Originally Posted by davidmcowan
Well, since we are considering other options, how many of you think I could fit a back rack to this road bike and be able to tour on it with using a handlebar bag upfront??? I've heard there are racks that mount to the QR.
There are a couple of options for racks. One would be a
Disc Rack from Delta. I wouldn't use it for a touring load but for commuting, it works fine with a trunk bag. Another option would be an Old Man Mountain rack but those are expensive ($125). I happen to have one in my garage that I don't really like. PM me.
For touring, and this is an option I keep forgetting, you could pull a trailer. That solves all kinds of problems in geometry. Trailers run around $300+ but then good bags and racks will cost about the same. I use a trailer for mountain bike touring but I don't really like them for road touring. They have a 'tail wagging the dog' effect that I don't like but they are a good option if you don't want to go with a full-on-touring bike.