Jerry,
The Tubus racks are wonderful, but expensive. Many sturdy-but-inexpensive racks actually are drilled for a flat, centrally mounted strut, but do not include such a strut as part of their normal packaging. Por exemplo:
http://www.deltacycle.com/
If you want something more classic in appearance, here's the bend-it-youself strut that is available from Velo-Orange:
http://www.velo-orange.com/
If that is too short, I'll give away this secret. Velo-Orange is located in Annapolis, Maryland - on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay - and therefore they have easy access to many purveyors of hardware meant for marine usage. It happens that the Velo-Orange strut is actually a sailboat's "tang" (whatever that is):
http://www.downwindmarine.com/
Should you need a longer, or thicker tang, check out West Marine. As you might imagine, you can also buy some strap metal at the hardware store, to fabricate one of these things yourself.
BTW, I still have to check, but I think I bought the little stainless steel washers - that I used with the TA dome headed bolts - at West Marine.
Anchors away!
Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginia (USA)
> From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
\r?\n> Subject: [CR]Recommendations for racks and panniers
\r?\n> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
\r?\n> Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2008, 10:33 PM
\r?\n> I'm looking to set up a couple of bikes for commuting,
\r?\n> including a Schwinn World Voyageur and a Schwinn Sports
\r?\n> Tourer. I live only about two miles from work, and this
\r?\n> town is only about 25,000, so I feel I really should be
\r?\n> using a bike for around town transportation, not just rides
\r?\n> on the weekend. As I mentioned a week or two ago, I'm
\r?\n> looking for rear racks which can be mounted to the brake
\r?\n> center bolt, so I don't have to clamp anything to the
\r?\n> stays. I did obtain a Blackburn of this tyep from a list
\r?\n> member, but I'm still interested if any of the high
\r?\n> quality chromed steel or stainless racks like Nitto, Tubus
\r?\n> or Berthoud can be mounted to the brake bolt.
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Also, for commuting I need to carry a medium size laptop
\r?\n> and a briefcase, although the briefcase might be optional.
\r?\n> What size panniers, in litres, should I look for?
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Finally, what are the best sources for high quality rear
\r?\n> racks and paniers? I know VeloOrange, Wallingford and
\r?\n> Rivendell. Anyone else specialize in this type of gear?
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Regards,
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Jerry moos
\r?\n> Big Spring, Texas, USA