Touring - No Rear Eyelets

Hey guys, I am planning on doing quite a bit of bike camping this spring and summer, but I just got home and took a closer look at my bike and realized that I have no eyelets in the back to mount a rack on. Is this a big problem? Is there another way to mount a rack? I've never had a rack before. I do have 2 eyelets in the front, but I think I'd rather have my stuff in the back.

Most racks come with some metal straps that can be attached to your seatstays if your frame does not have eyelets. They are usually rubber coated so as not to damage your paint. The one thing you may need to consider is if the bike is really right for loaded touring. If it does not have eyelets, then there is a possibility that the frame was not designed for carrying heavy loads. Such would be the case with a racing bike. The geometry and setup on a racing frame would make it an absolute nightmare with a heavy load. It's entirely possible you will have no problems but I thought it would be something to address before you get too far into this project.

http://www.oldmanmountain.com/

They sell racks that work with your quick release.

Also look at this thread.
http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=388531

well the bike is a dawes lightning off ebay, i have no idea about the geometry. i won't be loading it up too much because i'll only be staying out for one or two nights at the most. I want a new bike but I might end up buying a lighter road bike, so I was thinking of keeping this thing for touring if it would work. My touring will really only be a weekend thing anyway.
i really can't find any info about the bike or the brand, because its pretty much a fake brand from what i can tell. its about 25 pounds so a little heavy as a road bike, but not too bad otherwise. are there any parts of it that i could measure to see if it would be alright for touring?

If it is a steel frame with older style dropouts, there are a set of 'washers' that will fit from the inside of the dropout and give you a mounting point for the bottom of the rack. Aluminum, thick as the dropout, concave edge to fit the hollow in Campy style forged dropouts.

I've used them on a 531 tubed racing frame with light commuting load with no problems for the frame.

I'd recommend a Bicycle R evolution bike trailer or a Burley Nomad trailer. Both are under $225 on sale or Ebay. Then, any bike becomes a utility vehicle. By the time you buy a quality rack ($75), and good panniers ($150 at least...like Arkel or Ortlieb) you are in the same ballpark of the trailer. Then you just unhook and put it in the garage. No worries about heel strike, waterproofness, compatibility with other accessories, or room (it is soooo much easier to just throw stuff in the trailer instead of micro managing every square centimeter or space in a pannier). Go for it, you won't be sorry.

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/2255/bicyclerevolution198517wz0.jpg
Try something like this. It's indestructible, a million ways to attach stuff, and it doesn't need eyelets. And under 30 bucks. And it weighs less than a rear rack with panniers attached.

2nd item down on this page
http://www.thetouringstore.com/TUBUS/Fit%20Solutions/FIT%20SOLUTIONS%20PAGE.htm

quick release rack mounting, it's meant for tubus racks, so don't know if you could use a different one. I put it on my tubus fly on my road bike for light touring. all kinds of other interesting hardware options on that page, and Wayne, the guy who runs thetouringstore, is a great guy, very knowledgable, and will be happy to consult with you on the phone and help you find a solution.

Downside to this and the OMM QR rack is that you have to pull the QR to remove the wheel, so if you flat you have to unload and partially remove the rack.

I've also used P-clips (the little metal p-shaped, rubber-coated thingies) to clamp a rack on - they work but you have to set them up carefully & keep an eye on them, b/c if they break or bend you can end up with a wheel-full of rack & bags, yuck.

I used to have a set of adapters that fitted to the bottom triangle which allowed a rack to be added. I'll check out back if you like for a brandname. Went cross country on a racing frame cause it was what I had and it worked well.