I just ordered my first bicycle as an adult - a very exciting day - and I'm looking for a cargo rack.

A bit of background: I don't anticipate becoming a heavy bicyclist. The purchase was part of a bit to get a bit of exercise and, more importantly, to do some "around town" commuting (to stop driving my car so much).

I ordered the 2013 Giant Escape 0

The first purchase I'd like to make is for a cargo rack for the back. I was leaning towards a Topeak so I could take advantage of the "QuickTrack" system of trunk bags.

Some thoughts any questions for the community:

• I lean towards avoiding the "BeamRack" system. It seems like the standard racks would be more stable as they attach to more than just the seat post.
• Of the non-beamrack choices, I can't tell the difference between the Explorer and the Super Tourist
• With the explorer and super tourist, what is the difference between with and without a spring?
• In your experience, is this a good rack? Should I be going a different route? I don't want to spend a fortune, but I'd rather spend some extra dollars now and have something that will be sturdy and last...

Thank you all for any input you can share,

J