- Quick and easy set up - Lightweight - Fits snug with the bike frame
- Uneven weight distribution of bags had a large effect on riding coordination and balance Tool Storage Bag
Born and bred in New Zealand, Aeroe is a bike packing brand committed to making riding long distances as effortless as it is fun.
Known for its clever designs that place a focus on ease of setup, Aeroe has opened up the doors of adventure to a whole new pool of riders: these bikepacking racks are not only compatible with hardtails, but also with full suspension enduro and e-mountain bikes to boot.
Having tested out Aeroe’s signature Spider Rear Rack and Handlebar Cradle in the past, we were very impressed by the uncomplicated, yet versatile structure. With the release of the new Spider Front Rack, Aeroe has continued this minimalistic streak with a rack that attaches directly to the lower legs of the forks.
Keen to hit the unbeaten track, Flow got hold of this fresh product to test it out on the trail.
It’s no wonder Aeroe has a list of Design and Innovation Awards to its name, because installing this rack is one speedy process.
The first time I went about putting the rack on my bike, I did find it fiddly to work out. After the first hurdle, however, the process was as fast as anything to complete.
Similar to other Aeroe racks, the Spider Front Rack only has two points of contact with the bike. These include four bolts and four straps, which attach to the lower legs of the fork. If this wasn’t simple enough, all the bolts on this rack are the same size, so a 5mm hex key is the most you need to get the job done.
The Spider Front Rack is claimed to be compatible with most bikes on the market (excluding fat bikes which have much wider tyres.) Installing the rack onto my own bike, it was a bit of a stretch to fit it across the RockShox ZEB. Once the straps were tightened, however, the rack’s foundation was very solid.
Once the rack is on, the options for bag attachments are almost limitless. With Quick Mount Pods, pannier holders and dry bags, you are free to choose your own journey with what you want to mount to your bike and how.
I experimented by placing the pods and dry bags on either side of the rack, or with just one positioned on top. In all configurations, everything fitted close to the frame.
Out of the many ways the Front Rack can be run, my go to set up would have to be with the bag on the top of the rack. This arrangement had the least effect on balance and control of the front-end, and proved to be the most efficient option when riding the more rugged trails Aeroe racks are made to withstand.
Making adjustments to the rack has been made simple with their easy-access tightening points. The bolts are very conveniently faced towards the outside of the bike, and on the rare occasion that one does come loose, it is a very quick problem to fix.
The weight of the front rack with one cradle is 1.11kgs and has a maximum capacity of 16kgs.
The front-end of the bike is a rider’s main control centre, and so weight distribution is key to the Front Rack’s set up.
With bags attached to either side of the rack, I found differences in weight very noticeable. This made the bike difficult to control, especially when increasing the load of each bag. Installing the bags to the top of the rack had a more comfortable effect, and this became my go-to set up when riding.
If more demanding singletrack is on the cards for a trip, I would recommend limiting the weight applied to the Front Rack. Distributing heavier gear to a rear rack not only benefits handling but also general trail-visibility while on the move. Because of this, it is worth taking the time to organise gear evenly and according to terrain, before setting out.
Even though load can be a problem, a stand-out feature of this rack has to be its sturdiness. Putting this rack through its paces on some particularly bumpy outings, nothing threatened to come loose or fly off the bike. On top of this, the system is very quiet while riding, which comes as a blessing for longer journeys.
A close-fitting design is yet another positive of this rack. Heading into tighter sections of trail is always a worry when your bike resembles a bowling ball, but, with Aeroe, this is not a problem. All accessories and bags fit snug to the frame, making it easy to navigate skinny singletrack sections even with the full rack and bag complex installed.
Overall, I was happy with the Front Rack’s performance and would have no qualms in using it to carry lighter loads on the trail. S tylish, yet effective, any Aeroe rack gets me excited to head out on the bike.
Music Stand Carrying Bag Bring on more overnight adventures to come!