Got "tacos"?? make rim racks for your bike! Using old beat and bent up alloy bike rims, a few nuts and bolts, a bit of ingenuity, and a dash of time, and you'll have your own set of rim-racks to make a
-INCREDIBLY- ( I mean it) strong base for mounting pannier holders, large baskets, saddle bags and buckets tail trunks, kid seats, etc!

Compared to many other home-made rigs, this one also looks GREAT when not in use. I have gotten several comments from fellow bicyclists and pedestrians alike on how sharp it looks!

Tools I used----------------------

Sawzall (or hacksaw)

Scroll Saw ( jig or coping saw could also be used)

Electric drill w/assorted bits

Center punch (a nail could be used on these soft rims)

7/16 wrench and socket

small allen head key

Materials--------------------------

Assorted 7/16 standard steel bolts/nuts/washers, 2 lengths of about 3 inches to small 2 in for attaching buckets.

ONE taco'ed-out-of-repair alloy wheel, any type; hybrid, road, mountain.

plywood for top.

The road type would mount and drill better, but the mountain is more common, and genrally stronger for compressive weight.

small scrap of steel for a brace

Step 1: Step 1

basic construction step 1

First take your rim, find the valve stem hole and mark the exact opposite side. On cheaper rims there is a unwelded seam on this opposit side. Cut both here and in the middle of the valve stem hole.

You noe have both sides cut. Good job!

Step 2: Drilling and Mounting

Look at the pictures and diagram, they should give you a VERY easy look on how to mount it.

The top mount is universal to ALL bikes, and is the joint that is most cruicial for fit (so you thighs dont hit it) Do not hit it with a hammer to make the rim thinner, use a clamp. Using a hammer will make the rim crack.
DO this before drilling the holes for the through-bolts.

However, the lower mounts will be challanging for some bikes like cruisers and other bikes that dont have these nice lugs to mount racks and fenders. One could make a tab to be mounted on the rear axle stubs (like on coaster hubs), or behind the quick-release nuts.

Step 3: Torsional/alignment Brace

This is needed to keep the rims aligned, and to help with uneven loads and other torsional factors. Its as simple of getting some steel or thick aluminum stock and drilling holes from the spoke holes into the material, then bolting it up! I did mine right above the fender, which is about mid-point of the rack's radius.

Step 4: What to Mount? and Other Ideas

This rack is so versatle, and easily customised to your own use/purpose. look at my illustration to give you ideas. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have.

With my barrel-bags, I love having some cargo capacity on my Giant ATB when scavenging, going to the library, rummage sales.

If you make one, dont forget to post up!! Id enjoy looking at your ideas and creations!

Step 5: Building a Rack Top!

One of the best thing you can do with this rack design is to put a top on it!

Using some small pieces bent rim sections (which you may have cut off initially for the main two spars) , and a few more bolts, you secure the pieces to the back half of the spars.

All attachments conveniently use the pre-drilled spoke holes already in place!!!

Step 6: TADAA!!

Your finished product should look similar to this. It is INDCREDIBLY strong, a full grown adult could sit on it no problem. I have hauled TWO five gallon buckets with sand, and it did not budge or sag AT ALL. This is very rigid.

The possibiltys are ENDLESS!!

This is probably the most adaptable and flexible of all the home-made bike racks on this sight.

Post up your ideas and uses, I think we all want to see them, right???