We're in need of a good, reliable low-rider front rack for long distance touring. I've come across a good number of heavy-duty front racks with low rider rails like this from blackburn
(source: blackburndesign.com)
But they get pretty pricey, and seem to include a lot of bulk we don't need just to hang some panniers. The best option I've seen to date is this front rack I spotted that comes with the new REI adv 1.1
but after a few inquiries it sounds like there isn't any way to get the rack on its own. There are also options like the Salsa Down under or Blackburn cl1 which looked promising, except they require midfork eyelets on the outside and inside, of which we only have outside midfork eyelets.
The axiom journey rack also looked promising and at a good price
but it doesn't seem intended for use with frame eyelets, and moreover, it doesn't look like it can be mounted level with the ground (I've heard this is important, but correct me if I'm wrong).
I figure there is a solid chance I'm just searching for something that doesn't exist, but it would be awesome to find a minimal, inexpensive front rack. I've also seen things like this Tubus
which look good but come at a steep price. Maybe that's just the price you have to pay, but I'm hopeful there might be some alternative.