Front and rear bike racks for city bikes

With a front bike rack or a rear rack on your city bike, the shopping, the laptop or the school bag travel on the bike rather than on your back. A front platform for a basket always in sight, a rear rack for loaded panniers or a child seat: start from how you will use it, then check the wheel size, your bike's eyelets, the maximum load and the pannier attachment system.

Front bike rack or rear rack: what to carry around town?

At the front, the rack takes a basket, a crate or a bag that you keep an eye on, handy for shopping and short trips. It carries moderate loads, as the weight is felt in the steering. At the rear, it takes heavy loads, double panniers, a top box or a child seat, without affecting handling. The two can be combined to spread the weight.

Frame, fork or seatpost: how does a bike rack attach?

The strongest mounting uses the threaded eyelets on the frame and the fork. A front rack is usually fixed to the fork, through a hole in the fork crown and the eyelets or the wheel axle; a suspension fork or a disc brake calls for a model designed for them. Without eyelets, a rack that clamps to the seatpost or the seat tube helps out, for light loads only.

Load, quick-release systems and lighting

Each rack states a maximum load, which includes the weight of the panniers and, at the rear, that of any child seat: never exceed it. The MIK, Snapit and MTX systems clip on a compatible basket or pannier without a strap. Some rear racks also include a light, which stays visible even with panniers fitted.

Panniers, child seats and deals

Once the rack is fitted, choose your panniers or your basket from our bike bags and panniers, and to take a child along, see our child bike seats. For bigger loads, think about a bike trailer. All models, touring racks included, are gathered in our pannier racks. End-of-line items move to the city luggage outlet, and recent arrivals appear in new arrivals.

City bike rack brands

Pelago, a Helsinki brand, fixes its Commuter front rack to the fork, through the fork crown and the eyelets or a solid axle; the stainless steel version takes 10 kg on the platform and 5 kg per side.

Basil, a Dutch maker of bags and baskets based in Ulft, offers the Portland front rack, a front model with a light mount and a universal rack compatible with MIK and disc brakes.

Tubus, a manufacturer from Münster in Germany, works with chromoly steel and stainless steel: the Fly, in stainless steel, and the Fly Evo are available here.

Pletscher, a Swiss company specialising in racks, kickstands and mudguards, offers the Quick Rack and a 27 kg MIK-compatible rear rack.

Topeak offers its Uni Super Tourist and Uni Explorer rear racks for 24 to 29 inch wheels, in disc brake versions, with the MTX rail that takes the brand's bags.

Frequently asked questions

Can you fit a bike rack without eyelets?

Yes, with a model that clamps to the seatpost or with clamps that fit the frame. Their load stays limited, often to a small bag: to carry a child or heavy panniers, you need a bike with eyelets.

Is a front bike rack suitable for a suspension fork?

Only if it is designed for one: it then clamps on with collars that fit the diameter of the fork legs, without getting in the way of the travel or the brake calliper.

Can you fit a child seat on a rear bike rack?

Yes, if the rack is designed for that weight and compatible with the seat. Some seats attach directly to the rack with a dedicated mount, others to the frame. Respect the maximum load stated on the rack and on the seat.