Seat-post rack vs traditional rack

[Catrin]

Last year I installed a seat-posted rack on my Gunnar. It has a 30 pound weight limit (though I would never carry that much weight), and while the rack was quite light, I could tell the difference when I was lifting my bike on/off the bike rack on my car - I think it had to do with weight distribution. I use it when I am commuting or going on a long ride to carry extra nutrition or other odds and ends that I might need although the rack is installed for the season.

Is there an advantage of a traditional rack over a stem-post mounted rack outside of the weight limitation? It does get the added weight quite a bit lower - am I over-thinking this? There is such a difference that part of me wonders if it would be safer to have the additional weight lower on the bike. My bike is small, but the way it is designed means the seat-post mounted rack is quite a bit higher. If I am over-thinking this and it is fine then cool - I don't need to spend more money on another rack - but if this is a potential safety issue then it needs to be addressed.

[malkin]

You? Over-thinking something?
Never!!

[indysteel]

How stable is the bike when you ride it with the rack? How well does it handle?

[Catrin]

You? Over-thinking something?
Never!!

LOL Malkin - I stand convicted

How stable is the bike when you ride it with the rack? How well does it handle?

It handles a bit differently with that rack but I wouldn't call it unstable. It does seem to take a little extra effort to stop, but that may simply be due to the extra weight rather than how it is distributed.