Commuting - Bike rack and bike bag talk

I'm looking to add a bike rack to the back of my bike and also a bike bag to attach to it. I just want something where I can haul around books, a few groceries, dvd movies, and other typically "small" hauls, etc.

Any recommendations for either of these two items? Do I need one with a spring? (and what's the spring for anyways? to act as suspension would be my guess?). Are they all pretty much the same or are these items that fall in the category of "you get what you pay for"?

Just looking for advice on what to stay away from, what you guys would recommend, and any other useful info and experience you can share on this topic. Also, feel free to point me to other threads that might have already covered this topic as I was unable to find any using the search feature!

Thanks yall! :thumb:

edit: Also, forgive me if I posted this in the wrong forum. This forum looked somewhat relevant and busy :-)

Not sure on what the differences are in rear racks; I got an inexpensive one that seems to work fine for all my needs. The spring on mine is a lever/arm that is springloaded, so you can put something somewhat solid under it and have the spring force hold it down. Haven't used much, except for a second water bottle on hot commute days.

Bags - there are a lot of options. I tried a couple of rack top bags, but ended up needing more volume/capacity to carry my work clothes, towel, lunch, tools, flat repair kit, etc. I ended up springing for an expensive, but superb, pair of Ortleib panniers which solved all of my problems and then some. Waterproof, lots of capacity, durable, really nice and recommended... but very expensive. Worked for me nicely. I'm sure you will get other suggestions; consider the Ortliebs the "cadillac" solution....

If you want to hang a bag off the side of the rack you will want a rack that is long so that your heal doesn't strike the bag(pannier) while you pedal. I have an Old Man Mountain rack on my mountain bike and a Jandd rack on my road/commuter bike. I am happy with them both. Neither of the racks have a spring. I use Arkle Bug panniers for commuting to work, and a pair of folding grocery panniers when I run errands. You may want to look around the utility forum for some other suggestions.

Ahh, the utility forum! Thank you for pointing me there, looks like exactly what I need to read through. Great info by the way, I wasn't aware there existed specific grocery panniers.

I have a Blackburn rear rack on my bike & Strap a backpack to it. Lots of people here do similar. Many others use Panniers off the rear rack. Panniers are designed for the rack, so the fit is probably better, plus they tend to hold more than a backpack (at least one that will fit comfortably on a rear rack. the advantages of the backpack are that it is centered on the top of the rack & it is easier to use off the bike. Both are good options, depending on what you're looking for.

1. What's your budget?
2. What's the geometry on your bike like?

I ask because not every bike likes to have a rack on the back. Others will tolerate loads on top, but not on the sides. Still others have no problem with where you mount your bag to.

Then racks vary as well- some work with top bags but not side bags, side bags but not top ones, and others have no problem with either or both at once.

I experience heel strike with my bike (16.3" chainstays) and have done the milk crate, strapping the backpack down to the rack, Nashbar Townie baskets, a rack trunk, saddlebag panniers, and a flat beverage crate that allowed me to place my biggest backpack at the time on it without having to worry about any wayward straps getting caught in the wheel.

My rack just cost me $18.00 and change and I got a couple of paniers from mountain equipment co-op.They work great.One panier carries my scrubs and shoes and lunch and a rain coat if needed.That's all I use,this all went in a pack sack at one time. Freedom on my shoulders...nnnnnice.

http://www.rei.com/product/735847/topeak-explorer-mtx-tubular-rack-with-disc-mounts
http://www.rei.com/product/710404/topeak-mtx-trunkbag-dxp-with-expandable-side-panniers

This is the combo im using on my commuter.I really like it alot and I think the reviews of other owners say alot.

Racks and panniers are to some extent a 'you get what you pay' for type of deal, but some good, cheap solutions exist. Be aware that if you get panniers, many of them will have a hook or bungee near the bottom of the bag that needs to attach to the rack, so you will need a rack with a horizontal bottom bar. If you ride a bike with short chainstays, may also need to make sure you get a rack that will sit far enough back that you don't get heel strike. For cheap, Wald folding baskets on a cheaper aluminum rack are hard to beat. My girlfriend has them and they are super cool. I use an Arkel bug and it's definitely worth the much heavier price to me, but it just happens to be really good for what I use my bike for. In the middle, I have tried Axiom waterproof panniers, and they are also excellent and function very well, they just aren't quite as fancy or bulletproof as more expensive brands like Ortlieb and Arkel.

