(Part 2) Best bike cargo racks according to redditors

I'm lucky that I don't have a long commute. But this is by far the best way to get to work!

Edit: with links!

Little info on the bike for any others who are curios.

Bike: 2016 Raleigh Furley (on discount was ~$750 with tax). I love this bike it's awesome. Chromoly steel, real soft ride. Single speed so it's 0 maintenance. Last but not least, disc brakes. Not the best, but they are much better than rims especially in weather of New England.

Tires: Gatorskins 25mm

Honjo Fenders: Superb, takes a while to install. I could have a used a few more brackets to hold everything together better too. Definitely going to get a mudguard for the front maybe the back as well.

Rack is the Topeak explorer for disc brakes. Two Ortlieb back roller city panniers.

Misc: I have a cateye volt 700 for front light and the cateye rapid x3 for a tail light, both are super bright even in the daytime!

Bike computer: Old nexus 5 that I hold on with a quadlock to track everything to strava. I use Ipbike which hooks up to my duotrap and my scosche heartrate monitor.

Pick up one of these brackets: Taillight Bracket

Then get any compatible light, such as: PDW Danger Zone or Nightrider Solas

The PDW Danger Zone is a better light, and cheaper, but the Nightrider is USB rechargeable. The PDW is better, because you can easily pair it with rechargeable AAA batteries. This allows you to replace the batteries as they wear out, toss a non-rechargeable battery in in a pinch. When used a couple hours a day, decent rechargeable batteries last over a full week. IMO rechargeable AAA > USB rechargeable.

Or, if you find a light you like with the standard CatEye-style rear light mount, there's this bracket that fits those: CatEye Rack Bracket CatEye mounts are square with small indents on the back, like this: CatEye Light (best picture I could find).

That said, depending on where you live, I'd really recommend looking into a dyno hub and dyno lighting. Lithium batteries really work poorly in the cold, and NiMH work only marginally better. With long, cold days coming, not relying on batteries is really nice. At the least, I'd recommend against lithium batteries if you live somewhere cold. Rechargeable NiMH aren't really that much bother, especially if you buy extras and have them in a charge-rotation...always fresh batteries.

Axiom makes one is mostly silver. Some black parts.

What type of bike? Race/mountain/cx? Aluminum, steel, carbon?

Axiom is good for race and carbon. It sets the pack further behind the wheel to prevent heel strikes. It also doesn't use clamps which are not ideal for super light aluminum and bad for carbon.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003DHEOF4/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1526766628&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=axiom+streamliner&dpPl=1&dpID=41o0vhr6DpL&ref=plSrch

Up until recently I was commuting on '03 CAAD7 and I used an Axiom Streamliner rack. It mounts using the rear skewer and brake mount point and works really well. It's set back a bit so that you don't hit your heel, since the road bike has a short chainstay vs a touring or commuter bike that's designed for a rack.
That said you can't really carry a lot of weight, but it worked for me for a laptop and change of clothes in a pannier.
Axiom Streamliner Disc DLX Rack - (Silver) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003DHEOF4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_1W7izbZJYGHZA

Sorry about that I thought I included link in the original comment

Dirza Rear Bike Rack Bicycle Cargo Rack Quick Release Adjustable Alloy Bicycle Carrier 115 Lb Capacity Easy to Install Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075WS4KX3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_xu5OBbW4G88YC

AmazonSmile Link: Axiom Streamliner Disc DLX Rack - (Silver)

^Use AmazonSmile to donate 0.5% of your purchase price to a charity of your choice at no extra cost to you.

I've been eyeing the Velo Orange Porteur rack. I like the low profile of the basket. It's pricey at $160 though. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004JKJNLY/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1427246535&sr=8-2&keywords=velo+orange+porteur&dpPl=1&dpID=418iqWOyOeL&ref=plSrch&pi=AC_SX200_QL40

If you want a rack, I'd suggest one of the skewer mount ones, with Pclips for the attachment to the seat stays at the top.

As for the thin tires-- nice road bikes of that era commonly have narrow tire clearances, you may not be able to go much bigger. One way to estimate: measure the clearance at the tightest points (usually tire to seat tube, or tire to chain stay, or tire to break bridge) An easy way to measure is to use a drill bit as a feeler gauge. You'll need to leave a minimum of about 3mm clearance.

It's a great stand and very sturdy. 100% recommend. Feedback Sports Velo Cache 2 Bike Storage Rack.

Depending on the wheel/frame geometry it may need this one

I found out the hard way that the one in your post won't fit my 29er.

Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Explorer-Bicycle-Brake-Mounts/dp/B000FIAVHE/

Would be better.

That mountain bike looks like it has braze-ons at the top of the chain stays and a few inches up from the axle (or at least looks like) that are there for racks and fenders. It should be compatible with a wide range of rear racks.

