John Tolhurst's blog

Heavy duty Quest rack creates options

Submitted by John Tolhurst on Fri, 21/10/2011 - 15:54

A recumbent bike is a wonderful things, parenting young children is also a wonderful thing. Wouldn't it be great to combine these wonderful things?

Now with the heavy duty rack for Quest, this is possible. The rack accepts the Beto Deluxe Baby Seat (available online). The rack will also carry a significant load for touring - 50 lbs should be no problem.

Recumbent bicycle child seat

Bubs loves it, especially since she can see where we are going, or crouch behind me out of the wind, or make faces at me in the mirror, or chat about something, or simply enjoy watching the world go by. Just like having a piggy back, only much better!!!!

Note the wind-wrapper, which gives a more comfortable ride, wind rain or shine. If you are riding a regular bike with a child seat, I suggest you may be missing out on one of life's great pleasures.

We're smiling just at thought of riding it.

Some technical notes: weight distribution is important, we want it between the axles and we get that with the child's weight right above or slightly forward of the rear axle. For touring some folk say they want the load to be low. Wrong. You want the load right behind the torso out of the airflow. Makes a big difference to your tiredness and ability to arrive fresh or go longer if need be. So don't worry about the weight being high. If it is over or forward of the rear axle you are good to go. Its even better if its a bit high, because it means the bike leans more slowly, so you have longer to react to keep balance and this means a less fatiging ride.

Here's what the rack looks like by itself attached to the bike:

Recumbent bicycle Touring Rack

Note the trumpet shaped supports - this is a very strong rack, integrated with the actual seatback support. New, slighly wider spaced 5mm holes are drilled to connect the two support struts.

John Tolhurst's blog
JonB's picture

I miss a lower set of rails

Submitted by JonB on Wed, 2011-10-26 06:50.

I miss a lower set of rails for panniers while one has something on top of the rack. Like a basket or - a child seat. The lower set of rails I envision is something like http://www.thetouringstore.com/TUBUS/Logo/Tubus%20Logo%20Bicycle%20Rack%... or perhaps a normal unsuspended rack where the rails are just above the tire.

The reason is that if you commute with your kid, like many people do in Denmark, then you need extra space for shopping, your laptop, kids clothes, ...

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Sylvain's picture

I think like JonB. One needs

Submitted by Sylvain on Sun, 2011-11-20 01:17.

I think like JonB. One needs a place to hook the lower part of paniers, so they won't simply hang and rock sideways.

Could this rack be set onto a Sofrider too? May we buy one?

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John Tolhurst's picture

This rack is intended to

Submitted by John Tolhurst on Mon, 2011-11-28 13:41.

This rack is intended to create another option for people wanting to carry heavy loads. If you want side rails for panniers for quest or sofrider, the topeak range is very serviceable.

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Sylvain's picture

But which pannier-compatible

Submitted by Sylvain on Mon, 2011-11-28 23:17.

But which pannier-compatible racks, easily mounted on Cruzbikes, can hold 50 lbs of load?
You should make and sell a rack-adaptor.

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John Tolhurst's picture

Thanks Sylvain, Yes I should

Submitted by John Tolhurst on Fri, 2012-03-30 17:03.

Thanks Sylvain, Yes I should do very many things, just ask my wife. smiley

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