Pyro Lizard

Hi, everyone! I'm new to road cycling, and I just bought my first new road bike. I decided on a Raleigh Grand Sport, basically so I can lose my car (and some pounds).

Anyway, there are some basic things I want to carry all the time on my bike, and I don't want to constantly ride with a backpack. What options do I have avaible? My local bike shop wasn't very helpful when I told him what I needed, and I'm having trouble finding what I want online. Is there any kind of a rack I can buy so I can mount something like a messanger bag on the side of the bike?

Also, does anyone know of a good book or website I should check out to learn how to maintain and care for the bike?

Thanks alot, fellas

gurana

bikeforums commuters forum

sheldon brown's website for general and specific bike info. take his word as bible truth.

Park tool has some good info on bike maintainance.... But you'll probably want to invest in a manual to keep at your house. I have a Zinn book, but there are others.

Things i keep with me for every ride would be my topeak seatbag tool kit, a CO2 pump with 3 extra canisters, two tubes, and of course water. I also take a cell phone, ID, bank card, health insurance card, and my keys (I don't go anywhere without those things). If you're going to be commuting though, there's probably more things to consider, so I'd check the commuters forum.

good luck.

bsyptak

What do you want to always carry? Inquiring minds want to know.

Proximo

I put a Topeak Explorer rack on my commuter/training bike and use a Topeak EXP (EX w/zip out panniers) trunk bag when I commute. I really like the setup.

Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance is an excellent choice of books (this link points to the cheaper paperback edition).

gurana

I saw that paperback ed. when I looked up the one I have... is it essentially the same? I've never seen it to do a comparison. My one big gripe with this book, and any manual style book that you might want to have open and look at while doing something else with your hands, is that you can't open it up easily and leave it open while on a table or something. What these kinds of books need to be is spiral bound or something.

merlinextraligh

i've always been partial to a large rack

Mariner Fan

Oh yea, Tubus makes great racks.

Proximo

I can't imagine they aren't.

By the way, spiral bound would be nice but it would probably jack the price up.

gurana

I'd pay it gladly. I think it'd totaly be worth it. But I guess from a publisher standpoint, not everybody would be willing to pay that, hence they don't print them like that.

Pyro Lizard

Haha, i'm more partial to the medium sized racks

As far as what I want to carry... A digital camera, a small set of binoculars, a utility knife, spare tube, tool set, bandana, sunscreen, ect. Basically all things I won't use every ride, but I want to always have on me. I'm wondering if there isn't some sort of bag that straps on under the seat that would hold all this stuff?

KevinF

Topeak makes some larger seat-post mounted racks. Look here: https://www.topeak.com/2006/products/bags/bagsmain.php

If you really want capacity though, you'll need to get racks and panniers. Most racks require special eyelets on the frame to attach to though. The people over in the commutting forum could tell you lots more about racks then I can though.

Proximo

The knock I hear on the seat-post mounted racks is that the higher center of gravity can cause handling problems.

Checking the Raleigh web site, the '06 Grand Sport does have rack and fender mounts.

bsyptak

I'd stay away from the seatpost mounted racks as well. They are much easier to get off if you only want to use it say 50% of the time. But if you want to have a permanent rack, then you should get one of the standard types that will attach to your rack eyelets on your frame. They will hold lots of weight and are much sturdier than the seatpost mounted racks. Plus, IMO, they look better.

How about this (or similar, available at every LBS in the land):

https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=2325

and one of these (focus on trunk bags):

https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_id=2312

Granny

> Any rack reccomendations?

Yes - find a woman with the nicest rack you can handle.