THIS SITE USES GOOGLE ANALYTICS TO ANALYSE TRAFFIC. CONTINUING TO USE THIS SITE MEANS YOU ACCEPT THE USE OF COOKIES.WE DO NOT COLLECT PERSONAL DATA LEARN MORE OR SEE OUR PRIVACY POLICY
SEVEN DAY CYCLIST
CYCLING, BUT NOT USUALLY RACING
LATEST UPDATE MARCH 18th 2026
HOW DO WE REACH THE OVERALL RATINGS FOR PRODUCTS WE REVIEW?
Roswheel Tour Rear Rack
800g £60
The Roswheel Tour Rear Rack is a traditional, robust two-tier rack, adaptable between disc and non-disc set-ups. It has some neat additional features, too, as it goes that little bit further than some. I’ve come to like it a great deal, and it has a forever home on my Surly Long-Haul Trucker.
Pros: two-tier, robust construction, decent weight limit, handy mounting kit, light mounting options.
Cons: aluminium less amenable to repair than steel, finish scuffs more readily than some.
Specification
This is a two-tier rack (helpful for mounting panniers if you also strap a dry bag to the top of the rack or like a rack pack – include it in the payload, which is 25kg. It’s made form MIG welded 6061 aluminium tube; light but durable, although not repairable as heavier steel. Welding is robust rather than aesthetic, but that is perfectly ok with me. The top is a rack, rather than a plate, so those sans mudguards will be more prone to splatter.
The rack’s described as compatible with disc brakes and AMPs and some bikes with ‘outboard’ callipers – handy for some retro MTB machines and rebuilds. Equally, whilst Roswheel make a point of this, the same could be said of most racks that will take a disc brake. The max axle width is 142mm.
As for wheels (and mudguards), it is designed to deal with 26 inch, 700c, 27.5 inch, and 650B set-ups. A suitably likely range for tourers and utility riders.
There’s a bracket for fitting a rear light and a small reflective log which is also a boss for strap type rear lights.
Mounting gear is refreshingly varied. By that I mean that fitting a rear rack may have to deal with a number of potentially pesky factors – position of bosses and holes for bolts, whether these are tapped properly or not, mudguards and their struts – often making reality a little different to theory. I like the additional Hex-head bolts, spacers, and additional washers (although I could have found some in the odds and ends tin, it is nice not to rummage).
Mounting and assembly 3.75/5
This is explained in an instruction leaflet. However, for those with much experience it is second nature. It’s easiest to assemble the arms before attaching the rack to the bike, of course. Beyond that it is intuitive.
I first fitted ours to onto my Surly Long-Haul Trucker, the bike of many bosses, with rim brakes. The extension arms for the drop outs were not required – 26 inch wheels - but the mudguard struts brought the spacers and the longer bolts into play. Those in place, it was simple to fit bolt the arms to the seat stay bosses, tighten up, and load on some panniers.
The process was similarly easy for the disc-braked Swallow and Landescape. Again, a lot depended on the drop-outs and the mudguard fixings. The spacers and appropriate bolts came into play.
On a more niche note, a word of warning. If you run a trailer that mounts on the axle, have a care. The special axle needed for my Surly Ted Trailer prevented me from fitting the Roswheel Tour Rear Rack – even after considerable time spent trying to bodge a solution. Fundamentally, there was not enough space to secure the hitch. This was not a problem with the previous incumbent, an aged Avenir Rack with an adjustable ‘ladder’ type bracket that secures the rack to the frame. This is unlikely to be a problem in most cases, but if you hitch your trailer to the rear axle you may want to check things out before purchasing. The same might apply if you have particularly unusual drop-outs.