Some people also opt for a more DIY, less elegant solution and attach a couple of milk crates to their rack.

Search around the forums and you will find all kinds of stuff about the brands listed above.

Your options would be:
- A rear rack with rack top bag, which you can buy at REI or Performance Bike locally, or on-line at many sources.
- A large Carradice seatbag with Bagman support rack, which you would have to order on-line.
- A rear rack with panniers, which would probably be overkill unless you want to carry a lot of gear.

I have tried all three options and prefer the Carradice bag because it centers the load weight better and doesn't affect bike handling as much as a rear rack and rack top bag. I've got a Carradice Barley and Pendle, which are their smallest and second-smallest bags, and can fit everything I need for commuting in them with no problem. I also have a touring bike with rear rack, with a rack top bag and panniers if needed, but I just don't need to carry that much gear unless touring.

Rack: Tubus, Bag: Ortlieb. Durable. you change the bikes underneath them.

And stuff stays dry inside the bags..

I know I post this a lot around the forum but the Frame pack and expanding seat bags from Revelate Designs kick a$$! I ran a rack and panniers as well as a backpack for a long time and these bags blow them away in convenience and weight. They also dont rattle around and I dont even notice them while riding. Im surprised more commuters arent using them.


http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h68/acr_photos/picsay-1341505508.jpg

I know I post this a lot around the forum but the Frame pack and expanding seat bags from Revelate Designs kick a$$! I ran a rack and panniers as well as a backpack for a long time and these bags blow them away in convenience and weight. They also dont rattle around and I dont even notice them while riding. Im surprised more commuters arent using them.


http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h68/acr_photos/picsay-1341505508.jpg

Probably asking themselves the same questions I have:

-Where do I put my water bottles?
-How am I supposed to carry the thing in case of a mechanical issue that isn't a 'quick fix' on the side of the road?
-Thinking about doing the Park-n-Ride thing, how am I going to put this on my Saris Bones rack? Or what are the hand holds if using a roof rack?

Then quite a few don't have the luxury of private, secure storage, so tend to want things that they can easily strip and carry themselves or secured to the frame in such a way as to discourage theft.

Other than that, you've got a nice looking rig. :thumb:

For sure, there are minuses. But I can quickly remove the bags if need be and my bike never leaves my sight if its locked up at a store. And I keep my water bottles on the fork and down tube, so 3 bottles if I want.

I just started commuting to work and struggled with this same question. After searching the forums here, and looking at reviews on amazon, I ended up with a solution that I love.

I got the Topeak explorer rack, With the slide in Topeak trunk bag with molded side panels that unzip into panniers.
Had my Lbs, put them on and absolutely love it.

killerbrewer, I think I'm going to do the same thing.

Another question re: these racks, do they rattle and make any noise or are they pretty solid?

I just put a Racktime Addit rack along with a Racktime City bag on my new Nashbar FB-2. I like the Addit with its lower rail so my side panniers don't interfere with the top bag. It also lowers the weight nicely:

http://fb2.pidgets.com/IMG_2887.JPG

http://fb2.pidgets.com/IMG_2890.JPG

The above bike looks fantastic!


killerbrewer, I think I'm going to do the same thing.

Another question re: these racks, do they rattle and make any noise or are they pretty solid?

I installed the Explorer tonight on my Soho S. It required some MacGyver-action to get the brackets to attach to my seat stays, but it is rock-solid.

I'm looking for a rack to replace my cheapo amazon rack (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014URFPS). The only problem I have with it is that it doesn't fit my new Cross Check very well. So, back on the cruiser it goes.

I'm looking for a rack that has loops to prevent the panniers from swinging into the spokes when I accelerate or corner, but I also need to keep it on the cheap side. Silver color would be nice too. The CC will (eventually) be silver and blue.