Taking advantage of those hard mount points will allow you to use a rack that is much stronger, more rigid, and feel like much more of a part of the bike. Seat-clamp style racks tend to bounce around more, wiggle around easier, and will tend to scrape of the paint and such things.

That Topeak explorer is just a example of that particular style. It's mid-high expensive for racks go, but it does look pretty robust and has a 66 pound weight rating.

Nice. This summer I carried a case of those stubby 8oz cans in my panniers to work to reward the guys. I definitely felt the extra weight and it made the ass-end twitchy but there are no real hills over my five mile route.

I'm thinking one of these Fyxation growler carriers would be nice on the next weekend ride. Though my local bar fills these 32oz aluminum "crowlers" which make it super easy to carry and not risk shattering.

I have mounted a rack on my racing bike using these:

Blackburn EX-1 Disc Universal Bicycle Rack and Problem Solvers Seatpost Clamp 31.8 w/ Rack Mounts

The setup works like a charm, and I've loaded it up to 40-50 lbs without problem.

I use a combination of a Blackburn trunk bag and Avenir seatpost rack. I ride on a District S Trek hybrid aluminum bike and this works great for my 8-mile commute.

Less weight, solid prices, decent carrying capacity. Carries my change of clothes, shoes, toiletries, bike lock, gloves, water bottle.

Non-mobile: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004JKJNLY/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1427246535&sr=8-2&keywords=velo+orange+porteur&dpPl=1&dpID=418iqWOyOeL&ref=plSrch&pi=AC_SX200_QL40

^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble. ^WUT?

7.2s are great bikes. My dad had one that lasted 12 years, I had one that lasted for 8 (they were 7200s back then.) Now I've got a 7.2 that I've had for a year and I love it. Following up on what Rumblefish said, if everything checks out, $150-175 sounds like a great deal.

If you are commuting to the gym, consider putting on a rack and pannier system. For about $70 it's way better than dragging a backpack around.
Rack: http://www.amazon.com/BV-Bicycle-Commuter-Carrier-Bicycles/dp/B00EZZBH0S/
Pannier: http://www.amazon.com/Banjo-Brothers-01110BAN-Waterproof-Pannier/dp/B003D4GSH4/

I might have a different idea for you. The fork on my Charge Plug I use for touring doesn't have rack mount eyelets, so I bought a Blackburn Outpost front rack. It will attach to the QR if you have a long skewer.

I actually attached it to the fender eyelets, and then attached the fender stays to the rack.

I use this in a garage with tight space. Works well enough for me. You might want some that stack vertically like this if you're really tight on space. You may be able to come up with a 3d printable design of a rack like this

I'd look into a "seatpost style" rear rack. They're ideally made for full suspensions so it has no wheel size requirement.

http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Beam-Rack-MTX-Bicycle/dp/B000F9XRBA/ref=pd_sbs_sg_2

That looks pretty good. I'm a bit strapped for time, leaving Friday :/ So i might have to put that on the list for future endeavours. I'm thinking This pannier might work

True.

I very much prefer axle mounts to p clamps. Just clarifying it's still an option even with those dropouts.

This would be a pretty quick install and the price is pretty decent:
http://www.amazon.com/Blackburn-EX-1-Universal-Bicycle-Black/dp/B002RQJTKM

This may be too late, but this is the bike rack I use on my bike. Amazon link

Only attaches to the seat post, don't have to worry about weird geometries.

I think the Cateye Reflex Bracket will suit for any kind of rear rack. I'm using that bracket in my S6L Brompton for mounting the Rapid Mini. It suits very well with the Brompton standard reflector bracket in the L type (non-rack, fender only). I get the bracket when buying the Cateye Reflex Auto, but I think you can buy it separately in Amazon.

Balance that against the thought of a car turning right after you pass because he didn't expect the trailer. I think both options have their downsides.

My wife and I used the rack seats. We liked it because it put them close enough to us that we could talk. One of the big downsides is that it puts a lot of extra weight high up on the bike and it really messed up the handling on my road bike. I had to lower my saddle and raise my handlebars to compensate. The Blackburn Co-Pilot comes with a functional rack (as opposed to several others that have a rack, but that can't be used for anything other than attaching the seat) and is really easy to install.

I only used a rented trailer once. I really liked the stability. The big downsides to me were that the kids were too far away to talk and that it was a lot heavier to haul. Friends that use them really like them for the extra hauling capacity that they have...makes trips to the grocery store via bicycle with the kids possible.

Edit: If you want to try both options, I have a CoPilot seat you can have for the price of shipping, if you're interested. You'll need your own rack, though (I love mine too much to part with it). This is the one the seat fits.

I was actually planning on getting a small front basket, The Blackburn Local for a small bag and miscellaneous stuff. I'm always worried that if I have a rear basket stuff will fly out without my notice, or worse I'll clip a parked car turning a corner cause I can't see the basket.

