shoes and racks

[Tri Girl]

Every foot fits differently, so I think the best bet would be to go to a bike shop and try on a bunch of different brands of shoes to find which one fits you best. Try on womens, as well as mens shoes because you just never know how your foot will feel. Once you know what brand/kind is best for you- you can put it on your Christmas wish list.

As for racks, I guess it depends on how much you plan on carrying. Honestly, I have a Blackburn MTN 1. I have no idea how much it's rated to hold weight-wise. I have toured with it and carried groceries on it that are quite heavy and are heavier than it's probably rated for. I've used it for 3 years now and have not noticed one issue. I do know Blackburn racks have a lifetime warranty- if there is any problem with it you send it back and they send you a new one no questions asked. That's a pretty good deal IMO.

What kind of bikes do you have?