I'm looking for a rack that has loops to prevent the panniers from swinging into the spokes when I accelerate or corner, but I also need to keep it on the cheap side. Silver color would be nice too. The CC will (eventually) be silver and blue.

How about the Racktime Addit I posted a picture of above? It's silver, has a lower rail and nice wide pannier support.

Looks like it doesn't have the backwards-pointing loop that I want. The Axiom Journey does, but I can't find it in silver >_>

Also, it's pretty expensive.

killerbrewer, I think I'm going to do the same thing.

Another question re: these racks, do they rattle and make any noise or are they pretty solid?


Sorry Wolfpack, I just noticed your question. Sorry to say that have not used the panniers yet. As far as noise from the bag in the rack, I don't even notice, I'm too busy cussing out that hill I have to go over every day (granted its only an overpass, but I just started biking so it kills me!)

There is a little slop in the rack but not too much, but it slides into the rail pretty solid, so I don't think there is a chance of it coming out from normal use, I hope to not see if it comes out from a fall/crash.

Surly Nice Rack and Arkel Gt-54s solves all problems :lol:

But i think for a more budget build, RLL's setup will have you covered. Nashbar is definitely the place to go if your on a budget and you don't need it right away. May not be quality stuff, but it's a great way to test a setup without committing a big chunk of change. I've bought plenty of stuff from them and gotten my money's worth.

I have used the Topeak set-up for a while now and like it. I have had both panniers full and the top expanded full of groceries. The only down side to the Topeak that I have found is that it is a bit bulky when you just want to walk around a bookstore, and don't want to leave it on the bike, other than that I've been very happy with this set up. I have not noticed any noise or major difference in handling either.

Along with that Top Peak there is also a nice sized, metal basket option. Slide it off, take it into the grocery store, fill up, slide it back on the rack and pedal away! With Top Peak there seem to be a lot of options as far as bag sizes and configurations.

Along with that Top Peak there is also a nice sized, metal basket option. Slide it off, take it into the grocery store, fill up, slide it back on the rack and pedal away! With Top Peak there seem to be a lot of options as far as bag sizes and configurations.

The other option is to build your own. Racktime sells their adapters separately so you can bolt them to any sort of basket/crate to get the quick-release feature with a Racktime rack. It is called a Snapit adapter and looks like this:

http://www.bikebagshop.com/cart/images/racktime-snapit-stock-M.jpg

Get an inexpensive rack and zip-tie a Wald basket to it. Put your backpack in the basket. You're good to go.

I have a full set of panniers for touring, but I don't like them for commuting because they are not as convenient off the bike. Plus, a basket is always there and you can just leave it on the bike.

I am in Hannover Germany this week for business and have been noticing all the bikes and seeing how people bike where there are a lot of bikes. It seems without a doubt the most popular way for carrying items is a basket on top of a rear rack. Just throw you backpack, duffel bag, shopping bag, little dog (yes, I did see a little dog in a rack-mounted basket,) or heavy cable lock and pedal away. I think I may try this when I get back home for around town.

That said, currently I have a trunk bag on my rack and I really like it and will probably continue to use it,for commuting. The basket would replace it when I want to carry something that doesn't fit as nicely in the trunk because it is too big or bulky. For example, grocery shopping.

One bit of annoyance i had with my trunk bag is it did not have a place for a clippy rear light. That seems to be a bad design decision in my book. If I was going to buy another one I'd look for one that I can attach a light to without sewing. With a trunk your seat post is blocked so a seat post light or reflector is useless.The rack can handle a reflector or a light, but only one.

I've been going 'round about this lately since I really prefer a rack and just strapping a backpack on it, but I don't want to put a rack on my road bike so I'd been commuting with a backpack. Which is uncomfortable for me. Then I just rigged my drawstring pack to mount as a frame bag - rubber straps with velcro to go on and off easy - and I've been perfectly happy with that solution for commuting.

