Rack for Compact Frame Road Bike
 

I'm commuting on a 2003 Specialized Allez Sport (or whatever they called the very base model that year) and looking to see if it can easily be made more commute-friendly. I have a basic Trek rear rack on it, which has been fine for these five years for strapping on small items or using a rack trunk. Currently I have a handlebar bag zip-tied to it as a sort of ultra-mini pannier. But even with just that little bag, I have occasional heel-strike issues, and now I'd like to get a bigger bag to use for carrying a laptop computer.

I know I can jury rig some extenders to move this rack back a bit, but does anyone have a recommendation for a relatively inexpensive rack that might work better with a compact frame like this?

There are racks like this one:
http://www.axiomgear.com/product/rac...uct.php?id=142

They sit back further to compensate for short chainstays.

I have an Allez Elite with a removeable seat rack. First, I replaced the carbon seat post with a decent aluminum one. The stock carbon seat posts won't handle a beam rack. I bought a Topeak QR Beam Rack MTX, that has a quick-release mechanism to take it off of the bike. Below is a picture of how I commute extra miles before work using it.

This was taken this morning during my training commute/ride.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l.../new_bike2.jpg

At first I was worried about the rack rubbing my legs, but it is no big deal at all. I've taken it out on a few 50+ mile jaunts with the rack with no discomfort at all.

You just remove the rack from the bike using the quick-release, and you are back to riding a much leaner road bike. Hope this helps!

You can get bags that are profiled to avoid heel strike. Some rectangular laptop bags (eg carradice) are mounted at an angle.
You can even buy the mounting system (rixen & Kaul or arkel) to mount to your own bag. This gives you the option of mounting higher to avoid heel strike.

Jandd Expedition rear rack:D

Thanks for the suggestions thus far. Digging further on the Axiom site took me to the Trunk Pack, which looks like it might work. Since it mounts on top, heel strike would probably be less likely.

http://www.axiomgear.com/product/bag...duct.php?id=79

http://www.oldmanmountain.com

look at the sherpa

i just ordered one (they've been back ordered for a while) that should be in next week, and i'm putting it on a bike that is lacking some of the amenities and has disc brakes, so it should be a worst-ish case scenario. i'll try to post some pics.

it's expensive, but also supposedly bomb-proof and capable of holding whatever you want to pile on it.

I have an allez elite with no rack eyelets and use a tubus cargo rack with a trunk bag. Wayne at thetouringstore.com sold it to me with some nice adapters that allow for installation and also move the rack back so that panniers would be a possibility. a bit pricey, but a nice set-up.

On my Dahon folding bicycle, I use the small rear rack with the Arkel Utility Basket (a large single pannier). It works because the hooks for the rack are adjustable along their aluminum channel. This makes it possible to have the body of the bag placed further back. I never have problems with heel strikes using this arrangement.
http://www.striegels.com/alan/photo/...rear hooks.JPG
http://www.striegels.com/alan/photo/... rear rack.JPG
http://www.striegels.com/alan/photo/...cLite rack.JPG

nashbar mule rack has an extra long arm. i've seen you can also buy extra long arms from independent metal-workers.
otherwise, get a seat-post clamp rack.