Help me choose...racks & bags

[kerrybelle]

I recently got a commuter bike and am having a difficult time figuring out what type of racks & bag/basket to get. I got a Specialized Globe Centrum. It's a single speed with 26" tires. You can see it here:
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEquipPopup.jsp?equipimage=/OA_MEDIA/2008/bikes/08CentrumSport_UK_l.jpg&equipmodel=Globe%20Centrum%20Sport

My commute is under 6 miles each way. I went with the single speed due to the simplicity and my route is relatively flat.

My LBS sold me a rear rack that extends off the seat post. I got a bag for it, but the bag doesn't seem stable. It attaches to the rack with velcro but with a load in it, it seems top heavy. Hope this makes sense.

I'm starting to think I may be better off with a traditional rack and maybe a basket of some sort. I'm not sure I really need the bag. It does have fold out panniers on it.

If not a basket, I was thinking about the Topeak MTX series. The bag attaches to the rack with a rail and quick release set up. Again, I'm not so sure I need a bag system.

Any thoughts or ideas for me. I know my LBS doesn't like taking things back, but I don't think what I have now is what I want/need.

Thanks,
Kerry

[KnottedYet]

Full racks are great, nice and stable even when I load my bike lopsided or with an awkward shaped object. I've had them on all my utility bikes over the years. And with a trunk bag and extendible panniers, you'd have a very nice and flexible set up! It seems like your shop should take back the seat post rack if you haven't used it (I mean, you *did* just buy a bike from them! And they want to keep you happy so you send your friends there.)

So, I'd exchange the rack, but keep the trunk bag with the fold-out panniers.

Cool bike, just went to the Specialized site... more bikes calling my name. I feel like a velocipede Lothario.

[GLC1968]

I might have a solution for you. This is what I want to get for my commuter.

Trek has a rack called the Interchange. It's a regular rack that fits regular trunks and panniers BUT, it also fits the Interchange stuff which snaps on and off super easy. My husband has one and uses the interchange panniers for his commute. I'm going to get one because I want to get the rear basket. It snaps on and off and has a handle to carry around the grocery store or farmers market! I'm pretty sure I'll be able to use this basket AND my panniers at the same time.

http://media.trekbikes.com/images/products/x-large/402784.jpg

http://media.trekbikes.com/images/products/x-large/402781.jpg

[kerrybelle]

Ooh, I really like that idea. I was thinking a basket might be more usefull on my commute and the option of using the bag/panniers, is great.

I'll have to get over to the other LBS, since they have Trek.

[spotlightmama]

My DH just got the Topeak Explorer Rack (here (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FIE3WI)) and the MTX Trunk Bag with Panniers (here (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FIAU0W)).

The panniers just snap right on and are super easy to use. The material is not the highest quality by any means, but they seem pretty good and he is really happy with them. He has a 24-mile round-trip commute and was able to bring quite a bit of stuff with him. He's a teacher and these hold a ton of papers, too.

Good luck finding the right bags!

[CarbonCandy]

GLC, that basket is super amazing. We stock it and I've sold soooo many people on that thing with its easy on and off-ness. (The whole trek interchange thing in general) And yes you can use the panniers with the bag. I smiled as soon as I scrolled down the screen and saw that basket. It's my favorite :D

[kerrybelle]

I think I'm going to go with the Topeak explorer series. Since I'm on a budger, I'll start with the basket and get the expandable bag with panniers later.

The Trek system looks a little better, since it doesn't have the sliding track. I'm not sure it's worth the difference in price.

[uforgot]

I have both the Trek interchange system and the Topeak sliding rack system. I like them both, but I'm not sure what you mean by the Trek not having the sliding rack? The interchange system accessories snap on actually a little easier than the Topeak. You just push them in and snap the back. The Topeak you have to slide and then snap. The Trek rack also holds my basil basket that has a quick release as it is a little sturdier than the Topeak, and also doesn't have the track in the way. I like both systems. I got the Topeak rack because I wanted a smaller bag for my commuter bike, and the small bag I got only fits on Topeak racks. The Topeak bags are NOT interchangeable with other systems. They have no velcro attachments so they only go on the Topeak rack. The Trek interchange bag on the other hand can be put on racks other than the Trek one.

They're both very secure. I like the compactness and looks (HA...my bottom line!) of the Topeak, and the ease of the Trek.

Hope I didn't muddle your decision any more. Maybe you should go to a shop and compare?

[spotlightmama]

You do have to slide the bag on, but the Topeak panniers that DH has do have velcro strips at each corner to help secure the bag on. Maybe that's just these bags, though.

[kerrybelle]

I took the bag back to my LBS. They said they would take the beam rack back as well, but I can't use a traditional rack. They will order the Topeak beam rack and bag for me. I'm just concerned that the rack, where it locks in, will be too close to my saddle. They also have a basket that will lock in, but that poses the same dilemma.

I'm just bummed because I think the traditional rack would be better.

Maybe I need to start looking at something for my handlebars?

The saga continues......

[KnottedYet]

Why can't you use a regular rack? Did the LBS say why?

Looking at the pic of your bike on the specialized website, it appears to have eyelets for a rack and fenders. (or at least, two eyelet-looking thingies down near the rear hub, one pair for a fender, and one pair for a rack.) And braze-ons for front and rear racks. Granted, the rear braze-ons are a bit lower than average for the top stays of a regular rack, but they look usable with the bendy stays you can get these days.

[uforgot]

Why can't you use a regular rack? Did the LBS say why?

