awesome update.

I ordered the bike from REI.
$2800 bike
on clearance for $2100
plus I used a 20% off clearance coupon
$1680 total!

REI is great to deal with in the event of an issue with the bike.
plus they assembled the bike at no charge, the same day it arrived to the local store.

I must have gotten one of their last ones, no more showing in stock
https://www.rei.com/product/886432/d...-exc-bike-2015



I was looking for rear rack solution based on the review on this site:
https://electricbikereview.com/diamondback/trace-exc/
and especially the VIDEO (towards the bottom). nice lengthy review.
however, he shows a bike without the threaded upper holes for a rear rack. must have been a demo.
it did show the bottom holes.

you can't believe everything you see on the www.

b/c my bike came in yesterday, and it has the holes on it! they are rated for 50lbs.
all this stress over nothing.

thanks for all of the replies.
I hope the information will help the next soldier.

already have my rack installed, and all is well.

cheers