Hybrid Bicycles - Rack for hybrid?

Summer is almost over and I will be going back to college soon. I need to find a way to mount my back pack onto my bike. Any recommendations?



P.s. My backpack doubles as my laptop bag aswell


P.s.s I found my backpack :)
http://shop.heys.ca/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ePac05

P.s.s.s My backpack isnt hot pink its dark blue :P


P.s.s.s.s I have fenders

Any decent rear rack should work, like blackburn, etc., unless your bike has "disc brakes", then you need a specific rear rack made to clear the disc brakes. I use a rack that attaches to the seat post cause my new bike has disc brakes. Should be able to find a rack at you LBS for around $20 and up, FYI:thumb:

I used a seatpost rack on one bike but when I loaded it up with all my stuff it swung side to side and the seatpost swung my seat side to side as well. The quick release seat post was plenty tight so I didn't want to mess with that. I wound up fashioning a couple of thin metal uprights to attach the rack to the dropouts. That bike doesn't have disk brakes.

I use the disk brake version of this rack:

http://bontrager.com/model/00329

It's very solid and I'm quite pleased with it.

Not entirely sure how it would work with a backpack -- you might want to get some panniers instead.

My bike came with a rack (It's a rebadged police bike, so....)

Good racks for carrying good cargo are important. Mine's never given me trouble. Other folks have horror stories. I don't trust seatpost racks. Fitting other kinds of racks can be dicey because you might not have eyelets in the right place for "real" racks and there's a certain art to doing it.

You can use a bungee cord to strap your backpack to the rack, I guess. Or you can get a basket that sits atop the rack. I've never been too keen on it. So, for the longest time, I'd just wear the backpack on my back and ride.

What I've done more recently is made it really easy to switch between backpack and panniers. I got some Eagle Creek cubes, plastic paper-holders, and drawstring bags so now I can just pull out three or four things from my panniers and stuff them in a backpack. Normally, I just carry the panniers over my shoulder instead of bothering with a backpack, tho.

Your back/shoulders?

I started commuting last year. 12mi each way and I had an old backpack for my clothes and lunch. I found an inexpensive rack and tie rapped a milk crate onto it. My wife hated it, but it was very functional. I could just toss the backpack in and go. Kinda like having a pickup truck. May also distrack any bike thief as it looked a little dorky.

Ugliness is a virtue on a bike. It deters thieves who want something prettier to re-sell. My Zoom stem on most of my bikes looks hideous. That's the point. :p:D

I use a Topeak Basket zip tied to a rack:

Jandd (http://www.flickr.com/photos/9320902@N04/1375536981/) Expedition Rear Rack.

I typically take a Tumi laptop backpack and use a bungee to strap it to the rack. 2 bungees, in fact -- one back to front, and one side to side. I prefer not to wear a backpack while riding.

Well i picked up a rack from MEC.ca and just need to kind of fasion a platform to make the rack a bit wider...
I was thinking of liberating a shopping cart from one of the drainage ditch's around the garage I work at and cut out a 1'x1' scare from the steel mesh

I have used and/or installed the following over the past couple of months:

Transit
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1023810_-1_50000_20000_50003
http://www.performancebike.com/images/performance/products/large/20-1750-BLK-FRONT.jpg

Axiom Odyssey
http://www.ebikestop.com/axiom_odyssee_tubular_alloy_adjustable_rack-RK6616.php
http://www.ebikestop.com/prodimages/RK6616.jpg

Axiom Odyssey Seatpost
http://www.ebikestop.com/axiom_odyssey_seatpost_rack_black-RK6606.php
http://www.ebikestop.com/prodimages/RK6606.jpg


I has used the Transit for years on my Treak 7300 for very casual use. However, in prep for the C&O canal with my kids, I decided I needed something with a bit more support for my panniers and also something that would perhaps allow a bit more rearward mount of the panniers to reduce heel strike.

So, I went with the second rack above, the Odyssey by Axiom. Overall, I like the rack ... more sturdy than the Transit. Plenty of support and protectin of the panniers but honestly not as adjustable as I would have liked wit regard to panneir attachment. I have Axiom pannier and oddly, the fit is not that great. I installed this on both my Trek and my sons Specialized MTB ... good fit on both, the seat stay attachment bars being just barely long enough on my Trek (but long enough is all that matters).

The last rack there, the seatpost version is one I installed on my daughters bike as she didn't have braze-ons for attaching to the seat stays. There area alternatives for attaching to the seat stays and in retrospect would have preffered them. The primary disadvantage of this rack is that the tube "head" which attaches to your seat post is not adjustable ... the angle is fixed and so the geometry of your bike will affect how level the rack is ... so worth a test fit before purchase. That aside, the rack is sturdy, provides good support of the panniers and fairly adjustable positioning. (Note also, this last model is for disc brakes ... I was able to easily adapt it).

Back to the top with pics :)


http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=116533&stc=1&d=1251767209
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=116534&stc=1&d=1251767209
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Bain19,

That is one sweet looking schwinn and pannier set up you have going! Looks like the ultimate commuter bike and the fenders are barely noticeable!

You can put a backpack...on your back... That is what I always used to do! If you have weight in the backpack, it will be easier to control that extra weight if its on you, same as for using hydration packs for long MTB trips. Not to mention you could carry a full size pump and tubes and tools in a backpack easily :)

I've got a 'Specialized Sirrus Elite' bike with a 'Tortec Velocity Slimline' rear rack on it (black)
Looks good and does the job.
Im in UK: try this to get info http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=18766&categoryID=84

Rack weighs 470g and takes up to 25Kg

These are narrow at top so no room on top of rack for much but it does mean
slimmer look to it all and I guess weight is more over the centre of the wheel
handy if you're only taking one bag.
Check fitting of your bag/pannier though as rack is a sharp V shape at wheel juntion point
so no-can attach an eg Arkel fitting to it.

Any rear rack plus a Delta Cargo Net, like this http://www.rei.com/product/698481 currently available from REI for $8.00

Topeak makes a wide range of bike racks, including disc brake specific racks. I have one on my Coda and it does what any rack is supposed to, carry stuff. The topeak goods are often less expensive than some other brands.

http://www.topeak.com/products/Racks

Topeak makes a wide range of bike racks, including disc brake specific racks. I have one on my Coda and it does what any rack is supposed to, carry stuff. The topeak goods are often less expensive than some other brands.
http://www.topeak.com/products/Racks

+1 on Topeak racks. I have them on a Giant Cypress and a Surly LHT. They work great with the Topeak MTX trunk bags, as well as with 40 lbs of stuff in panniers.

Jandd (http://www.flickr.com/photos/9320902@N04/1375536981/) Expedition Rear Rack.


I'm a big fan of this rack, also. There's plenty of setback to avoid heelstrike and it's construction is bulletproof.

I'm a big fan of this rack, also. There's plenty of setback to avoid heelstrike and it's construction is bulletproof.

I couldn't agree more. :thumb: