Thule Pack ‘n Pedal Tour Rack Gepäckträger

I bought this for my 2024 Stance E+ 1 pro mountain bike (made by Giant) with a rear shock and no “frame bosses” to accommodate a rack that will move with the rear wheel. The Thule rack fits the bike perfectly and I’ve ridden with the rack installed for several tens of kilometers on rough trails with no problems at all. I’ve read reviews that complain that it does not attach firmly to the bike and I initially had a similar results but I found that I was the problem. After watching some videos closely on YouTube I made sure that I understood how to install the rack….and now it is very solidly and properly attached to the bike. The Thule video showing installation and their graphic instructions are both not adequate for a novice like me but there are some better videos out there to guide the installation. I also bought Thule’s 13L panniers and they fit the bike perfectly WITHOUT the “side frames” that attach to the rack.

The advertisement pictures show these racks can be mounted on the front forks of mountain bikes (MBs). However, someone considering purchasing this rack should be aware that it has some oversights. I would not be so pointed in my Review had it not been that they are selling these racks for a high price, but have some things about them that devalue them. They use a strap ratcheting mounting system which seems to be much more secure than the Topek M1 racks that use Velcro straps that you can secure with very fragile screws.

Unfortunately the Designers of this rack seemed to have overlooked the differences in MB forks. They did not provide enough strap length to fit around 40.5mm suspension forks. So I had to Jerryrig it on with hose clamps as one other Reviewer did. You have to lengthen the straps so much that the anchor end slips out when torqued. This is an unfortunate oversight of the Design and one that seems it should have been avoided.

Put plainly, it mounts fine on the back of the MB, so far so good, but not on the front. A problem that seems it could have easily been avoided by better design management and oversight. Just know if you have large front forks on your MBs you will likely have this problem with the straps being too short. But overall, they have a better design than the Topek M1 front rack. Both cost a lot of money, and they both have their disadvantages for MBs without dedicated mounting eyelets. Finally, you could probably avoid all this by getting a MB with dedicated rack mounts on the frame, and just have the traditional bolt on arrangement.

Update:
I’ve had time to do some trips and see how the rack does on the back. Sadly, this rack too has some problems. Some of the ratcheting bolts broke loose from being jarred around on the rocky trail and the rack slipped down and rubbed on the rear tire. The frame was thereby scratched down to the metal in one spot. It was loaded with about 25 pounds (~ 11 kg). I’ve also bolted this rack down using hose clamps. As mentioned above, the mounting system of this rack is not very good. Straps slip when they get wet, and the ratchets broke loose due to vibration/jarring apparently. If you’re going to do some serious bike packing or trail riding, look for another setup. Bear in mind too, that much of the rack is made of weak metal and plastic. This includes the side hangers for panniers, that you have to purchase separately and install. I would not recommend this rack for an extensive off road multi-day tour. You will likely have to carry your bags on your back or shoulders due to the rack breaking on the trip. I will use the racks until they break beyond repair, and look for more quality, stronger products if possible.

Finally, the Company/Seller shows a picture here on Amazon of the rack mounted on a Mountain Bike – this is totally misleading. This rack in my opinion is not made for mountain biking. It is far too weak and fragile to withstand the rigors of off road cycling when fully loaded, within the weight capacity of course. As I said, it is better to look for an alternative setup or product.

Wish you all well and stay safe as possible when your out.

I think the design is excellent, and, unlike other reviewers, I find the materials first rate. I was pleasantly surprised that the rack fits on a full-suspension frame designed to accommodate four inch tires, though it’s fitted with three inch tires. The seat stays are very far apart, but the rack was mounted without violence. All the crucial bolts came pretreated with thread lock. It’s prudent to check them now and then after use. I ride some pretty bouncy stuff. If the bolts tend to loosen, I’ll replace them with longer ones and add lock nuts.

Users who report bolts breaking have probably over-tightened them.

I decided that the silicone rubber inserts, which fall out easily while installing, are optional. I left them off. They are for people who dread their frame’s paint getting marred.

I don’t expect the rack to slide down the stays while carrying a load on a rough road, but if it does, I’ll update this review.

UPDATE: After several hundred miles and lots of rocks, gravel, and washboard, everything is staying put without further servicing. Thule is being overcautious by claiming the rack won’t fit tires wider than 2.6″.

Got this rack for my travel bike so I can take it off and on when packing bike in travel bag. It works as expected and I can put my trunk back on it to carry all necessities on longer rides vs. using a backpack. One thing I didn’t like is the ratchet screws use hex key and there is no easy way to get one in there with more than a quarter turn UNLESS you use the ball end hex keys. Any cheap set will do the job and well worth it. Speeds installation and removal by noticeable difference.
The rack itself is sturdy and stays put. I’m happy with my choice. Just did four 100k rides in a week with it and not one issue.

Easy, solid mounting. Lets me bounce down trails, buy groceries and head home. I am often teased about bike racks on my bikes. Forget the rules. I’m keeping this on my bike

monté sur un VTT tout suspendu pour
permettre l’accrochage de sacoches lors de randos itinérantes.produit d’excellente facture s’adapte parfaitement avec le système et accéssoires de fixations fonction des type de suspensions