rear rack on a road bike?

[Triskeliongirl]

My husband commutes on his carbon trek5500 with a carradice sqr slim bag, but he changed out the carbon seatpost for a thompson aluminum one (also light weight). He also removes the bag clamp (3 oz) for club riding. Another friend does the same, but has two seatpost/saddles, one that is aluminum for carrying the carradice bag and one that is carbon for fast club rides, and he just switches them. I also commute with this bag (just google carradice sqr slim), but keep it always on my commuter bike. It is the lightest option I know for commuting, and will hold a laptop plus some clothes, lunch, etc.

[Torrilin]

My bike is how I get around. So it's got a rack. It's got a kickstand. It's got lights. All those "uncool" things that add extra weight but make it better for getting around .

Since your seatpost is carbon, a handlebar bag or big saddlebag might work better than trying to go for a seatpost rack. It can be really easy to overload a seatpost rack, and they get exciting if they're overloaded.

If you find yourself wanting to do a lot of utility biking, you may want to get a bike that can take a rack and fenders, and keep the pilot for going *zoom*.

[mimitabby]

If you can get it on, put it on!

People on road bikes need to carry stuff too.
Now if you're racing, that's different.

[invsblwmn]

I put a rear rack on my cannondale and don't know how I commuted without it. It was a pain in the neck to do, took about 3 hours and about 500 4 letter words(should have been 15 minutes and maybe 2 four letter words). BUT trust me, I use it every day and my back loves me and now I don't DRIVE to work every weekend to dump my work clothes and food. I commute it daily! Good luck!

[cosc]

Somerville, I think you should put a rack on if you have a lot you need to carry and your bike is equipped with eyelets. My bianchi road bike has a rack I put on for tours even though there was no eyelets on the seat post stays. My DH put old tube casing to protect paint-with tarp clips to screw bike rack into. Most all the weight is on the bottom dropout eyelets. Why would a bike be made with only one set of eyelets? Dorkiest of the dork, but I love having my house with me if I need it on the road and my back free.