordable torque of 5Nm however could not get rid of the small motion. Nevertheless, it by no means grew to become an issue.
Within the downward configuration I favoured there was 35mm of fore and aft adjustment. When used the opposite means up there was circa 45mm of adjustment out there.
Blackburn suggests utilizing a rack-top bag, which appears to be a smart thought. I used to be unable to check the rack on this configuration as I not personal a high bag, however my dry bag and bungee wire setup labored properly sufficient and felt completely safe.
NB authors personal mild fitted
(Picture credit score: Paul Grele)
Verdict
I discovered the Blackburn Central Seatpost Rack to be properly made, versatile in setup and safe in use. I preferred that it had a rear mild plate, which as soon as modified to go well with 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 would 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 easy to suit and take away, however not really easy that I might wish to do it typically.
Total it is a good possibility if you could carry a bag however cannot match a traditional rack. It is even price contemplating even for those who can!