Performance 4/5
I’ve used Lomo, Ortlieb, and Roswheel’s panniers, but it would be perfectly compatible with many others. The supporting strut on either side is way toward the rear, and required no adjustment of the pannier hooks. However, that was as much luck as judgment, so expect to adjust your pannier hooks and bars Regardless, carrying the full weight allowed by the rack, things were absolutely rock solid; no shake, no rattle, no roll. That has been my experience with all but the flimsiest un-branded models, so, it’s expected but reassuring, nonetheless. Things have remained stable over my usual mixed surfaces, including those bouncy setts along the canal.
For lovers of rack packs, the top is narrower than some. This has not been a problem, just check that you’ve mounted it properly. Both the squat SKS Infinity Urban Rack Pack XL as well as the Zefal Z Traveller 60, a taller, slightly narrower model. I’ve felt no obvious wobble when rattling over rough roads. Of course, the two-tiers make mounting panniers and a rack pack easier than it otherwise would be.
The light bracket is not by any means unusual on rear panniers, but it is a feature that I really like. It took very little consideration to mount the Ravemen NT101 and head off into the darkness. Of course, mounting on a strut is easy enough, even if it might take a bit of bodging. The cherry on this cake is the cylindrical mount that sits atop the rear of the rack. OK, there’s a knack to getting a watch-strap wrapped neatly around it, but once mastered it is a really useful addition. It just adds that additional option when carting panniers and the batteries in the bolt-on light go for a burton. Regular night owls will know the scenario.
Overall, the 25kg payload might mitigate against real heavyweight touring; panniers, rack pack and stuff bungeed above. Equally, some of us need a bit of discipline when it comes to loading a bike. However, 25kg should be plenty for most circumstances. I’d have no hesitation taking this on tour or carting the main shop home.
Care and durability 3.25/5
In reality, you should not need too much TLC, apart from a dab of grease on the bolts and a wipe over during your rigorous bike cleaning regime. The matt surface may well be an advantage, compared to nice shiny rails that soon show signs of contact. True, I’ve never come across a rack that doesn’t show signs of wear, eventually, and this is already scuffing up. It may notice less on a matt finish compared to others. However, a wipe over with some silicone detailer might help≥
So long as one stays within the spec, then I see no reason why this rack should not accompany you on many trips. It looks and feels robust; rails and struts feel sturdy, welds are obvious and stout. True, steel is much more budgeable and, more importantly, repairable, but aluminium has compensations (weight, lack of corrosion). I’ve only ever had one aluminium rack brake – a front low-rider that had given many years good service which snapped in an unusual accident.
Value 3.5/5
Oxford HD Alloy Luggage Rack is another disc-brake compatible model, with a slightly higher weight limit, 27kg. Whilst it has two-tier rails, they aren’t as conveniently placed as most and, being slightly curved and short are less amenable to panniers with heavy loads. True, it is much cheaper, but it doesn’t have the mounting options for the rack, or for rear lights.
Closer in price is Topeak’s Uni Super Tourist 2.0 Non-Disc Rack – it has a disc compatible stablemate which has a 26kg payload. However, it is a single tier model and can’t be swapped between bikes with or without discs. However, it is lighter.
Real kitchen sink tourers will appreciate the Tortec Expedition Rear Rack; 35kg payload, two tier, light bracket, and a similar 140mm max width. Moreover, the rrrp is still under £50. Their Tour Rear Rack is around £35rrp, has a 25kg weight capacity, but a max width of 110mm, so much less adaptable to discs or chunkier set-ups.
In a competitive market the £60 price tags feel a bit on the higher side. However, it does have some neat additional features and is well-worth a look. You never know, you may even be able to find it at a discount.
Summary
Roswheel’s Tour Rear Rack is a rock-solid bit of kit for carting your shopping or your touring gear – unless you are planning to go really heavyweight. Mounting is adaptable – a definite plus if you may want to port between bikes, especially between rim and disc-brakes. It also copes with set-ups, with 140mm max width and coming with a handy mixture of mounting fixtures.
Verdict 3.5/5 Robust rack with some nice additional features, but toward the top of the price range.
Steve Dyster
PUBLISHED MARCH 2026
