Blackburn Outpost Front and Rear World Touring Bike Rack

(For 2012-10-21 update, see below.) Great concept. Bolts directly to lower eye in the fork. A topographically challenging but very adaptable extension goes either to the upper eye or to a clamp set up in that vicinity (or even to the brake mount). The instructions don't make clear how the extension is supposed to be fitted, and the tiny pictures are puzzling. I finally searched images on the internet and figured it out. The bolts supplied to hold the extension to the upper eye on the fork were too long and I didn't want to cut them, so I had to add many washer to avoid bottoming the bolt out against the inside fork surface opposite the fork eye - a bolt going through the outer surface of the fork eye, if too long, eventually strikes the opposing inside surface. The bolt would be hard to replace - it features a concave shoulder - the lower head surface - to match a convex surface on one of the supplied washers, so the extension can be wobbled to point where it should and still be securely tightened. It's the same thing you see in threaded brake blocks, so the angle can be adjusted. The extension doesn't hold weight; it prevents rotation of the rack. The rack is hollow aluminum, and I would prefer solid rod for durability like Blackburn used two decades ago. The diameter of the tubing necessitated bending open the metal hangers on my front (very old) panniers. I also had to add nylon cable ties at two places on the bottom curved members so I could hook the elastic cord from the panniers between the ties so it wouldn't slip off. There are no stops provided there. I hang the panniers from the second of the three horizontal tubes, but I would need the cable stops even if I hung them from the top rung. If you don't already have panniers, you might want to explore what kind you want with these things in mind.2012-10-21 edit concerning the “lower mounts” referred to in Step 2 of the installation instructions.In Step 2 Option 1, the lower mounts attach to front fork braze-ons. I installed my rack that way, but the lower mount screw on the right kept backing out, probably because the face of the mount overlapped the front fork slightly and wouldn’t seat properly against the flat of the braze-on. There’s a beveled edge on the lower mount face that would provide sufficient clearance, but I had to swap the left and right lower mounts to get the bevel next to the fork rather than away from it. If your braze-on is on the trailing side of the fork, you may need that bevel be on the leading edge of the lower mount, so as to clear the fork. See the photos.Each lower mount consists of a long tab with holes for height adjustment, and a barrel with a recessed hole in it, through which an M5 screw attaches to the tapped holes in the fork braze-on. The face of the barrel mates to the face of the braze-on. The barrel is beveled on one side of that face, apparently to provide clearance for the front fork. The lower mounts came already assembled on the rack, straight from the box, but the beveled edges were on the trailing edge, away from the fork. So the barrel face was partially resting on the curved surface of the front fork, rather than resting flush on the braze-on tab.I removed the lower mounts from the rack and found them stamped “L” and “R - they were on the left and right side of the rack respectively (from the rider’s perspective), as you would expect. I swapped the lower mounts, putting the “L” on the right and the “R” on the left, so that the bevel was next to the fork to provide the needed clearance.

I wanted to like this rack so much, but I just can't. It ultimately comes down to the fact that despite how nice the finish and the lightweight tubing is, it isn't sturdy and mounts very strangely to my bike. Instruction manual is quite bad, with tiny awful photocopy-quality pictures and short instructions, as well as some of the parts are packaged already put together - it's very unintuitive pulling pieces apart first just to be able to follow instructions.I figured this rack would be a great option as my bike fork has braze-on and mid-fork mounts - theoretically that means I should have great compatibility.There are a few problems with the rack mounts. The bottom mount is meant to sit flush either with your qr or some flat part of your fork - if there isn't enough flat space, it'll wobble and you'll lose a ton of rigidity. They have a cutout on one side as well, so despite being 'universal' they're expecting the braze-on to be in one spot relative to the rack.Second problem is the stabilizing arms. They suck. The idea is that you mount a bracket on the rack, and the arm sticks through the bracket and is attached to the fork eyelets or the cantilever posts. To accommodate both options the majority of the arm is a single straight piece of rod, then it has a 90° bend with threading. Then a cup joint threads onto either end, and you're supposed to attach all the hardware, level the rack and then tighten it down. These stabilizing arms are too short, and the threaded cup thing would be 10x if it was affixed and could pivot instead, because if the angle is a little off then you'll have to rotate it off tight which will cause wobble.The third problem is the brackets for the upper stabilizing arms. They don't rotate in any way, so when you've mounted them to the rack the only way to adjust the arms and bracket is to move the bracket up or down, or left or right depending on which tube you've chosen. Again, the arms are not long enough to get the correct angle on some tubes, and on other tubes you just can't get enough torque/geometry to really hold the rack in place.So eventually I get the rack on, tightened pretty good and despite my best efforts it doesn't sit straight; it's very clearly off center by more than an inch or two. Still, I load up my panniers to test it. One pannier has a tent and tent fly - about 5lbs including the pannier. The other has a sleeping bag and air mat, maybe 4lbs max. So even with 10lbs on the rack, it sways and moves a bunch. I even redid the arms because the first time it was rocking back and forth as well as side to side!In the process of fitting the rack, the finish has been chewed pretty good - in order to stabilize the arms and bracket you need to jam the screws into the metal and the bend gets chewed up by the bracket. Very disappointing, especially if the first fit isn't quite right.All in all, it's very underwhelming. I couldn't imagine removing the top as it's rigidity is already questionable. It's very light, which I like, and it's got a nice finish, so it looks good too. But the hardware is odd, and it just doesn't sit happy on my bike.

After looking for a platform type front rack for my steel framed touring bike and not finding one that met my needs I considered this one by Blackburn. It is a very pricey item at most retailers, and I spent some time looking for a cheaper alternative.Blackburn make a universal front and rear fitting rack but the platform seems rather long for a front fitting, though the price seems more down to earth than the Outpost.There are other front racks available but as my bike has discs I found my choice was rather limited.Eventually I saw the Outpost advertised for around £47-00 on Amazon and bit the bullet.Still a bit of an extravagance as I am not likely to be cycling to China anytime soon.It came assembled in rather a large box whereas the instructions refer to assembling the top to the side sections -could have saved on postage.I have not made any long trips yet to try it out in earnest but here are my impressions over the last month. My cycling covers mainly road riding and local well surfaced cycle trails including disused railway routes. I have been using a couple of vintage carradice cotton front panniers to trial it. It is noticeable that the tubing used on this rack is slightly larger than these panniers were designed for, but work OK if the nylon top hooks are pressed firmly in place before tightening the bottom strap.This will not be an issue for more modern panniers. The rack fits solidly and there are no rattles, squeaks or vibrations apparent even on the less well surfaced sections.Plus points.LightAppears to be strong and well madeFinish seems tough and durable, resistant to chips and scratches.Versatile design. Has the capability to fit panniers high or low mounted.The top section can be removed if requiredThe platform can be used to support a bar bag or a separate top bag, or sleeping bagCan be fitted to bikes with a variety of wheel sizes, disc brakes, rim brakes or drumsThe front bridge could support a lightIt comes with a packet of brackets to allow various options for fittingDoes not interfere with front wheel fitting/removal unlike previously fitted lowrider rackMinus pointsPrice! Have seen these for sale for £90+Fitting instructions could be clearerLarger than expected -a bit conspicuous when not fitted with panniersMy bike has no brazed on brake pivots due to being designed for discs -top fittings assume these are present (needed to improvise from my bits box). For the RRP all options should be covered.My version is the "Titanium" -a sort of metallic silver yellow grey, where most pannier racks are black or silver. Not quite a match for my silver rear rack but close enough. Perhaps Blackburn expect buyers to cough up for a matched set?Some of the minus points would not be issues if not for the RRP.If not for this, it would have 5 stars.

A key part is missing (circled in red in the manual attached) so the rack cannot be mounted.For some stupid reason, Amazon cannot send parts, therefore I have to send back the whole rack, ask for a refund and buy it again.What a hassle!Apart from that, the rack seems well built, light yet solid, and adaptable to many different mouting options.

フロントキャリア用に購入しました。レビューにあるような歪みは全くなく修正なく装着出来ました。残念なのが違う型番で、リヤに装着しているキャリアと色が微妙に違います。高価な物なので、色の管理くらいして欲しい。かごの取り付けは無理ですね。

Initial impressions were good, but the jewel-like presentation and decent engineering mask an integral issue with this, supposed, front rack. The issue is that it's impossible to mount really securely on the front and seems perfectly well designed as a rear rack. A mate and I both bought these and came to the same conclusion - it's a rear rack, not really a front rack. Additionally, the fittings were machined too tight for the rack tubes and required reaming out.

自転車用キャリアは安物から高価な物まで色々と使っています。この製品はやや高価な品です。機能的には十分な品物ではありますが、この値段の割には工作精度が低い製品のように感じます。取り付けの際、まず最初にステー取り付け金具にヤスリがけしなければ、ステーを取り付けできませんでした。次に、全体に歪みがあったので、腕力で矯正しました。これにより、何とか我慢できる程度の精度で取り付けができました。同価格帯の他社製品（例えばSURLYなど）が、何も考えずにポン付けでキッチリした精度で取り付けできることに比べると、この値段は少々納得いかないかも。同じ機能を果たしているパーツでも、明らかにSURLYの方が賢くひと工夫されており、それらと比較してしまうと残念な製品ではあります。それでも見た目はカッコイイですし、十分に使える製品ですので、気に入ってはおりますけどね。