Commuting - Best rear rack system if you don't have mounts?

Curious what those without mounts do for their rear rack. Heard some negative things about seatpost mounted racks swaying side to side, sometimes requiring adjustment mid-ride. Also heard about some clamp systems for attaching regular racks without using screws.

So what do you prefer? I normally don't carry a lot:
-Shoes
-Pants
-Shirt
-Pump/2tubes/tools

But I may also use it for some light groceries. I have ruled out using a backpack longer than I have to, due to the back sweat situation.

i would recommend checking out CETMA (http://www.cetmaracks.com/) racks.

i have carried 0-35lbs on it...doesn't change the handling much...if anything, it just "slows" the steering down a bit...still super stable over a range of speeds.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/2552935729_d79d6e2b1b.jpg

My bike has mounts at the dropouts, but none up top, so I use P-Clips, and I guess (and I think i've seen a bike on this board like this) you could use P-Clips attached to the seatstays

Tubus. I use one and they are rock solid.

http://www.thetouringstore.com/TUBUS/Fit%20Solutions/FIT%20SOLUTIONS%20PAGE.htm

http://www.thetouringstore.com/TUBUS/Fit%20Solutions/Adpt%20No%207.jpg

Curious what those without mounts do for their rear rack. Heard some negative things about seatpost mounted racks swaying side to side, sometimes requiring adjustment mid-ride. Also heard about some clamp systems for attaching regular racks without using screws.

So what do you prefer? I normally don't carry a lot:
-Shoes
-Pants
-Shirt
-Pump/2tubes/tools

But I may also use it for some light groceries. I have ruled out using a backpack longer than I have to, due to the back sweat situation.

There are a few ways of going. The seatpost mounted racks are probably the worst. They tend to carry the load too high, they have a pretty low weight limit, carrying panniers is problematic and I'd suggest against mounting them on a carbon post.

A regular rack can be mounted with p-clips. If you use a small rack...like one designed for 26" wheels...it won't stick up too high. Delta makes a couple of racks that are adjustable like the Megarack Universal (http://www.deltacycle.com/product.php?g=24). They also make one called the DiscRack (http://www.deltacycle.com/product.php?g=23). The DiscRack is good but I wouldn't suggest panniers with it. There's nothing to keep the panniers from swinging into the wheels.

Old Man Mountain (http://www.oldmanmountain.com/) makes a rack that mounts through the quick release on your axle. Tubus (http://www.thetouringstore.com/TUBUS/Fit%20Solutions/FIT%20SOLUTIONS%20PAGE.htm) makes something similar. Both have the advantage of being capable of carrying an incredible amount of weight but they aren't cheap.

Also consider a large seatbag such as the Carradice Barley or Pendle. I tried a rear rack with p-clips and didn't like the my bike handled. Switched to a Barley seatbag and it is great. Does not affect handling and holds a lot of gear. I found that I needed the optional Bagman rack, however, to keep the bag from swaying and hitting the backs of my legs.

Also consider a large seatbag such as the Carradice Barley or Pendle. I tried a rear rack with p-clips and didn't like the my bike handled. Switched to a Barley seatbag and it is great. Does not affect handling and holds a lot of gear. I found that I needed the optional Bagman rack, however, to keep the bag from swaying and hitting the backs of my legs.

fwiw, I use a Carradice Super C occasionally on my bike and its' fine for clothes, tools, lock and 1.5 shopping bags worth of stuff. Any more than that (or if I'm porting a laptop) then I go to the messenger bag or panniers. For what the original poster listed, I think that a Carradice is the way to go, unless light groceries have a tendency to turn into heavy groceries.

I found seatpost racks that bolted on not to sway, the clip ons do a bit but not if you really crank that baby down. Personally I like the clip on as it allows me to leave the trunk bag on and just carry the whole works into the buildting with me without wearing out the velcro on the seatbag fasteners. If I used panniers it would definitely be a different story. I wouldn't use panniers with anything but a traditional bolt on rack.

