Rear rack for road bike without eyelets

I just upgraded from a flat bar hybrid (Trek 7.3 FX) to a road bike (Orbea Aqua Dama) and I love my new bike except for the fact that I have to take a backpack instead of my panniers. Not only is it very uncomfortable (I can't seem to get the backpack to stay centered on my back!) but it's also not waterproof, and in the Pacific NW that's no good...

I looked at a few different rack options, quickly discovered that I shouldn't consider putting a seatpost mounted rack on my carbon fiber seatpost and the best solution I could find is a couple Delta racks that can be mounted to little rubberized clamps that go around your frame. (Amazon has a good picture of the rack mounted on these)

My question is this- has anyone used these clamps for their racks? Do they work with (more or less) any bike rack, or would I have to get one of the Delta racks? Any downside to using these (slippage, load capacity, etc.)?

I'm not familiar with your bike, but if it has carbon seat stays or rear triangle, you don't want to use those clamps for the same reason you don't put a seatpost rack on your carbon seatpost.

I just looked at the specs on the Orbea Aqua, it does have carbon seat stays. This is not a bike meant to have a rear rack, that is why it doesn't have eyelets. Carbon can be laid up to handle the stress of loaded racks, but it has to be designed for it and they are just appearing in the top end touring bikes. Your bike was designed as a pure road bike, don't try to make it a utility bike or it may do a "Barbaro" on you.

There are [Ortlieb etc.] waterproof backpacks and with a chest and hip strap they should stay put for commuting.

good luck -

This is the bike that I have I don't think the seatstay is carbon- please correct me if this is wrong, but I don't see it mentioned anywhere.

Bontrager offers a carbon seat post ($100) that has an aluminum core which would allow you to add a seatpost rack and carry up to 25# on it, but I'm not sure I would put that much weight on a seat post rack.

Or you could just put on an aluminum seat post - cheaper for sure.

You didn't keep the Trek? Too bad. You will probably find you have as much use for a road bike as you do a hybrid. Then a commuter. Then a mtb... it never ends.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by withm

You didn't keep the Trek? Too bad..

---

Tsk, tsk.
You know how I heart my FX ;):p

http://www.gottaridebikes.com/Mercha...roduct_Count=1

You should have gotten a manual if you purchased new, if not you should have gotten a warrenty, and that would include the exclusions. Check that. The Aqua Dama is not on the Orbea site for 2009, but is supposed to be the sister of the Orbea Orca, which has a carbon rear triangle. I've checked several other store sites and they all list the Aqua Dama as at least a carbon seat stay for the TDI or full carbon rear triangle for the TDF.

I just don't want to see you void your frame warrenty on an expensive bike, or worse have a frame failure while riding.

I will double check with my bike shop and make sure nothing in the rear triangle is carbon.

So has anyone used the rubberized clamps to put a rack on their bike? Will this work with any rack, or just the racks that come with/are designed to be used with these clamps? Any suggestions on streamlined or lightweight racks?

I've done it on a steel bike. It worked fine. I used a Blackburn rack.

Have you tried a Timbuk2 messenger bag? They stay in place with the stabilizer strap. Much more comfortable than a backpack.

Another idea is the carradice sqr slim bag. My husband commutes on his carbon fiber trek, but keeps a spare seatpost/saddle with the bag clamp permanently mounted, and swaps it out when using the bag.

I commute with one too. Its large enough to accomodate a laptop, lunch, and a little bit more if necessary, although I use it on my steel touring bike w aluminum seatpost.

To answer your original question, I do know people that use those clamps just fine to tour with their steel bikes (i.e. ritchey break a way which also lacks eyelets for a rear rack). Tubus also makes some racks that mount to the same point as the brake, so maybe one of those would fit your bike.

How much stuff do you carry? Could you use a handlebar bag? Detours makes a variety of sizes.

http://detours.us/

I'm pretty sure the Aqua Dama's frame is all aluminum; no carbon seatstays. You could also switch out the carbon seatpost for an aluminum one for pretty cheap and get a seatpost mounted bag.