Utility Cycling - rear rack recommendation?

Just want a basic rack to put on this. Ideally it could also double as a rear fender.

http://assets1.ridewithgps.com/photos/medium/48564.jpg

I'd like to be able to haul just a small amount of groceries, beer etc. < 5 miles. Maybe a milk crate on top would work?

Bike is about 28 lbs, 700x32c tires.

It has eyelets and brazeons, so just about any rack should fit it well. No need for a seatpost mounted rack with that bike. Will you be using panniers or just strapping on a milk crate occasionally or semi-permanently? Based on your stated uses, the weight capacity of the rack should not be an issue. Though I prefer beefy racks because you never know what you might try hauling and I don't like feeling the load wiggling around back there.

Using the rack as a fender can sort of work if you are trying to avoid the skunk stripe on your back. It obviously needs to have a solid deck, the longer the better. That is only one benefit of a rear fender though. A true rear fender with adequate coverage will do a good job at keeping road crap from getting thrown onto your drivetrain. That is something a rack is not going to prevent.

Thanks hubcap, yeah I know it has eyelets/brazeons, more just wondering if there's any particular model people recommend? Or are they all pretty generic. I will probably just strap on something whenever I need it, so it's unlikely I will need panniers. Is there anything else other than a milk crate that works like a milk crate, that is a bit more sturdily attachable to a rear rack? Some kind of "system"? At other times this is my hauler for the kids' trailer, which may be destined to become a utility trailer.

My winter/wet commuter (26" MTB) has a full rear fender but mostly for this one I just want something to stop the muck getting on me :)

I have a Blackburn rack on my bike because that's what came with it. Performance sells a clone for about $20-25 that's also pretty good. Most of that style rack are pretty similar.

Generic rack it is. Thanks!