Originally Posted by
peterw_diy
For pannier heel clearance, consider "disc-compatible" rear racks whose mounts put the rack back a bit. This one puts the rack an extra 4cm back:
http://www.axiomgear.com/products/ge...iner-road-dlx/
Sure, for heavy loads it'd be better to have long stays and a traditional rack, but for commuting...
...it's still better.
As Darth Lefty so astutely pointed out, the Trek CrossRip has nearly the same wheelbase as the Trek 520. With a shorter chainstay, that biases the CrossRip's rider position further back over the rear wheel. There is a reason to do that because for off-road riding, the bike handles better with a somewhat lightened front wheel. The wheel is easier to loft over trail irregularities. If you put a rack on the bike that moves a load further back, the load can end up wagging the dog. With the light front end, that makes the handling even more twitchy than it would normally be.