Hi Pam!

Glad you've bought a cool bike and love it! I have a 7100 fx myself and it still serves me well as my commuter bike. I have ridden a few hybrids and it's certainly one of the most efficient out there. (Now maybe you have the "comfort" version, not the sporty "fx" but I think it's just as good based on other people's comments.)

You'll soon get more comfortable with balancing the bike, and you may not be bothered by weight on the rack anymore. However since I have discovered panniers I have not looked back. I went to a local used-sports-gear store and found an old pair of nylon panniers for $12. They're not waterproof and they don't look very good, but the pair fits letter-size documents and books, my lunch and a change of clothes for the day, plus my U-Lock and other stuff too sometimes. My husband has fancier Axiom panniers that are waterproof (think wet bag) and also a lot bigger, but for my needs that was not necessary. (I can always cover them when the rain comes.)

I can ride with just one pannier and it's not a problem. My mom, who rides around her town to do errands, has a folding wire pannier that attaches to the side of her rack. She says she was surprised last week when she totally overfilled it (on just one side) and was still balanced riding the bike home. Bicycles + human brain and body = neat, powerful machine, it seems.

I don't see what use a trunk rack would be for me, especially since I often would need to take it off to go inside while my bike stays parked outside. But depending on your use it might work for you. Others will chime in.

Welcome to TE and good luck!