I'm obviously new to touring, tried searching with no luck. I'm trying to figure out the best way to hold items on the rear rack (without over thinking it). I've seen bungie cords, pull straps, rope, etc... Is there a "standard" method that is safer than the others?

This has been asked before. Check out this link or do a search.
https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/88...ping-rack.html

This same picture will be posted there with an explanation. They are custom made bungee cords, made with high quality marine shock cord, and work quite well. There are also a lot of other good ideas on the previous post.

I wouldn't touch bungie cords with a ten foot pole. They litter the highway for a reason.
Suitcase straps are far stronger and more reliable. I use shoe and 8 ft skate laces mostly. Most of my stuff was safe inside made in UK plastic bike bins, anyway. They were tied down the entire 5 months. Crash proof, but a pain to wash the bike.

I use a piece of rope with a slip knot. Does that qualify as " without over thinking it"?

It depends on the item(s) being held down but in general bungees are my preferred method with a bungee net being the most secure of all. Don’t buy cheap bungees at the home improvement store. Get high quality shock cord and fittings at a marine chandlery and make your own bungees. Best if one end is permanently fixed to the rack.

Cord and rope are the most unreliable. Web straps with cinch buckles can works well if the load has some compression like a tent or sleeping bag but if the web slips even a little your out of luck. Solid items like hard plastic cases tend to jiggle out over time even if the web doesn’t slip.
Lace and tie shoes through the rack. If bags and the like have a loop or handle pass the bungee or strap through it. Roll down dry bags can be clipped to the rack as back up security.

+1. Bungie-cords are dangerous in several ways and not particularly effective.

I now use velcro tape which is very light, easy-to-use, very variable, holds tight, never any hanging loose ends.

Here it is, from this past summer, holding my tent to the rear post rack:



I'm using it below to lash my tent poles to my top tube. At the time it wasn't as available in heavier sizes so was using nylon buckle straps on the rear. I haven't tried it yet for something as large as the bear-canister, but would probably use it for that task in the future.

We've these for years on our white water river trips. straps at NRS - Kayaking Gear Rafting Supplies and Boating Equipment

Straps like this are the way to go. For years I have been strapping various cargo to bike racks and trailers. I've tried bungees a few times and it can work, but I think they are less secure and definitely can be dangerous. You don't have to even use high quality ones, like the ones in the link, but can find adequate straps in most box/home improvement stores.
Bruce

Rei has a bunch of different webbing straps for around $10 pr.
I got a bungie net from an LBS works really well when several items are involved, like shoes, plus poles, sit pad etc. Fairly cheap.

Bungee cords are the equivalent of carbon fiber frames in the minds of some. It's only a matter of time until they asplode. My day will come and I will learn the error of my ways.

They have some very narrow cinch straps that my brother uses for motorcycle touring. He gave me a few and I love them. Very light and secure.

I like these. I carry several (probably 2 1-foot lengths and 4 6-inch). Metal wire in silicone shell.

Unlike most alternatives you don't have to worry about loose ends getting caught in your wheels

Since I usually use a handlebar bag, four panniers and a bag on top of the back that has dedicated straps to attach to the bike, I strap very little stuff on the bike.

The only things I regularly strap to the bike are:

- rain gear is often strapped on top of my front roller panniers with the pannier strap that goes over the top of the pannier because I like to have my rain gear handy and that strap is perfect for the task,
- maybe a spare water bottle or two,
- tent pole bag to top of rear rack if the poles are too long to fit in another bag,
- an article of clothing that I shed but did not bother to open up a bag to stow,
- on one occasion I had too much food from the grocery store to fit in my bags, put it in a big stuff sack and strapped on top in back.

For those times that I do strap things on, I have used bunge cord, bunge nets, velcro straps, webbing straps, and leather toe clip straps. Never used rope or cord. I usually bring some long webbing straps along for emergency, but usually do not use them or if I used them it was as an extra reinforcement to keep the load from shifting. My last trip, I gave away most of my extra straps to people that clearly needed them more than me. Since anything I strap on is usually quite small, a velcro strap is usually perfect for the task. I usually keep a few short velcro straps wrapped around a rack for that purpose.

If unsure about your packing, after you pack up your bike grip the stem with one hand and your saddle with the other hand and robustly shake the bike side to side several times to see if everything stays on tight. Anything that shifts or sways should get reinforcement.

I've used this bungee net for years. Works well for strapping things to your backpack on hiking trips, too.

Ditto this. If you're aware of the danger (eye injury) and high failure rate, and use them appropriately, they actually work quite well. Best thing is, they're free if you cycle enough. I've never bought one and own at least a dozen.

