Will a Tubus Grand Expedition fit my bike?

[Thistler]

I would like a heavy duty touring front rack with a platform and was wondering anyone knew if the Tubus Grand Expedition would fit my older Thorn Nomad with 26" wheels?

If not do you have any other recommendations? Reading some of the posts here leads me to believe that not all racks will fit the Thorn without some modification, which is something I'd like to avoid if possible.

Does anyone know which version of the Nomad this is or what aprox year it was built?

[in4]

SJS are very helpful.

[mickeg]

That being a derailleur bike, it is quite old.  I do not know the answer to your question.  If you want a platform and low rider racks, here is an option.

Photo is of my Thorn Sherpa which is newer than your Nomad.  I have a Tubus Ergo (discontinued) rack on it and a small rack that I do not think is made any more for platform.  But there are other canti brake post racks made like mine.

I do not know what country you are in, I am in USA, here is a rack similar to my platform rack:
www.amazon.com/SUNLITE-Gold-Front-Rack-700c/dp/B07CP679HT

But it is harder now to find canti brake post mounted racks with the prevalence of disc brakes.

[Thistler]

Thank you so much! I am in the UK.

Would that little rack be big enough to strap something light like a sleeping bag to it?

I have heard back from someone helpful at SJS who thinks the Tubus should fit, and has also recommended the Blackburn Outpost. I like the look of the Outpost but it has mixed reviews - some people love it and some say it's a piece of junk.

[mickeg]

Thank you so much! I am in the UK.

Would that little rack be big enough to strap something light like a sleeping bag to it?
....

I am sure it would be too small for a sleeping bag.  I only used it for a quick place to stash something small, like in my first photo I had an orange polartec vest strapped on it.  I have also strapped on a couple extra water bottles.  But it would not hold much more than that.  I think the most it would hold would be a six pack of beer cans.

[dsim]

I used the Tubus Grand Expedition front rack on my Nomad MK3. I can't comment on an older one as I'm not sure what the differences are.

There was quite a lot of space between the rack platform and the tyre (26" x 2.00 Mondial), so I used two of the mounting brackets from a Surly Nice Tray I had and used those to mount a bottle cage for my petrol bottle underneath the rack and above the tyre. Lots of clearance

[Thistler]

Thank you all for your advice! I think I may stick with what I already have (Tubus Tara or the Duo lowriders) for now and add one of these Steco racks that attaches to the headtube, unless anyone can see an obvious reason why it wouldn't work?

[mickeg]

If that rack is attached to the headtube, that may interfere with your V brake cable.  You might be able to make it work with a different noodle, but with the existing noodle I am fairly confident that it is not going to work.  It is not clear to me how that rack is attached to the headtube.

From the photo you provided of your bike, I am not sure if you have drop bars or flat bars.  Some of the newer bikepacking setups use a harness to attach a sleeping bag to the handlebars.  If drop bars, there is less room for bag width than with flat bars.

I take it that you do not plan to use a handlebar bag?

[Thistler]

I have flat bars with a high angled stem, and a handlebar bag with a Rixan Kaul fitting that would keep it well out of the way of the rack.

I hadn't considered the v-brake cable getting in the way, so am very grateful for your advice!