Commuting - rack bags

I know there was a thread about this before but, even after searching, I haven't been able to find it. I found a great one on Nashbar but the rack only holds up to 25lbs. Are there any out there that hold more? I don't want to be going home from the store with a couple 24packs and everything collapse on my wheel.

Or would paniers be the answer?

How do rack bags mount on the rack? Are they simply strapped in? I haven't been able to find info other than what's mentioned above since I either find hard plastic trunks, hard plastic trunks to store your bike in using a ski rack, or duffle bags.

Also, how do lights mount on racks? Do you have to use a handlebar mount or is there actually something you can mount it to?

If you want to carry a couple of 24 packs with your bike, you'll need a trailer. I don't know of any rack large enough to hold that much stuff. There are racks out there rated for 70 lbs. + (look up Old Man Mountain racks, I think their Red Rock model) but again, you won't be putting more than one 24 pack on one, and even that would be tough.

Basically, it comes down to what you want to carry. If you need to carry heavy but smallish items, a rack trunk or panniers could work. Rack trunks tend to be smaller than panniers but have the advantage that the width of the bike stays the same and the balance isn't thrown off much. With panniers, you need to load them evenly otherwise you will feel the unbalanced weight. Not that you can't compensate though. I have an Arkel Bug and regularly load it with 20 lbs. of groceries or whatnot and my bike is still manageable. It would be better though with the weight split to either side.

What lights are trying to mount to your rack? If you just mean a taillight, there are a couple of options. You can either find a rack that has a taillight mount built into it (not sure which models do though) or you can make your own mount/modifications to a standard mount. I used a chain stay mount and made a bushing that fit over the tubing of my rack and had an OD such that the chainstay clamp squeezed tight on it. I'm in the process of making a new mount to allow me to use a seatpost type clamp to mount a taillight to my rack. I need this in order to mount my Cateye TL-LD1000.

Seatpost-clamp racks generally have a load limit of about 25lbs. Frame-mounted racks have much higher loading, from 50-90lbs.
Tubus racks are amonst the best for really heavy loads and they have a mounting plate at the rear for bolting on a lamp. You need a lamp with bolt-mounting. Check out peter white cycles for this kind of practical kit.

Panniers mount onto each side of the rack using some form of hook.
Old fashioned ones use a simple hook at the the top and are secured with a hook on a bit of elastic at the bottom. Modern designs of pannier use a hook with a quick-release locking system with an anti-sway hook at the bottom. The modern system is a lot more secure , convenient and quicker to use.
The best way to tranport packs of beer in panniers is to break the load up to a more convenient shape. Large single-compartment panniers are best for this and you need a thick, tough material to prevent wear and tear.

Here is a quick-release component to put a basket or box on rear racks. It might help you carry more heavy stuff than usual.

http://www.ortlieb.de/_prod.php?lang=en&produkt=adapter-hinterkorb

Whatever your rack is rated for, it will likely hold 2X as much. I've never had a rack fail and I've put some super heavy loads (50-60lbs) on bikes. But then again I stick to Jannd racks, and I ride slow with a super heavy load. I would stick to a good name brand rack, like Jannd, Blackburn, Tubus or Nitto (the Nitto racks are $$$ but are super cool)

So cut apart an old tube, tie the 2 24 packs to top of rack and baby it all the way to party.

Whatever your rack is rated for, it will likely hold 2X as much. I've never had a rack fail and I've put some super heavy loads (50-60lbs) on bikes. But then again I stick to Jannd racks, and I ride slow with a super heavy load. I would stick to a good name brand rack, like Jannd, Blackburn, Tubus or Nitto (the Nitto racks are $$$ but are super cool)

So cut apart an old tube, tie the 2 24 packs to top of rack and baby it all the way to party.

I have a performance transit rear rack. I don't know what it's rated for, maybe 25-40lbs. One time while camping I was messing around and improvised a chopper bike by sitting on the rack and pedaling. It supported my entire weight for a short (~5min) time riding around the campground.

Like tacomee says, the rack will probably hold about 2X as much as it's rated for.

I have a Rhode Gear expedition rack rated at 80 lbs (like tacomee says it'll probably handle a lot more). They don't make this one anymore, but I found it on eBay a couple of years ago and for an added bonus, I got it for about $10. I've carried 40+ lbs on it many times with no problems.

I go to the groc store about 2x/week. First I stuff my panniers (nashbar "atb" cheapies), then pile anything that won't fit on top and strap it down. I've carried everything from 20 lb pet food sacks to 5 gallon water bottles.

A couple cases of brew would work fine, especially if you're headed this way... ;)

To answer your other questions:



Or would paniers be the answer?

I like these with the rack because they're easy to put on & take off. If you just need one, just use one. I added shoulder straps to one of mine so I could use it as a book/computer bag.



How do rack bags mount on the rack? Are they simply strapped in? I haven't been able to find info other than what's mentioned above since I either find hard plastic trunks, hard plastic trunks to store your bike in using a ski rack, or duffle bags.

I have a rack bag, but I don't use it much lately. Mine velcros onto the rack, others may have beefier straps. When I was using it a lot, I worried the velcro might "let go," but it never did. The reason I don't use it much is that it doesn't hold much, maybe half as much as a pannier, and if I'm using it, I can't pile awkward-sized things on top of the rack.



Also, how do lights mount on racks? Do you have to use a handlebar mount or is there actually something you can mount it to?

My rack has a standard light mounting bracket on the back.

These both do, too http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=112&subcategory=1079&brand=&sku=15548&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=112&subcategory=1079&brand=&sku=15211&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

I've carried cases of soda home, with 2 bags of groceries, plus some other misc stuff. I regularly carry my work backpack on one side and a bag of groceries on the other...
Not the cheapest solution, but if you're looking for an attached commuter rig that had carrying capacity check out the xtracycle.

I'm also a big fan of the Otivia.com cargo cache. It's a locking plastic rack trunk and of some of the old fashioned metal grid panniers.