rear rack on a road bike?

[Somerville]

Hi -

I'm a new road bike owner ... Trek Pilot 1.2 WSD ... and I'm wondering about racks / panniers on road bikes. Is that taboo - like putting a kick stand on a road bike? More importantly, I don't want to add too much extra weight since the thing I love most about this bike is how light it is. On th other hand, I'm riding with a backpack and I kind of hate it. Actually, my lower back kind of hates it. I'd love to lighten the load on my back without messing up my bike. Any suggestions?

Thanks!
- Betsy

[7rider]

Does the bike have eyelets for a rack?
If you want one, and it helps the kind of riding you do, and the bike can accept one, then put a rack on it!
If you want to do rides light and fast, without a rack, look for a rack that can clamp onto your seatpost (assuming you don't have a carbon seatpost, as I don't think you can put a rack on one of those) that you can quickly remove for "rack free riding."

[makbike]

If it will make you more comfortable and the your bike can accept a rack I vote to do it! I have an old touring bike that came with a rack and I love it. Keep in mind weight has never been an issue given my bike tips the scales at about 30 lbs so the light weight rack did not add a lot of weight to my "tank." I also have a kick stand on my bike and love it as well. Again, weight is not the issue convenience and comfort are, at least for me.

[Zen]

The Pilot 1.2 has a carbon seatpost.
I have a seatbag that I stuffed a pair of pants in today.
how much stuff do you need to carry?

[boy in a kilt]

I don't believe the Trek 1.2 has eyelets for a rack.

You could do a seatpost rack, but with a carbon fiber seatpost, it could be problematic. I had a friend who put one on hers and did a light loaded tour with no problems. However, CF is a little unpredictable and when it fails, it fails catastrophically with little warning.

If you don't have a ton of stuff to pack in, you could try the velo-orange Ostrich or carradice saddle bags.

[withm]

Trek offers a carbon fiber seat post that is reinforced with aluminum inside. If you get that one, then you can put a seat post rack on it but there is still a limit of 25# for the rack. I got one so when I ride to work I could ditch the backpack and carry my stuff more easily. At first I took the rack off for recreational rides, but it's too much bother. Much more convenient to just leave it on. Do I care what other cyclists think? Not hardly!