idiotekniQues

If you don't want to put a rack on that bike due to looks - well there are some interesting options in this thread but to me all the ones that involve the rear seatpost are very fugly, especially for a vintage bike. Best bet would go the handlebar route - I think it can look the best. DOesn't sound like you need to carry too much so it should fit it all easy peasy.

Abu Mahendra

The stress on a seatpost holding a clamp with, say, 10kg is a lot less than the stress on the seatpost clamped by the seatpost collar holding a 75kg rider vibrating up and down at the frequency of the rider's cadence. So, no, no special seatpost required.

Drew Eckhardt 

I found the side frames on that weren't strong enough to keep my commuting pannier (laptop, work clothes, rain resistant clothes, etc.) out of my spokes. I gave up on seatpost mounted racks after trying three more and having my thighs rub on the clamps with all of them.

chaadster

Well, what we learned in the 70's BMXing and in the '80s MTBing was that standard road equipment, seatposts included, were not up to the extra stresses, and would slip, bend, and break.

While seat bags have been done "since forever," cantilevered racks have not, and the leverage they apply to the post and frame when heavily loaded is greater than the weight a bag on the seat rails would apply.

Now I'm not saying enough weight will be on the rack to be an issue, only that I'd be cautious about it. Rider weight + rack load+pothole could equal enough force to bend a skinny '80s road seatpost. Again, "could"; lots of unknown stuff about said post, and cheap,'early '80s road post could be a lot different than quality, late '80s MTB.

Anyway, probably unlikely to be both sufficiently heavy and a hard enough hit to do any damage, so not worth worrying about, but I've seen far crazier failures than bent seatposts, and I've seen a few of those over the decades.

linberl

One of the things I like about the Xootr rack is the weight is only a couple inches from the seatpost and is vertical unlike the horizontal seatpost racks which extend a couple feet out over the wheel. You can even add a brace to the seat rails if you are paranoid about it.

corrado33

Just for the record, since it seemed like this thread has drifted this direction.

I have absolutely no intention of using one of those seatpost mounted abominations they call "racks." They're uglier than a NORMAL rack.

I never said the bike COULDN'T support a normal rack, I just don't WANT to mount a normal rack.

I was thinking more along the lines of larger saddlebags or handlebar bags. Like the vintage bags of the past.

cyclist2000

The revelate frame bags are my new favorite. But be sure to look at the sizes that will fit in your frame. I initially got a large frame bag and it works for a my bike that is a 61 cm steel frame but wont fit a carbon giant xl frame and wouldn't fit my touring bike frame. I got the medium frame bag for my touring bike it fits nicely but the water bottle on the seat tube hits the bag and may get in the way of getting it out of the cage.

chaadster

Yes, I like the Xootr CrossRack as well, and keep one on my commuter fitted with the CrossRack Bag. It's a very handy and capacious setup, my only gripe being that the bag's rack hooks should have a cover to keep them from interfering with shoulder carry of the bag; as it is, the hooks kind of poke and grab, making it less than perfectly comfy to carry.

DMC707

I weigh too much --- i put a lot more stress on a post just sitting on the bike than a 15 lb load on a seatpost rack would with a more svelte rider

linberl

i use a linus sac instead of the crossrack bag, not quite as capacious, but it looks like a regular bag when carried and the bag folds over the top to cover the hooks when carried.

linberl

If you can afford it then get a Carradice set up. Bag with support rack. Traditional, classic and classy.

Jarrett2

Gotta admit that's a little funny

What's the aversion to racks these days?

corrado33

No aversion. Sometimes it's just nice to have a bike that doesn't have racks on it.

OneIsAllYouNeed

You have lots off-the-shelf or made to order options:
https://www.carradice.co.uk/index.ph...category_id=13
Acorn Bags | Traditional Bicycle Luggage
Dill Pickle Gear

You can also make something yourself, like these:
Convert a Canvas Bag to a Traditional English Saddle Bag - All
Vintage Style Bicycle Saddle Bag for your Fixie or Single Speed - All

Phreon

Very much like my old Cannondale handlebar bag...

Custom Paloma Handlebar Bag ? Swift Industries

or

https://www.topeak.com/global/en/pro...ndlebar-bag-dx