Looking at the pic of your bike on the specialized website, it appears to have eyelets for a rack and fenders. (or at least, two eyelet-looking thingies down near the rear hub, one pair for a fender, and one pair for a rack.) And braze-ons for front and rear racks. Granted, the rear braze-ons are a bit lower than average for the top stays of a regular rack, but they look usable with the bendy stays you can get these days.

I'm wondering too? I've had the Trek rack installed on
1)Trek 7.1fx
2)Nishiki mixte
3)Raleigh Step through
4)Surly Cross Check

The Trek bag wouldn't fit under my Nishiki's seat, so that's why I ordered the itty bitty Topeak.

Seems there aren't too many that they won't go on. Have your lbs help you. Like knotted said, there are different stays and they have to bend. It either hooks to the center bar or to your rack braze-ons.

[kerrybelle]

Apparently, it does not have eyelets at the rear hub. I know nothing about racks & such. The owners GF has the same bike and he told me he ordered her a rack and that they won't work on this model.

Why would there be braze-ons if you can't install a rack? Do they have other uses?

I'm planning to call another Specialized dealer today and see what they say.

[KnottedYet]

What are those things down near the hub, then? They are right where eyelets should be. From the pic, they look like steel buttons or recievers set into the softer aluminum. Are they faux eyelets? :confused: Kinda like body piercing for bikes?

And I don't know of any other function for braze-ons on the fork and seatstay where they are in the pic of your bike, except for racks.

Maybe DebW or Ridebikeme would know...

[kerrybelle]

What are those things down near the hub, then? They are right where eyelets should be. From the pic, they look like steel buttons or recievers set into the softer aluminum. Are they faux eyelets? :confused: Kinda like body piercing for bikes?


I don't know what they are, but I see/know what you're talking about.

I did call another Specialized dealer and was told the same thing. They said there is one company that makes a rack that can be retrofit to this bike. Some of it has to do with it having disc brakes, but they make racks for disc brakes, do I don't know.

Since I really want to have something that locks in, I had the LBS order the Topeak beam rack and basket. Sure hope it works out for me.

Thanks for all your input.

[kerrybelle]

So, I just sent Specialized an e-mail asking them about my dilema. I'll see what they have to say about all this.

I look at the picture here: http://www.topeak.com/products/Racks/ExplorerTubularRack_discMount and I just can't figure out what the problem is. There has to be something, since 3 people from 2 different shops have told me the same thing.

[Torrilin]

Disc brakes are a real problem with racks. It's usually possible to kludge something together, but it's still a kludge.

Since you have a rigid front end, a front basket may work. Mine handles all sorts of stuff quite well (it's held everything from days worth of produce at the farmer's market to a couple jackets, snacks and books). I'm really happy with it and wish more people had sung the praises of front loads when I was shopping for my first bike.

A lot of people will swear up and down that a front load is a terrible idea. They're wrong. If your bike has nice stable steering, it is probably a good basket candidate. If your bike has a front end that *looks* like it should be relaxed and stable, but it feels a bit twitchy, it's worth trying a front load... some bikes get more stable that way. A really racy bike often won't do well with a front load tho... the handling can get weird.

If you go this route, look for a basket with a rigid mount. Basil and several other European companies make removable baskets using the KlickFix mounting system. Topeak and Wald have their own systems. KlickFix is the only one used by multiple manufacturers, so the others are (of course) incompatible. There are cheaper front baskets that don't have a rigid mount... *not* a good idea if you're using the basket a lot (Velo Orange sells a Basil one that just has hooks for example). Removable baskets usually can't handle more than about 10lbs.

A permanent basket mount (like on Wald's 157 (http://www.waldsports.com/index.cfm/wald157basket.html)) can work too, and might be easier than a rack. That kind of setup can carry more weight than a handlebar mount. It's not as convenient for shopping. The strongest setup is a front rack and permanent basket, but it's rather expensive and can make the bike's handling very strange if it's not designed for heavy front loads.

Handlebar bags tend to have the same weight limits as removable baskets. There are a lot of KlickFix compatible ones out there, which could be convenient in the long run. The big ones tend to be more expensive than a basket and not as useful for shopping and errands, so I'm not a big fan. You can get improvements with a rack/bag setup, but it's got the same caveats as a rack and basket and it costs about 2-3x as much.

[F8th637]

My Kona Sutra has disc brakes but it also has the proper eyelets down there to attach and I've been able to put two different racks on there. The one I had before I just zip-tied to the seat post. It worked great but I recently bought a different rack that has long arms that hit the braze-ons underneath the seat post. You can check the picture here (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v442/f8th637/IMG_1895-1.jpg).

I do have the issue you mentioned though with it being too close to the seat post and so I can't really attach an under-the-seat bag there. I use a trunk bag every now and then but typically just stick to a pannier or a shopping basket on the trunk. If you think the rack I just bought might work for you I can give you the details about it.

[kerrybelle]

I got my new rack & bag put on my bike today. I went with this Topeak set-up:

http://www.topeak.com/products/Racks/MTXBeamRackV-Type

http://www.topeak.com/products/Bags/MTXTrunkBagDXP

I was going to go with the basket, to save money, but the LBS ordered me the bag. I was ultimately going to get both, so it wasn't that big of deal to take the bag.

Should work out well for me. Now that my bike is all set up, I'll get a picture & post it on the show your commuter thread.

Thanks for all the help, everyone.

Kerry

[lovelylibrarian]

I tried panniers on my commuter bike but they interfered with my pedal stroke. I'm sure I could have found other ones but I don't like having to take them off and on the bike all the time. I eventually got a rear rack and attached a wire basket to it. It works really well because I'm not limited too much by the size of things I can put in there and I don't have to worry about someone steeling it while my bike is parked. I can fit a whole grocery bag in there or use a mesh bungy cord and attach odd shaped things.