Matthew 'Devotion' Bowne wrote:
>
> > I just came across this curious (rusty) old front rack :
>
> > http://www.wooljersey.com/
>
>
As Matt Gorski pointed out, it's a TA brand, made for Mafac but not too hard
to modify to fit a Weinmann. I have one I put on my Weinmann centerpull on
my '71 Super Course back in the 70s, which is now my townie bike. I often
use it for grocery shopping.
It's good to keep in mind that all the weight is cantilevered off the front brake centerbolt, one bolt you really don't want to break. So though my rack has carried more than its share of cases of beer, I do find myself thinking more lately about the fatigue cycles that 1971 bolt has been through. I'm more inclined to put the chips 'n' salsa on the front rack these days, and the beer goes in the extra-large Baycliff seat bag.
I haven't computed the stress from a case of beer vs a panic stop (vs the strength of a 6 mm steel bolt of uncertain pedigree), so maybe my fears are groundless. Luckily, breaking off the brake centerbolt is exceedingly rare in my experience; I'm not even sure if I have even seen it once, ever. Funny because I have probably seen literally every other piece of a bike break.
OK just did a little inventory of broken bike part memories, and I can't recall ever seeing a front hub axle break either, so that makes two parts.
Mark Bulgier
Seattle, WA
USA