Low-rider front racks --> clamping vs. bolting to fork Fix it, repair it, how do I do it, what's the best part to use, and now: how do I get there?

[ethan]

Some of the bike shop peeps I've talked to about this say that bolting 'em on is always gonna have better weight capacity than when there's no fork eyelets and they have to be clamped to the fork.

But then half of the ones I talk to say that the clamp-vs-bolt thing makes practically no difference for lowrider front racks... Unlike rear racks where it's universally accepted that using p-clamps compromises your weight capacity.

Wondering what some of you uber-bike-cargo-geeks know about all this.

Thx in advance

[joby]

[joeball]

[Alex]

[derrickito]

i have the cheap performance version of this front pannier rack:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?cate . 3A%20Racks

u bolt clamp for the middle of the fork that is super solid and comes with rubber locking nuts (hasnt EVER slipped loose). bottom bolts onto standard fork eyelets.

when i go out and just need the space of 2 bags, i regularly just put on front panniers instead of rears. seems to be a better distribution of weight rather than sticking all my fat, plus all my gear on the rear wheel.