Reddit mentions of Sunlite Gold Tec Front Rack, 26"/700c, Black

its this cheap one. works OK with the Wald 137 for groceries or my backpack. Don't think I would trust it for anything very heavy

I made one: https://instagram.com/p/BYEIPVlHlxW/

I bought this Sunlite Gold Tec Front Rack, 26"/700c, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002MKHR6G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_BMO8ngFtfJywW and this Vaultz Locking Personal Security Box, 7.75 x 7.25 x 10 Inches, Black (VZ00102-2) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004Q86PNI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_wFngWCmqhqJbk and then just used some nuts and bolts (and drilled a hole) to put it all together!

Sunlite Gold Tec. Mounts right to the canti bosses on your fork, as well as the fork crown. Solid little rack for cheap.

I am a big fan of hybrids for the type of riding you describe. They can also handle mild unpaved surfaces. Test ride the Specialized Sirrus, Giant Escape, Cannondale Quick, and Fuji Absolute. Those 4 all price closely at each spec level. There are many other brands with models in that class too depending on the bike shops near you (Marin, Jamis, Kona, Felt, Scott). Shop convenience and service quality should be factors in your decision.

I'd recommend getting at least an 8 speed in the rear. It's easy to upgrade later and has smaller jumps between gears. Rim vs. disc brakes are up to you. If you don't plan on riding in foul weather, rim brakes are good enough and give you a very convenient front rack option.

Zip tied to this awesome little rack right here:

http://amzn.com/B002MKHR6G

is there a specific keyword i should be using? or do i just have to find a lighter basket that just clamps to the handlebars?

i am trying to find a front basket that is at least 12x9.5 wide, but they all mount like the one above

i found this

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002MKHR6G/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A15MD58ELY2BCA&psc=1

could i use that plus the basket, just having the basket clamped to the handlebars and "resting" on the rack?

i am not planning on putting a lot of weight there, just food/grocery type stuff

Probably the cheapest end of the spectrum as far as cheap-but-still-functional front racks go:

SunLite Gold Tec

Anecdotes and mods aplenty here.

There's this. I put it on my budget beater shopping bike because I wanted something to securely zip tie that shallow plastic crate to. It was working well but as I got more daring with loading up the front, the tab attaching it to the fork crown eventually broke so I replaced it with a piece of cheap flat steel that I bent into shape and drilled a couple holes to fit. Realizing the amount of weight I wanted to carry was going to be too much for those 3 anchor points, I decided to rig up some Wald basket struts between the front axle to the front of that small rack. Now I'm able to haul upwards of 20 lbs up front. I realize I could have simply ordered a Wald front basket but I prefer the shallow edges, look and fit of that plastic crate. The shallow Wald "pizza delivery" style rack sits too high up and is anchored to the handlebars. This puts my load lower over the wheel and gives me room to stack taller items without blocking my view.

You can always get a front rack and then attach whatever size basket you want. There are a ton of smaller sized metal baskets that you would use in a kitchen, for instance, that could be useful.

If you have v brake mounts, this rack https://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-Gold-Front-Rack-Black/dp/B002MKHR6G/ref=pd_bxgy_468_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B002MKHR6G&pd_rd_r=220633cb-e138-11e8-9996-bd5c2b1c099d&pd_rd_w=zU6Sk&pd_rd_wg=5tfTR&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=N2MR0EK7WNKM1RS7KVVA&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=N2MR0EK7WNKM1RS7KVVA is surprisingly inexpensive and strong.

I use the linked rack with a wald basket zip-tied to it on one of my bikes and haven't had a problem, even with some considerably weight loads. Imgur

Sunlite makes a front rack that fits a six pack well. Throw a bungee over the pack and you're good to go.

You could also buy a growler cage if you buy your beer in bulk

Well there is the new Rawland rack that attaches to brazeons not Canti studs.

There is the cheap Sunlite rack in black

Everything else I know of is bigger and or mounts to the fork dropouts. Simworks, Pass&Stow, HaulinColin all come in black.