Using my Specialized Ruby for touring?

[Eden]

No rack is really safe to mount to carbon.... (unless the frame specifically has bosses for that purpose). It's not just about weight. If any of your attachment points rubs through the finish and scores the carbon itself you've hurt the integrity of the material. Ruin the seat post and yes you could get a new one. Ruin the rear stays of the bike and you'd need a new bike. Since your Ruby wasn't made to accept a rack any mounting that you would do would have to be jury-rigged and even more likely to cause damage to the frame. It's not a gamble that I'd want to take.

[Cataboo]

Get a nice backpack instead of the fanny pack... Try the osprey atmos or aura 35 (I think that's the name of the female version). It's got an angle in the back that'll keep the frame directly off your back and you won't sweat so much.

Put the shoulders loose so most of the weight is supported by the hip belt.

Otherwise, deuter makes similar backpacks with the mesh back and a frame that arcs it away from your back. The suspension/hip belt is not as nice on the deuter.

The annoying part about that is if you stand up to bike up a hill or hit a big bump, the frame is a bit loose around your shoulders and it does bounce around a bit.

[mariposa]

I might try the backpack idea. I was looking to get a large-ish daypack that keeps the frame off my back, anyway. I suppose that could work for cycling.

Just stumbled across some surprisingly large under-the-seat saddlebags (like Carradice) that do not require a rear rack. That might be a great option, assuming it clears my rear wheel.

For around-town, I'm going to mount a rear rack and maybe panniers on my beater bike, so that I can do errands carrying heavier stuff. I wish the beater bike was tour-worthy...

Mariposa