Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
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SimWorks Burrito Rack Review + RAL Extra Rice & Beans Bag: First Look/Campout
Announced in the spring, the SimWorks Burrito Rack is a Japanese-made rear bag support with a highly adaptable design that makes it perfect for frames without rack mounts. Miles has been testing it out alongside the matching RAL Extra Rice & Beans Bag, and you can find his two-in-one review here…
There are so many rack options these days. From lightweight and modular carbon systems to burly steel options rated for 70+ pounds, some might say everything’s been done at this point. Some racks allow you to mount them to your axle, some have provisions to mount cargo cages on the vertical struts, and a few of the latest rear racks come with time-saving, quick-release mechanisms. What will they come up with next?
SimWorks found a way to change the rear rack game with their new Burrito Rack, which can be mounted to practically any bicycle frame whether it has any rack mounts or not. It gets around this by clamping directly to the seatpost and either to lower seat stay bosses or clamping directly onto the stay using some rubber coated clamps. The RAL Extra Rice & Beans Bag, which was released at the same time, serves as a functional rear rack bag for stashing ride essentials and snacks. Emily and I have taken turns using both to see how they work running errands around town, riding out for afternoon swims, and as part of a bikepacking setup.
SimWorks Burrito Rack Review
Made of tubular chromoly steel by Nitto in Japan, the SimWorks Burrito Rack is a compact rear bag support that can fit a wide range of bikes. It attaches securely to the seatpost and both seat stays using adjustable struts that can be eyelet-mounted or connected with included clamps. The Burrito Rack can serve as a support for a larger Carradice-style bag attached to your saddle or as a standalone rack for a smaller bag or drysack lashed directly to the rack using Voile straps or cords anchored to the studs on the underside of the rack.
The rack weighs just 410 grams (406 grams on our scale with struts + seat stay clamps) and includes trim-to-length aluminum struts, stainless steel hardware, and two rubber-coated pipe clamps for bikes without rack mounts. SimWorks recommends a minimum clearance of 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) between the top of the rear tire and the seatpost clamp position. It’ll fit seatposts between 26.8 and 27.2mm, though with a little ingenuity and longer hardware, we’ve been able to fit it onto a 31.6mm seatpost too.
The Burrito Rack is simple yet functional. It’s quick to install or swap between bikes, the two-bolt seatpost clamp system has proven to be solid, and the entire setup is fairly minimal and low profile. With about four inches between the rack’s strut mounts, I had no problem mounting the rack onto a plus-tire bike. The roughly 5 x 10″ platform isn’t huge, but it’s enough to hold a small dry bag or the optional Extra Rice & Beans Bag. I didn’t have a Carradice-style bag on hand to test it with, but I can’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work equally well as a bag support.
The only major downside is the lack of adjustability. Since the rack’s strut mounts are fixed, the struts can only pivot vertically and don’t offer the ability to pivot outward or inward like some racks. Thankfully, the aluminum struts have some flex and could be bent slightly to accommodate different setups, although you wouldn’t want to be repeating that process over and over for different bikes. The seatpost mount is also fixed, so if the 4.7″ drop isn’t enough for your bike, you’re sadly out of luck.
Pros
- Lightweight
- No rack mounts required
- Minimal yet functional
- Pairs perfectly with the optional Extra Rice & Beans Bag
- Enough clearance for big-tired bikes
Cons
- Pricey at $200
- No hardware for larger diameter seat posts
- Top platform isn’t huge
- Limited adjustability
- Capacity: 22 pounds (10 kilograms)
- Material: Chromoly Steel/Aluminum
- Weight: 406 grams
- Place of Manufacture: Japan
- Price: $200 USD
- Manufacturer’s Details: Sim.Works
RAL Extra Rice & Beans Bag Review
Alongside the Burrito Rack, SimWorks commissioned Cody Forsythe of Jack Supply in Portland to make a matching compact roll-top bag. The RAL Extra Rice & Beans Bag is offered in five color and material combinations, and it features Fidlock magnetic closure hardware, a roll-top design, a padded base with reinforced lower walls, a purpose-built webbing attachment system, D-rings for connecting a shoulder strap, dual daisy chains on the bottom, and a reflective chevron design for a little added visibility.
It’s not a massive bag, but it has proven infinitely useful for running errands around town and riding out to local swimming spots. It’s spacious enough for a couple of camp towels, fizzy drinks, and a bike lock, which is pretty much all I’ve been riding around with locally this summer. I can’t see it being large enough for most bikepacking trips, but I did sneak out to Vancouver Island on a quick overnighter recently and got by using the Burrito Rack/Rice & Beans Bag combo alongside a large Rockgeist Meanwhile Wald 139 Basket Bag.
I was surprised at just how stable the bag was on the rack, especially considering how quick it is to install and remove. Two cords lace through the reinforced base and loop onto the studs on the bottom of the rack. A plastic cordlock-style buckle cinches them tight and results in a wiggle-free setup, even when loaded up. The roll-top closure expands when needed, the circular Fidlock SNAP buckle holds tight and is easy to adjust. I could see the shoulder strap D-rings being really useful for running errands too.
It’s nice to see some thoughtful details in the design, such as the magnetic closure at the top of the roll-top opening, reflective detailing, webbing base, and high-vis interior. All of these elements add to the bag’s functionality and versatility, making it a pleasure to use, and the fact that it looks great is a bonus.
SimWorks is currently working on some new collaborations with Jack Supply, and as of right now, the Extra Rice & Beans Bag is completely sold out. They expect a restock this fall, so we’ll be sure to share the news when they’re back. When they are available, they are priced at $120.
Pros
- Several thoughtful details and functional design
- Lightweight
- Quick to install/remove
- Unique color options
- Wiggle-free!
Cons
- Pricey at $120, but justified for a high quality US-made bag
- Not large enough for a dedicated bikepacking bag
- Not waterproof, but highly weather-resistant
- Limited availability
- Capacity: 5L (rolled)
- Material: Cordura/X-Pac VX21/X-Pac VX50
- Weight: 212 grams
- Place of Manufacture: USA
- Price: $120 USD
- Manufacturer’s Details: Sim.Works
Wrap Up
Despite being limited to attaching directly to a seatpost and not including hardware for larger diameter posts, the SimWorks Burrito Rack packs a solid punch for its weight class. At 406 grams, it’s among the lightest rear racks we’ve seen, making it a great option for supporting a larger saddle bag or simply lashing a drybag onto. Its major selling point is its ability to work with frames lacking rear rack mounts, which could be useful for vintage mountain bike projects or even some modern hardtail mountain bikes.
The RAL Extra Rice & Beans Bag is a great bag for lightweight summer overnighters and commuting. I appreciate how it secures to the Burrito Rack, and the extra webbing straps on the bottom also mean you could use a couple Voile straps to secure it onto any rack you’re using. Plus, the roll-top closure + Fidlock buckle combination is slick and easy to use. It’s too bad they are are sold out for the time being, but we’ll be sure to share the news when they are restocked!
Further Reading
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