Has anybody put a rear rack on a racing bike?

on-yer-bike
on-yer-bike Posts: 2,974
edited June 2009 in Workshop
I want to put a rack on my winter Specialized Allez. It has all the right threaded holes but the rear brake is in the way of one of the seat stay bosses. Its the part of the brake where the cable comes into the top of the caliper. I can't see how it would be possible to bend the fixing plate around the brake. Is it because its a compact frame and the boss would normally be higher up? Any suggestions?
Pegoretti
Colnago
Cervelo
Campagnolo

Comments

  • the_jackalcp
    the_jackalcp Posts: 276
    I have an Allez with a rear rack. The bracket simply goes on the inside of the brake/cable, no probs. A mate of mine also has the same bike with a rack so my set up is nothing special.
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  • andy_wrx
    andy_wrx Posts: 3,396
    Ditto.

    The brake adjuster nut is actually touching the rack, but all works fine

    Some racks sit higher than others though - mine is considerably lower above the rear wheel than the rack on my wife's bike, which obviously has longer legs, although both racks are Topeak and for 700 wheels.
  • bice
    bice Posts: 772
    I put a rack on my Trek 1.7 and hated it. Racks are for hybrids or tourers not light road bikes where you want to go fast, IMO. I use a rucksack instead. But I do think racks and panniers are great, but on a heavier bike.
  • Vino2007
    Vino2007 Posts: 340
    I ride with one clamped to the seatpost on my road bike for commuting. Works a treat, holds my heavy paniers well and can be slipped off easily. Just make sure youve a good sturdy back wheel to cope with the extra flex pressure
  • Wamas
    Wamas Posts: 256
    I have an Allez and had a Blackburn EX2 rack on the bike last year when commuting to work. I had no problem fitting them. The support brackets are narrow at the rack, so the brake cable is still outside the bracket.
    Maybe it is just the design of your rack.
  • bice
    bice Posts: 772
    I think it is preference really. I have something very similar to that Blackburn rack on my commuter (a 30-year-old Claud Butler Lady's tourer, with a flat bar), but hated it on a road bike. I just feel road bikes are for fun, not practical utility. Once you start weighing them down you are into tourer territory, IMHO.
  • Wamas
    Wamas Posts: 256
    My rack is fitted these days to an old specialzed steel framed mountain bike with slicks.
  • mask of sanity
    mask of sanity Posts: 610
    Nice, was just about to start a topic asking the same question. I wasn't sure that the eyelets were for a rack as they seemed to low...

    Which Allez are you guys refering to as I have the 09 Allez 18, or will they all be the same anyway? And will any type of rack be suitable?
  • louismichaels
    louismichaels Posts: 118
    Tubus make a couple of racks (the Fly and the Luna) which just has a single strut that attaches to the brake bridge. That avoids any brake conflict, I think.

    If you don't want to use panniers (and I don't on my road bike) I use Vaude's Off Road Bag 10 + 2 which clips to a clamp on your seatpost. Holds plenty for a day out, and doesn't shake and rattle or move around. It's really excellent, and not too heavy either

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