I like all the braze ons because of the the versatility and options for bottle cages, panniers, fenders etc. even if I won't use them right away.

I've been eyeballing this.

I think OP may have a Fifty/Fifty or similar, which is a good deal bigger.

http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B009YM2I28/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=182O0SFQWEB1A&coliid=I3NTTDN9QP9XX7

And

http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B005CSZXBQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=182O0SFQWEB1A&coliid=I15JBAJJO6PW97&psc=1

About $30 and solid.

Well, I bought the rack when I bought the bike so the guys at the shop installed it for me. But I had no problem installing the same rack on my mountain bike that has disc brakes. Here is a link to the rack I have, the mounts are designed for disc brakes.

I can't quite tell from the picture, but you may have rack bosses; if so, pretty much any rack out there will do.

If you don't, there are several other options, but the simplest is probably to find one that clamps onto your seat post along the lines of this. The weight limit is usually a good bit lower on those, but should be fine for most stuff unless you want to get into touring or something like that.

Backpacks are okay... but once you've had panniers, you'll wonder why you didn't pick them up earlier.

Not sure if this voids your no-p-clamps requirement, but my planet bike rack came with small plastic covered metal pieces/straps that go around the seat stays (and were specifically included for bikes without braze-ons).

http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Oversized-Aluminum-Pre-installed/dp/B000RYAKRM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370457143&sr=8-1&keywords=planet+bike+eco+bike+rack

Thanks!

Have you tried a rack like this. It has 3-4" standoffs that put the cargo further back.

You also might want to consider carrying cargo on the front. Foot conflicts were a big factor in my decision to go front cargo.

You can slap something like this on it.

Mounts to your seatpost and has clamps that clamp onto the frame, or you can bolt them on directly if your frame has holes for it.

Something like those can generally mount to just about any bike.

Axiom Hunter DLX on a Planet Bike Eco rack.

The Wald rack needs an additional hardware to secure.

http://www.niagaracycle.com/categories/wald-hardware-for-215-bicycle-rack

This one looks like it comes with the hardware.

https://www.amazon.com/Wald-Rear-Bike-Rack-Chrome/dp/B000C129JM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1474260647&sr=8-2&keywords=Wald+Adjustable+Rear+Rack%2C+Steel+Chrome

Yeah, if it's that heavily loaded it would probably not be comfortable all day. Another option for ortliebs: https://www.amazon.com/Ortlieb-Carrying-System-For-Panniers/dp/B004ET2AHE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472942067&sr=8-1&keywords=ortlieb+backpack+carrying+system+for+panniers

Ortliebs mainly have one big compartment, so not sure if that work work for you or not.

A front platform rack like this (I'm sure there are cheaper options) might work to strap a backpack or other bag to. I always worry about the straps getting stuck in my drivetrain. If it's in the front, at least you can see it....https://smile.amazon.com/Velo-Orange-Porteur-Front-Polish/dp/B004JKJNLY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1472942230&sr=8-4&keywords=front+bike+rack+platform

Hmmm, I've been doing a bit of poking around, and I'm wondering if this -

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XPXTCTK/?coliid=I24Z9ELJTW6FWE&colid=2M49RAHQFGGN1&psc=1

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Might work with the rad runner front rack, would just need some way to secure the extending panniers so that they aren't flopping around on the front, or hitting the front wheel. I honestly have no idea what I'm doing at the moment, and I really am trying to not redneck engineer the shit out of this thing. Any idea if something like this might do the trick? -

https://www.amazon.com/Blackburn-Outpost-Front-World-Touring/dp/B00GCB4V10/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=bike+front+pannier+rack&qid=1570806562&sr=8-7

That's not true, some of them are pretty cheap but not all are junk. If assembled properly they won't fall apart. You can see in the reviews which ones to steer clear of.

This one from Wald is pretty buff and it's under $20.

I finally bought a bike rack for my steel frame Scwhinn. Does anyone have any panniers / baskets / boxes they recommend? Or for sale? I'll be doing daily commutes and occasional 'touring' rides.

That's pretty much how I started my 2 mile commute in 2015. I went reading and bought the Wirecutter's reccommendation at the time, a Trek 7.2 (though I did go for the 2014 7.4 Disc, since my shop had it on a good sale). I added fenders and a kickstand immediately, grabbed a cheap (but safe) Wal-Mart helmet and lights, and started riding when the weather was decent. As I needed them, I added elastic, reflective ankle bands to keep my jeans out of the chain, got a set of decent gloves for cooler weather, a rear rack and expandable trunk bag, upgraded my lights, and bought a cheap bike computer from Aldi.
 