The reason they tend to litter the roads is because it's very convenient when unpacking things to just leave the bungee cord dangling loosely from any available hook. Then you forget about it and drive off so it falls by the roadside. OTOH, properly secured bungee cords do not just spontaneously unhook themselves.

I know a lot of folks believe bungee cords do not secure the load well and are dangerous, but I have found them to be as stable as straps. I've used shock cord fasteners (bungee cords), and have had no trouble with them. There are no wobble or bouncing issues.

Part of the route during this tour took us over 400 miles of unpaved roads and trails, and over 500 miles of cobblestone roads. They hold the load stable during minor, and even some not so minor crashes.


Different bike (below) on an earlier trip, but the same 2 bungee cords. It is amazing how much can fit under those cords. In this case my rack pack, a ruined tire looking for a trash bin, the tent poles, and my running shoes. They are made from 1/4" high quality shock cord.


I can put my bike in about any position and the load does not shift.


Bottom line: use what you trust and you feel comfortable with, be it a belt or suspenders or both

Thanks guys lots of great ideas here

I agree that Velcro tape (also know as one-wrap) is useful. But I used these Sea-to-Summit straps on a trip through Israel recently and was extremely impressed. They held without the slightest slippage.

ROK straps.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00SX...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Bungee cords, for me, have a glaring shortcoming and thats the inability to adjust the size. I am not going to carry multiple sizes.

Rok straps are part bungee elastic and part nylon strap. If you have a lot on the back one day then less the next, they adjust easily and securely.

Hey those look really cool. I have never seen those type of strap before, but I will definitely be adding those to my next order. Thanks for bringing them to my attention!
Bruce

Be aware that there are a handful of types. Some are thin, some are thick, length varies, and color too.
Basically there are light duty and heavier duty.
The ones i linked are what i have, but im not sure how they are categorized.

One other strap i have packed for when needed is an elastic velcro strap. I like the adjustability if that isnt obvious yet.
https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-.../dp/B00006IC2R

Good to know!
I have some of the similar velcro straps, but they are not stretchy. I tried some of the stretchy ones in the store once, but the seem to be for very "lightweight" use.
Bruce

I did have an issue with a bungee cord that probably would not have happened with straps. But then I wouldn't have this story I thought some of you anti-bungee folks would get a kick out of it.


Wednesday - Leuven to Turnhout (excerpt from our blog)
Doug says, “Yesterday I was reminded that you don't want to tick off the touring gods or even your wife.

We started out early and rolled easily in the cool morning under a heavily overcast sky. About the same time as the terrain started getting a little challenging, the clouds decided to turn from threatening rain to actual moisture. We pulled off the road and dug into our panniers to get the raingear out. I had to unclip the 2 bungee cords holding my rack pack to get it out of the way. I donned my rain gear, reassembled my rack pack and reattached the bungee cords to the rear of the rack where I had unclipped them. I also removed my hearing aids to keep them dry.

Riding in the light rain was almost enjoyable, but on about the third small hill I was starting to struggle a little to keep up with Donna. While she is a good strong rider, I'm usually a little stronger than her on the hills. We have identical drivetrains, and having to use one gear lower I kept dropping back. This was the pattern of the morning and I was really getting worried that something was wrong with me, and I was not going to make it through the day.

Just before noon and at the bottom of hill we decided it was dry enough to get out of the rain gear before we started up a long hill ahead of us. I also replaced my hearing aids after placing my rolled up jacket and pants underneath the bungee cords on the rear rack.

This hill was a real struggle, and I could hear a rubbing sound that I attributed to a fender stay or some debris picked up in the wet conditions. I'd fix it at the top. When we got to the top I was really getting worried, but we just busted over and let her rip on the downhill. The faster we went the worse the rubbing got. I finally pulled over to see what was going on.

This is what I found. When I unclipped the bungee cords earlier, the right cord clip that is usually attached to the rack's seatstay strut dropped off and landed just below my rear brake's straddle cable. When I re-clipped the bungee cord at the rear of the rack the forward clip moved upward hooking the brake's straddle wire, essentially applying the rear brake. Everything felt fine. While it was raining it was not obvious due to the lubricating action of the water. However, when the sun came out and I placed the rolled up raingear under the bungee cord it really increased the pressure.

I was so happy to find that I wasn't falling apart that I could actually laugh at my stupidity. I'm sure some of you will say that you laugh at it quite regularly. Donna denies any involvement, but probably secretly agrees on my mental status."

on off road touring, I've "bounced" bags off my rack that had been bungeed on. Then the bungee may get caught in the spokes. Very bad. I found a bungee at the hardware store with carabiners on both ends. Works amazingly well, never falls off, fast and easy to install. I also carry a couple Salsa straps. Lots of options out there.