I am in Hannover Germany this week for business and have been noticing all the bikes and seeing how people bike where there are a lot of bikes. It seems without a doubt the most popular way for carrying items is a basket on top of a rear rack. Just throw you backpack, duffel bag, shopping bag, little dog (yes, I did see a little dog in a rack-mounted basket,) or heavy cable lock and pedal away. I think I may try this when I get back home for around town.

That said, currently I have a trunk bag on my rack and I really like it and will probably continue to use it,for commuting. The basket would replace it when I want to carry something that doesn't fit as nicely in the trunk because it is too big or bulky. For example, grocery shopping.

One bit of annoyance i had with my trunk bag is it did not have a place for a clippy rear light. That seems to be a bad design decision in my book. If I was going to buy another one I'd look for one that I can attach a light to without sewing. With a trunk your seat post is blocked so a seat post light or reflector is useless.The rack can handle a reflector or a light, but only one.

One solution if you are facing a dilema of putting either a light or a reflector on the back of your rack is to pick a device that does both, like the PDW Radbot 1000. I have one on the back of my rack (see picture below the link) and I love it - it has both a reflector and a 1-watt LED light that you can set to solid or two different flash modes.

http://www.amazon.com/Portland-Design-Works-Radbot-Light/dp/B0030BS30K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342329078&sr=8-1&keywords=radbot+1000


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Your options would be:
- A rear rack with rack top bag, which you can buy at REI or Performance Bike locally, or on-line at many sources.
- A large Carradice seatbag with Bagman support rack, which you would have to order on-line.
- A rear rack with panniers, which would probably be overkill unless you want to carry a lot of gear.

I have tried all three options and prefer the Carradice bag because it centers the load weight better and doesn't affect bike handling as much as a rear rack and rack top bag. I've got a Carradice Barley and Pendle, which are their smallest and second-smallest bags, and can fit everything I need for commuting in them with no problem. I also have a touring bike with rear rack, with a rack top bag and panniers if needed, but I just don't need to carry that much gear unless touring.

I have several bike racks and even more bags. The most versatile bag, by far, that I own and use is the Carradice Nelson longflap. I don't use a Bagman rack, but rather affix it to the saddle/seatpost. I prefer it over a rack/pannier or rack/rack top bag.

That's a good setup, sirtirithon. Good on you for thinking differently. I have a much smaller frame bag from Mountain Equipment Co-op. It mainly serves as a u-lock carrier. I'll be thinking about a Revelate for my easy touring rides.

Regarding the Topeak, I just got a Raleigh Misceo, 700cs tires, mountain frame. Which disc friendly Topkeak rack should I get? I saw one on Amazon that has extended pannier bars or something.

Regarding the Topeak, I just got a Raleigh Misceo, 700cs tires, mountain frame. Which disc friendly Topkeak rack should I get? I saw one on Amazon that has extended pannier bars or something.
You must be talking about this one. http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Super-Tourist-Tubular-Bicycle/dp/B000ZKHN6Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1342376639&sr=8-2&keywords=topeak+rear+rack I looked at the product page for the Misceo and it looks like that the rear brake is mounted to the chain stay instead of the seat stay. If so, I believe you can use any rack that you wanted to.

I know I just double posted in another thread to say the same thing but... ;)

I was on a shopping adventure trying to find the perfect rack/quick release pannier/trunk bag/whatchamacallit, and I finally said "screw it" and installed a Wald 198GB front basket for under $30. I've only tested it for one day, but it's already carried 2 messenger bags, a towel, a water bottle, a large sub sandwich, and a 6 pack of beer, all at the same time. I'm satisfied.

Sorry about the repost but I wanted to post pictures. Granted it's kind of "fredly" but it's great for convenience and the best part is that the bag comes off in about 15 seconds and then is a normal backpack. I've been using it this way for about a week. It's very feasible if you have a cheap light bag and don't want to spend anything or alter the bike.

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The bag has two drawstrings to close the top and act as carry straps. I put hooks on the strings at the bottom to wrap around the seat tube and hook into the string grommets and velcro +rubber wraps around the head tube. Another piece of velcro on the side to go around the top tube and that's it. It took about 20 minutes to modify.

(please excuse the saddle, as I'd just adjusted it and neglected to level. Yes that was uncomfortable.)