After a few years, I had a better idea of what I really wanted, so last fall I sold the hybrid and picked up a gravel bike to get off the 50mph highway and onto the gravel shoulder and replaced my helmet with a more comfortable and better ventilated one. I moved over the rear rack, bought new, larger fenders and a kickstand, but didn't bother with the computer and just got a handlebar phone mount since I track everything on Strava anyways.
 
Of course I don't NEED all of this to bike commute, but it makes it easier/more comforable/etc. to do so. The only thing I've regretted is the fancy gloves: they work just fine, but I could have spent half the money and gotten something just as well suited to my needs. Thankfully I'm in an area with basically no bike theft, so I just use a cheap cable lock on the rare times I even bother to lock it up.

I'm not sure of the brand but it looks just like this one http://www.amazon.com/BV-Bicycle-Commuter-Carrier-Carries/dp/B00EZZBH0S/ref=zg_bs_3403461_9
Nothing fancy, and its held on with p-clamps because my brake cable gets in the way of the braze-ons.
I'll post some more pictures when I get a better internet connection and I'll include a shot of the bucket attachment set up.

I just picked up one of these on REI w/ my 20% members coupon (still waiting on delivery) and I've heard a lot of good things.

There's these guys if you really want vertical standing. I'd been considering buying one for my office. I was concerned that the bike would fall forward if someone bumped it, though.

This guy here? I don't have mount points for a rack so I might have to try something like this.

I've owned two Blackburn EX-1s. I foolishly sold one with the matching kid's seat, but the other has seen near daily commuting use for five years. I love everything about it, with one exception: it has no place to mount a rear tail light. It's light, made from bar stock rather than tubes, and despite constant heavy use, it has held up great. I've used it for a bit of bike-packing as well and have probably exceeded the 40lb max many times without issue.

I also unfortunately own this POS. I bought it to replace the EX-1 I sold and it is not worth even half the $25 I paid for it. It's constructed from tubes instead of bar stock and has the wide, flat plate on top. As a result, it bangs and clangs with every single bump. It was on my wife's bike for a while, and she could sometimes be heard from half a block away. It also mounts using aluminum spacers, resulting in a less solid rack that can sway and jiggle (just a little) when loaded. The tubes are thick enough that some panniers aren't able to be mounted without modification. The only good thing about it is that I can mount a taillight to the little tab that hangs off the back.

For rear racks, the #1 thing I would look for is one constructed from bar stock. Tubes simply make too much noise. I would avoid the flat plate on top as well unless you're buying from a B&M store where you can bang your hand on the rack to see how much noise it makes. Mount points on the rear for a taillight would be a huge plus. If Blackburn made one like the EX-1 with a mount, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. Aluminum is obviously lighter than steel and perfectly OK for your uses; most of the steel ones are intended for long-haul touring where they can be welded if they break. Look for a rack that can mount without spacers for a more secure attachment.

I own this Nashbar front rack, which seems to be a clone of this Blackburn rack. For the price, it's worth it, but I had to modify mine to fit 35mm knobby tires. I also needed spacers to mount it, which the rack did not come with. My fork has mount points in the middle of the blades, so I can't comment on how well it mounts using the U clamps.

I've never used a front rack that holds the panniers up higher, but I'd be hesitant to buy one (unless it could be returned at no cost) without trying it first. The lower the load, the lower your center of gravity. Having a higher center of gravity can change your handling dramatically. I would also be extremely hesitant to buy a front rack that did not have a cross bar for stability (like this one). My first time out using the front rack, I put my floppier set of panniers up front, and my handling was so bad it was dangerous. I swapped them, learned my lesson, and wouldn't dare set out with any load in the front that could possibly sway.

I'm doing that currently, seems to work fine for me. I've carried maybe 35-40 lbs total and had no problems.

I've also used these and they worked great for a month but sheared in half when I hit a pothole halfway through a 23 mile ride.

They make floor to ceiling pressure mounted racks.

Before putting mine in a shed it was an option I was exploring.

gearup OakRak Floor to Ceiling Storage Rack, Unfinished https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YU2DWK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_8aonDbD92MFC9

Neat!

Would that be better than a rack like this one?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075WS4KX3?ref_=Oct_CARAsinC_3403461_0

Found it: https://www.amazon.com/Gear-Up-Floor-Ceiling-Storage/dp/B009YU2DWK?th=1&psc=1

The Topeak MTX Beam Rack can hold 20lbs and it clips on to your seat post via quick release. Bonus: It's compatible with all of the MTX trunk bags, baskets, etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Beam-Rack-MTX-Bicycle/dp/B000F9XRBA

There are racks that attach to the seat post with a tool-free quick release, yes.

They're not so great. Maximum load is about 25 lbs., but with as little as 10 lbs. they can be unsteady and pivot around.

There are big seat-post bags like this too. (Haven't seen one in person, but the price is good...)