Rack advice

[surgtech1956]

I'm thinking about putting some sort of a rear rack(to put a trunk) on my bike. I've been looking at Bike Nashbar and Performance Bike. What do you think about the racks that just attach to the seat post only? I will be carrying a few grocery items, etc.... Thanks

[Zen]

If you plan on carrying any weight you should get a real rack but it won't work if you have a crabon seatpost.

I have a seatpost-only rack on one of my bikes but it's just for a trunk with day-trip items in it.

Kind of a bike purse

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I have a seatpost only rack too (the Bagman), it's a good one- but no way strong enough for even one modest bag of groceries. Don't forget the weight would get it bouncing as well. Something would surely break (seatpost, saddle rails, rack itself...)
My grocery/errand bike has a good sturdy 'regular' rack. You won't regret getting a sturdy rack made for carrying a goodly weight.

[7rider]

As others have said...a seatpost mounted rack won't work on a carbon seatpost and doesn't hold much weight.
I have Trek racks that I got from my LBS. They work great....they have a variety of styles to fit a variety of bikes, the racks hold a lot of weight (rated for 50 pounds, but who knows if I ever really put that much on them), are designed to hold Trek/Bontrager bags that snap-on-snap-off via their quick-release mechanism, but also accept any body else's bag.
I'd recommend them....

[Geonz]

If you get something 'real' then you can get whatever you need and not have to shop with your rack in mind... though sometimes that's a good thing if it keeps the impulses down (I have racks on my Gazelle and Dahon, baskets on the Schwinn... and an xtracycle. I like to be able to carry stuff, PERIOD.)

[Softie]

I like to be able to load up and shop when need be, and went with a rack with a 70kg weight limit (it's the wider bar size connecting to two places on the frame, not the seat post). I like the reassurance that no matter how many or how heavy the groceries are I'll have no problems. You never know if one day you'll need to go to the store and stock up on potatoes and heavy canned goods ... or weights?

[PscyclePath]

I'm thinking about putting some sort of a rear rack(to put a trunk) on my bike. I've been looking at Bike Nashbar and Performance Bike. What do you think about the racks that just attach to the seat post only? I will be carrying a few grocery items, etc.... Thanks

Nancy:

All the ladies have given good advice. I started out trying to use a Topeak seatpost-mounted rack, and fiddled with it for a month os so, but soon put it on the shelf and got a regular, frame-mounted rack.

The first thing to consider is how much you need to carry... While the frame-mounted racks are good to at least 40-50 pounds or more, the post-mounted racks can only hold way less than that... maybe 20-25 pounds max.

Problem 2 came when I finally loaded the thing (lightly) and took off down the road with it. No matter how much I scrunched down the tightening screws, with what passes for pavement here in Little Rock the rack would work itself a little loose and the bike would be going down the road looking like a hound dog wagging its tail. I'd added the little pannier supports to the Topeak rig by that time, so the warning came when the rack started pinging on the spokes in my rear wheel... not good!

So I quickly became a believer in the other kind of racks... and now have a pair of Deltas mounted on my commuter and the hardtail MTB.

I dragged the Topeak post-mounted rack out one more time to put on my 29er for a couple of rides, but again found that unless you set the lockout on the rear suspension, even moderate city potholes can have you rubbing the back tire on the bottom of the rack as you go across these things.

And as the ladies have already mentioned, don't even think about it if you've got a carbon fibre seat post...

Tom

[madscot13]

there are a few racks out there that don't require braze-ons. I'm not quite sure what their weight limit is but I would be comfortable using them to carry groceries

[sundial]

I have a Axiom rack that I highly recommend. Many of these racks attach at the axel and the seat stay. I have one on my full suspension mtb and hubby put one on his Tricross. We both have Axiom trunks and have been more than pleased. I also can hitch the coupler leash from my 100 lb german shepherd to the rack and it's very solid.

[Softie]

I have a Axiom rack that I highly recommend.

Me too! I think mine is the Journey (in black, if we're going with fashion info as well). 70 kg weight capacity. It looks nice on a bike and is super durable.

[out_spokin']

All good advice...I'm a fan of the classic Blackburn MTN rack which has both a road (700c) and mountain (26") size. The best part for me is that it has a solid "shelf" which is good both for keeping things in place as well as acting as a pretty decent fender.