Canecreek Thudbuster and Beam Rack?!

[F0neb0ne]

Hi everyone,

trying hard to make my next 10-day offroad-ride less painful than the last one, I was wondering whether I should use a Canecreek Thudbuster LT, since I read a lot of good reviews and about happy bums looking for info on it.

My problem now is: I need to move some stuff with me too, and last year I used a Topeak MTX Beam Rack (V-Type) for that.
Looking at the dimensions of the Thudbuster seat post, can't see how I get the beam rack attached at all.

Does anybody have solutions/ concepts/ pictures of what works as a rack system with the Thudbuster post?
Since I have a M sized frame, I bought the V-type rack, would the A-type (for XS and S-size frames) work?

My bike: Cannondale F2 Alloy 29 (which is a hardtail), but I can't use the Thule Tour Rack
https://www.globetrotter.de/shop/thule-tour-rack-227593/
because the frame wouldn't stand it.

Thx for your help!

[Smo]

Beam racks are just a bad design, IMO.  They're heavier and less sturdy than a standard rear rack.  Plus I wouldn't want to risk bending an expensive seatpost with one.

Do you have rear eyelets on your frame to put a normal rack on?  It's a hardtail, so it should be possible.  Even if you don't you could go with a Old Man Mountain rack.  I'm curious why exactly the Thule rack didn't work.

The other option, of course, is to go rack-free and use a seatbag instead.

[F0neb0ne]

The no-go for the Thule rack is due to the cross section of the aluminum tubes where they would get attached. The tubes are oval ones, designed to spring a little up and down, taking some power of bumps. So the smaller distance within the oval design is vertical, but that is where the weight of the Thule rack would work too.

There is no space to attach normal racks on the frame of the Cannondale F2 Alloy due to the design of the rear plate holding the axis of the rear tire, we checked on that at my bike shop.

[Smo]

That's an interesting issue!  Thanks for enlightening me.  And I get why normal racks won't work now.

That said, there are a few rear racks that might have potential; the Topeak Explorer Disc and OMM racks are the two that I'm familiar with.  Both racks go out from the frame before they go up, to accommodate disc brakes.  This might also accommodate your frame; not sure if you've looked into these options.  I have the Explorer Disc and I have to say that you would probably have to grind/file some of it off for clearance, I had to or it would hit my axle bolts.  Not a huge deal, but kind of annoying design in Topeak's part.   The OMM racks don't require eyelets, which is another bonus.

Another interesting one is the Axiom DLX, which might solve the problem because it goes straight *back* and then up.  I avoided it because the explorer looked sturdier, but it gets good reviews.