I found seatpost racks that bolted on not to sway, the clip ons do a bit but not if you really crank that baby down. Personally I like the clip on as it allows me to leave the trunk bag on and just carry the whole works into the buildting with me without wearing out the velcro on the seatbag fasteners. If I used panniers it would definitely be a different story. I wouldn't use panniers with anything but a traditional bolt on rack.

I would try that:
http://ecom1.planetbike.com/planetbike/media/4000_1.jpg

I got this...

http://www.topeak.com/products/detail/60

to go with...

http://www.topeak.com/products/detail/24

I ordered the specialized globe centrum sport which was said to have rack and fender braze-ons...which it did but didn't have the eyelets...doesn't make sense. I went with the seat post mounted one because I won't be hauling much weight and my bike doesn't have eyelets. I was using a backpack since december when I got the bike but just got the rack and trunk bag last week...my back thanks me.

Anyways, it doesn't spin on the seat post at all. It stays firmly in place. I switched out the quick release lever for a bolt to deter someone from stealing the rack...thanks to the brilliant mechanic that made the recommendation. It does sit up kind of high and you'll notice it when riding though. It's not horrible but does take a little getting used to. Overall, I like the setup because it reduces strain on my back and the quick release (for the bag) feature is convenient. The topeak bag is good quality, looks good and has good pockets, compartments, sleeves, etc. to make organization easy. Oh, the rack is the new home of my topeak mountain morph pump. I like it there better than on the bottom side of the down tube where it always got wet, icy or slushy on crappy days.

I called specialized after buying the rack above to see what the deal was about the lack of eyelets and they pointed me out to this.

http://www.axiomgear.com/product/racks/rear_disc_brake_racks/product.php?id=138

It's adjustable which is cool but I don't know where it'd bolt to since there are no eyelets. I'll have to call them back and see what they had in mind.

I had an Old Man Mountain.
That was a great rack.

Curious what those without mounts do for their rear rack. Heard some negative things about seatpost mounted racks swaying side to side, sometimes requiring adjustment mid-ride. Also heard about some clamp systems for attaching regular racks without using screws.

So what do you prefer? I normally don't carry a lot:
-Shoes
-Pants
-Shirt
-Pump/2tubes/tools

But I may also use it for some light groceries. I have ruled out using a backpack longer than I have to, due to the back sweat situation.

I used the fender mounts on an '85 c'dale sr300 for the bottom and black electrical tape wrapped around the seat stays w/a couple of 8", black zip ties. Delta Universal Mega Rack. May sound a little 'redneck', but it's been working just fine now for well over year. If I need fenders I've got a set of SKS Raceblades that work real well. Plenty of room for my lunch on the rack and the bags will carry addtional clothes as needed. Very effective rig.

Old Man Mountain (http://www.oldmanmountain.com/) makes a rack that mounts through the quick release on your axle. Tubus (http://www.thetouringstore.com/TUBUS/Fit%20Solutions/FIT%20SOLUTIONS%20PAGE.htm) makes something similar. Both have the advantage of being capable of carrying an incredible amount of weight but they aren't cheap.

Axiom (http://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30&action=details&sku=RK6615) makes a cheap alternative.

Tubus. I use one and they are rock solid.

http://www.thetouringstore.com/TUBUS/Fit%20Solutions/FIT%20SOLUTIONS%20PAGE.htm


Will this system work with a non-Tubus rack? Like a TransIt?

http://http://www.speedgoat.com/blog.asp?o=250 (about halfway down the page) seatpost collar/rack mount

by dimensionbikeproducts.com, although i couldn't find on their site

http://http://www.knog.com.au/flash.html rackless (uses tie wraps)

Will this system work with a non-Tubus rack? Like a TransIt?

I don't think so.

I don't think so.

I think the quick release one and the p-clamps would work with any rack on almost any bike.

Q/R skewered Old Man Mountain rack mounted on the v-brake posts works great.

I also like the topeak Q/R seat post rack for lighter loads.

I think the quick release one and the p-clamps would work with any rack on almost any bike.

Q/R skewered Old Man Mountain rack mounted on the v-brake posts works great.

I also like the topeak Q/R seat post rack for lighter loads.

There is a mount for the QR that is Tubus rack specific.