Would this work? (commuting on road bike)
 

I know, I know this should be in the commuting section, but I want advice from roadies. I am looking to get a caad9 in a couple of months and I want to be able to ride to school with it (7 miles on a small highway with huge shoulders -- perfect riding path). I obviously cant mount a real rack on the bike because it doesnt have the mounting holes. What I want to do is use one of these: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=2325

I would just bungee my regular backpack to it. I will be carrying maybe 15lbs of stuff: notebooks, books (no giant textbooks), calculator, lunch, change of clothes.
My concerns are handling, breaking the rack (20 lb weight limit), ruining my new bike (seatpost mostly), etc.

Any thoughts? Would this work?

Thanks

I think you could use a real rack if you use the "P" clamps on your seat stays to take the place of the dropout eyelets.

That rack is pretty much useless for anything bulky like a backpack. I bought one very similar with the same idea. The reality of it is that if you want to strap the backpack to it, the bungees will be taught enough to squish everything in there, and if they aren't, the backpack flops around with bumps, turns and light breezes (ok, the light breezes is a bit of a stretch but not by that much). And if you intend to carry a laptop, having enough tension on it to keep it from flopping around will likely lead to damage to the laptop.

Get a messenger bag. Big enough for a laptop and whatever you take with you to school. I commute with one to work on my road bike. BTW, I have a rack like that (Topeak) and it is only good for taking a jacket, lunch, camera, and extra water on rides in the desert where there are no stores/gas stations for 45-50 miles at a stretch. If it is packed too heavy it will eventually work loose and it can't take more than 15 pounds. If you use it for what it is intended for, its fine, but if you overload it - watch out.

messenger bag like crumpler, my sticky date bag (not strictly messenger but all crumpler shoulderbags are the same pretty much) takes my 17" laptop, charger, clothes, food, and life.

I think it has a volume of 25L..

Doubleposted somehow

Why would you strap a BACK pack onto a rack? Can't you just ride with it on your back? Are you serious?

There are some good threads about this in the commuting forum...

so.. I really dont want a backpack or a messenger bag because one of my top 5 hated things in life is a sweaty back. And wouldnt a messenger back flop around a bunch? I dont plan on taking a laptop, and I tried putting my backpack on a similar rack that had the connection at the dropouts, and it fit fine. I am just wondering if this would dammage my bike through extensive use. Also any other suggestions on how to get my stuff to school? maybe a bag that attaches to the seat?

I wouldn't want to ride a nice bike to school. How will you secure it?

It works for me perfect. I bought a this http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=2312
It's fitting everything inside, shoes, shirt, pants and wallet. I'm commuting every day and second year to work about 8 miles one way. So I don't have any damage or bag falling off from the rack

This would make sense. Shoes/shirt/pants, don't have the weight to flop around like textbooks or a laptop.

I know you said you want roadie input, but you'll get a lot more feedback if you go to the commuting forum. We've made a lot of mistakes and can give good advice over there.

I've been commuting for years and years on my race bike. I just use a backpack (frameless, but with compression straps). I carry a change of clothes, laptop, lunch, and tools. Usually weighs around 25 lbs, but I've had errands take me of 50 lbs.

Compression straps are key. You can spread the load thin, then pin it down flat, so you don't just have a big lump of crap in the bottom of a pack with no structure.

Messenger bags suck in my experience. They're great if you want to get into them without taking them off, but that compromises carrying stability and comfort.

If you lock your bike, I hope it's obvious, but leave your lock at school (locked to a rack). If you can find a place to store a pair of street shoes there too, bonus.

just talk to one of your teachers/professors to see if you can store it in their office/class. Worked for me so far for the summer, not sure how well it'll work during the school year though.

OK, so your parameters are no rack or back pack, and you're carrying a fair bit. I think that leaves you with a seatbag, like a Carradice, or with a large handlebar bag. In order to attach a Carradice style bag to a modern (read as: non-Brooks) saddle, you'll need these.

The handlebar bag costs a third of what saddlebags cost, but you get more style points for the saddlebag.

There are no style points available in this thread. It's all in managing how many style points you lose :thumb:

It was already said, but seems to have been forgotten, a rear rack can be attached to ANY bike with P-clamps.

In fact, my Blackburn EX-1 on my commuter came with the P-clamps, covered in rubber so they'd be gentle on the paint job. I couldn't tell you where they are, but if I knew I'd send them to you for free, they're so dern cheap.

Then you can get a pannier or two that'll fit all yer crap. It's fred-o-licious, but it fuggin' works.

Road bike with aluminum post. And a long frickin ride to work.

http://suitcaseofcourage.typepad.com...o-work-da.html

Someone I know. I don't commute and I don't need a suit nor do I have to get to any kind of office.

cdr

Axiom Streamliner. Attaches at the hub axle and brake bridge, no p-clamps needed.

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/9039/17137901ra8.jpg

I commuted for about a year on a full road bike using a messenger bag. It was a 50 mile round trip and I found I was spending a lot of time looking for lighter gear to carry back and forth. Back ended up hurting a lot.

Backpack would have been better without a doubt, but it would have moved the center of gravity a little higher as well.

I ended up retrofitting a rack with panniers (it can be done) and haven't looked back.

get a bag meant to clip on a rack. there are plenty of ones designed for commuting that convert into backpacks or have good shoulder straps.

Why the cannondale? There are plenty of bikes meant for commuting that will easily accommodate any rack and more importantly good fenders.

I'm with you on the sore back...

I just started commuting a few times a week on my Roubaix. I have racks, which I had mounted to my MTB, but had decided to use a backpack with the Roubaix. After 5 commutes my back is letting me know that this isn't a good idea. Also, I find my feet and knees complaining too. Everything just isn't use to carrying that extra weight.

I'm pulling out the rack tonight and see what can be done to fit it onto the Roubaix.

Likewise. Just a laptop and a few extras in a messenger bag were tweaking my back on a ~15 mile commute. Haven't figured out my best solution yet, just try to leave the laptop at work more often :thumb:

I'm with Waterrockets. I use an old NorthFace daypack. Load everything in, cinch it down, and strap it to me with the waist belt and sternum strap so there's no swaying.

because I want to race on the weekends.

I think what I will do is weigh my load, and If it is under 18 lbs, I will go the original route I chose, and If its closer to above 20, I will get a rack with p clamps, or the axiom and get some panniers.

Thanks for your help.