We know what you’re thinking, first panniers weren’t cool, then little bags on your frame weren’t cool, then bags on your frame were very cool,
but they could wobble unless lashed down tight. The cool kids all went with frame bags and avoided using a rear rack and then along came Taifin and re-wrote the rule book.
By total chance I got to ride with two of the guys from Tailfin at the recent Rapha Pennine Rally.
I’m not sure that I’d clocked much more than the fact they were using Tailfin bags. Right at the end, I posted a picture of James and Dan. They were very tired and hungry, having been fueled only by one can of light beer,
but I gave the poor guys a pile of questions about their luggage system that
I thought I’d share the answers with you. For those new to Tailfin, its product range consists primarily of a variety of carbon or alloy racks,
with matching luggage, designed to be “light, easily accessible and aerodynamic.”
Gravel Union - Tell us a little bit about the Tailfin system? How does it work and can it be fitted to any bike?
Tailfin -
Tailfin’s approach is quite unique in providing elegant and versatile load carrying solutions designed to fit almost every style and make of bike on the market. We also cater for all types of riding,
from road touring, commuting all the way through to wilderness bikepacking. One aspect of our design that might have been overlooked by a lot of riders is there actually isn’t just one blanket
‘Tailfin’. Despite a similar and quite characteristic outline there are actually two distinct types - the Rack and the
AeroPack.
The Tailfin Rack is similar in principle to a standard pannier rack, in that it has a rigid structure made up of the large arch and a topstay connecting it to the seatpost. All luggage is then removable,
including the AP20 Trunk Top bag. The AeroPack does away with the topstay and the bag itself becomes a structural part of the rack (it has a strong aluminium frame inside it)
and can’t be removed from the rest of the system. We like to think of the AeroPack not as a rack but more like a rigid seatpack.
The reason they look the same is that at the heart of every Tailfin setup is a modular design with the same arch,
bag and some hardware being shared amongst all styles. What this means is that the rider can swap parts around to convert their Tailfin from Rack to AeroPack or vice versa. You can choose from carbon or alloy for the main components, as well as opting for side pannier mounts for added load carrying. Carbon is lighter whilst the alloy version has added triple bosses for attaching cargo cages etc.
The mounting system is also pretty unique as there are actually three different ways to fit a Tailfin system to your bike: axle mount, frame mounting with adapters or direct frame mounting. It’s by creating our own axle system (which replaces your standard quick release or bolt through rear axle with a dedicated Tailfin axle) that has allowed riders of bikes without dedicated frame mounts to be able to finally use a proper, full-size way of carrying luggage. Mounting through the axle is also an incredibly strong way of doing so and minimises stresses on even delicate carbon frames.
It’s why we can even recommend a maximum weight limit of up to 27 kilograms (when using the trunk top bag and pannier bags) even when fitted to a superlight carbon road bike.
One of the other aspects of the Racks and AeroPacks we are particularly proud of is the fact they allow riders of very small frames or those with low saddle heights the ability to run a full capacity rear pack. It’s something a lot of riders have struggled with and we are working on developing even more products to allow every rider the opportunity to carry as much as they need. All of these advantages are even before we mention that, thanks to the rigid structure of the arch, riding with a loaded Tailfin setup has minimal impact on the handling of a bike. You can forget about the annoying sway associated with a loaded seatpack, we’ve eliminated it!
GU - What about the Holy Grail of rear packs, one which fits with a dropper post?
Tailfin - The great news for dropper users is that all Tailfin systems are dropper compatible as no force is applied to the saddle or top of the seatpost when fitting or carrying. This goes for both our Racks and AeroPacks. You do obviously have to consider the fact that having a large bag behind the saddle will hinder the effectiveness of a dropper post to some extent, as it will impact how far you can slide off the back of the saddle - this is the same for every saddle bag though.
For riders wanting to retain the maximum amount of travel on their dropper we would always recommend going for an AeroPack with the Extended Seatpost Connector as this pushes the top bag as far back as possible. This setup is also one of the best for riders with small frames or low saddle heights as it also maximises the amount of storage you can get with our top bags.
GU - The clamping system looks both very simple to use, yet is a complex piece of design - how well does it cope when being rattled to death over rough gravel?
TF -
Both points of attachment (at the seatpost and the axle/frame) have been designed to wrap 360 degrees around the point it is being fixed to, ensuring an incredibly secure fit.
At the seatpost we have a few features that help that security. Firstly, the strap itself is made with a soft TPU overmoulded around a stainless steel core to prevent any possible snappage. The locking lever mechanism has a cam action to generate a strong clamping force without needing large amounts of physical effort and finally the lever also features an additional lock to prevent accidental release.
At the lower fixing point between the arch and your frame our FRD (Fast Release Dropouts) have been designed to wrap snugly around our axle or dedicated frame adapters. A retractable pin mechanism locks the folding design securely but still allows for quick, one handed release. We further increase the “rattle free” design by adding replaceable nylon bushings between axle and dropout to keep things silent. You can increase the security of the dropouts further by using the optional Torx bolt that will secure both sides and prevent quick release.
Of course, if you want the absolute security and your frame allows for it then bolting the arch to your frame is going to give you a permanent fix and guarantee a trouble free ride. You would however have to consider the strength rating of your frame’s mounting bosses and also the maximum permissible weight limit they will allow.
GU - And if you break something, and I ask this as I’m quite good at breaking the unbreakable, can you get spares?
TF -
It’s a really important question and one that we get asked a lot too thanks to the complicated look of Tailfin kit! A standout feature of all Tailfin products is their modular nature.
This is a crucial feature ensuring any damage that might occur during the everyday life of your Tailfin system doesn’t necessarily mean the end of a product's life.
Firstly all Tailfin mounting systems share the same bolt sizes and secondly there are several shared components. For example, you might have spotted that both our Rack and
AeroPacks share the same arch and also the same trunk top bag (the AP20) - it’s only the way they attach that changes.
All components are available to purchase separately so it might be a simple and relatively cost effective way to repair your system and get back on the road. We also offer a pretty comprehensive 5 year guarantee against any manufacturing defects as well as a great crash replacement policy to get spares at a 30% discount.
GU - Is that cargo cages that we see too? Are you making matching bags? Or will any dry bag and strap work?
TF -
We released the Tailfin Cargo Cage in December 2020 in both a three bolt (small) and 4 bolt (large) version. It’s been really well received thanks to all the cool little details like a built-in bottle opener (our favourite feature!) The fact it can be converted from a cradle to an ‘L’ shaped cage dependent upon what you want to carry puts it above any other cage on the market. Plus, it’s been carefully shaped to be kind to bags and with multiple strap mounting slots. Each mounting point also has a rubber insert to prevent damage to frames and to ensure a perfect fit even on rounded tubes.
Like any cage it will fit standard dry bags and packing straps but we might just be working on some far better solutions - watch this space.
GU - What about the future? Any exciting plans you’d like to share?
TF -
Where do we start! One of the best things about the team here at Tailfin is we are totally passionate about innovating and creating new products all the time and right now we have far more plans for products than we have actual time to develop everything. That being said, 2021 is proving to be a very exciting time for Tailfin and we have several products due to be launched in the next few months that have the potential to have huge impacts on the bikepacking front. You might want to look at the setups some of our supported riders such as Ben Davies, Jason Black, Andy Cox and Jay Petervary have been (or are going to be using) for some potential new products.
In terms of what I can share with you, probably even more important than introducing new products is the fact we are in the middle of a plan to ensure a robust and dependable supply line. This should mean that in a couple of months’ time we will be back to having great stock availability across the board - something we have been stressing over for a long time.
