Commuting - first ride w/ rack... first nice spill in awhile!

Ok, so I borrowed my brothers seatpost mount rack to try out on my commute. I've been thinking of buying one but wanted to give it a try first.
I lean into a turn and bam I slide out skidding into the sidewalk. It was wet out from rain the night before, but not standing water. I didn't lean more then I have before on that turn and wasn't going too fast, but fast.
It seemed like the extra weight on the back of the bike caused it to slip out from under me as leaned. I thought more weight on the back tire would give me better traction. Maybe it was weter than I thought and the rack has nothing to do w/ it.
Has anybody else experienced this?
It sure was nice to have a dry back when I git to work though. That's one of the main things I like about weekend rides, no backpack.

Forget the seatpost mounted racks. They have low load limits, and when they are fully loaded they tend to swing out.

I recommend a standard rack.

Check your brother's tires. Maybe he needs new ones.

How much weight were you carrying in the back? I'm leaning towards bad karma/wetter/loose stuff. I routinely switch between rack and no rack and notice no discernible differnce in handling. The hills sure get taller though :)

I put a rack on my bike... with my laptop backpack strapped to it... I tried it on top of the rack, and it made the bike VERY top heavy, and was really hard to control... so I have it strapped to one side of the rack. While this makes the bike lopsided as far as the weight, it's still a LOT easier to ride with it like that...

Get the weight low, it helps a lot!

You definitely want to try to keep weight down low when you are using a rack. If your bike has rack eyelets you would be much better off with a conventional rack. As far as handling, if you have everything hooked on nice and tight it will be fine. I did one grocery run where I put about 15-20 pounds back there. I got up to about 30 mph on that run and didn't notice the weight until I picked the bike up to put it on the porch.

You can get a decent rack for around 20 dollars. Just make sure you get the style that has the supports shaped like a triangle, not the ones with only one bar going down. For carrying stuff, some form of panniers are nice. I have the cheap Nashbar ones right now. They work just fine. I am planning on getting a set of Ortlieb rollers in a year or so. Like everything else in life, you get what you pay for.

Good luck and God bless!
Wayne J.

The seatpost rack is all I can use.. I just finished 4.5 22 mile round trips with my Ascent seatpost pannier rack from Nashbar. The seatpost collar is nearly 2 inches tall. I carry a complete change of clothes, lunch tube, pump and small collection of tools in a 14 inch toolbag secured with bungees x'd over the top.

It clamps onto my Titec Hellbent seatpost 26.8 with one of the two included plastic shims. It does move if pushed. I plan to try and get some more grip going on it this weekend.

I just returned with a 24 pack of carbonated malt beverages from a store a mile away and said beverages arrived safely at the destination. I give the Ascent Pannier Seatpost Rack w/Quick Release a positive review.

It is now 12.50 plus shipping. I, of course paid a higher price, as always.

I paid 17.00 before shipping last week. It is now at 13.00 at Nashbar as of this morning.

I had shoes, shirt, pants, and a small bag with wallet, phone, etc. It's all in REI roll shut kayak style bag. It probably weighs mabe like 10lbs.
I was using it on my Kona Jake, so I'm set up for a rack. The only thing is I use it on the trails and rides on the weekends, so it might be kind of hassle taking it on and off. I guess it's just a couple of screws though.
I realy like not having a pack on. It wasn't bad on the way home, but I was very conscious it was back there. Didn't want to get bittin again.

I had shoes, shirt, pants, and a small bag with wallet, phone, etc. It's all in REI roll shut kayak style bag. It probably weighs mabe like 10lbs.
I was using it on my Kona Jake, so I'm set up for a rack. The only thing is I use it on the trails and rides on the weekends, so it might be kind of hassle taking it on and off. I guess it's just a couple of screws though.
I realy like not having a pack on. It wasn't bad on the way home, but I was very conscious it was back there. Didn't want to get bittin again.

I put a rack on my jake the snake (kona) and love it. I hardly feel the rack, and like the panniers I bought (Norco axiom stormfront panniers). I highly reccommend those bags! They are a tad heavy compared to some, but are totally waterproof (they are roll shut as well, btw - good design! - and have a large capacity). I have been caught in several downpours and nothing - from paper to clothing - has even gotten damp, never mind wet, while in those bags. Here is a link to the bags: http://www.axiomgear.com/bags_waterproof/typhoon.php Your bike will take a blackburn cross rack nicely, and it does not weigh a tonne. Weekend rides are done with the rack on and I hardly notice it after all the rides with the bags on it! I dont trail ride the Kona (since I have slicks on it and own a nice mtn bike) and could imagine the rack might get caught up there. It would depend on what your trails are like I suppose.

Good luck!

I have a rack on my Surly cross-check that I carry a single Ortlieb front roller pannier on (some days both). I have noticed no stability problems even with just one bag. I prefer the look of the bike without the rack, but the thought of carrying the messenger bag on my back again, and the big sweaty patch on my back that comes along with it is enough to help me get over looks very quickly.