Pletscher Front OR Rear Rack

Fits best on bikes with longish forks and highish rear brake bridges. Bikes with 700c wheels, or mountain bikes, especially. It goes fine on smaller bikes, but the platform won't be level---it will tilt toward the rider. Functionally, no big deal. But it might bug you.

Also, If you have long forks (longer than regular road forks, about like the Hilsen or Hillborne), the struts won't reach, so you have to clamp them
on, as shown in one of the photos.

Here's something you don't see every day but in a saner world maybe you might. It's a Swiss-made Pletscher rack, with the famous Pletscher moustrap, and it fits front or rear. 

The Good Things About it: It's strong, it mounts easily and quickly, and it's really useful. You can use the moustrap to hold stuff on it, or lash gear directly, using straps. We've used it all ways. It is not (ain't) a pannier rack. In a pinch, sure, but neither Pletscher nor we recommend it, nor do we want to hear about it if you do it.

Pletscher says it can hold up to 55 pounds. We doubt that and don't recommend you try it. Isn't twenty enough? And that's about all you have room for.

Excellent for light touring, shopping, overnights. It goes on and off in a jiff, and seems plenty rigid. Black only, and $32 only. The moustrap is silver.

If you have long forks (longer than regular road forks, about like the Hilsen or Hillborn), the struts won't reach, so you have to clamp them on, as shown in one of the photos. If you aren't a clamper, that's fine, but it's a Pletscher for crying out loud, so don't squirm at the prospect of clamping it. The best clamps are the Nitto ones, but any similar will do (such as P-clamps from the local hardware store).  The part number for the goes around the lower blades clamps, as shown, is 20-016. Here's the story with clamps: They come with a rubber insert. If, with the insert, they're too small for the blade, then you remove the insert and build up the blade with the right amount of bar tape (or a smaller insert, not provided).

Basically---these Pletchers are inexpensive, nifty racks that come in handy all the time. If you can't spring for the Nittos, or it doesn't make sense for a dirty low-down bike you have, or you just want to get the job done in a blue-collar Swiss way, this is a super rack. All hardware is included, except for the lower-fork clamps which you may not need, anyway. Mounting is truly easy, and instructions are included.

The official Pletscher name of this rack is the Athlete 2B.