Hi everyone,
I recently got into gravel and pulled the trigger on a used 2022 CUBE Nuroad SLT. I’m now looking to go on my first multi day adventure and was wondering whether I can use my seat post mounted aluminium bike rack on the stock carbon seatpost. It wouldn’t be carrying too much weight, just some clothes and maybe nutrition (~5kg). Is there any safe way to do this or do i have to go and buy some sort of frame bag?
If this is not a great idea at all, what would be ur best cheap alternatives?
Thanks a lot in advance!
TLDR: Clamp-on aluminium rack on carbon seatpost safe?
by Quiet_Sprinkles_7031
17 Comments
I would not go and mount that rack to a carbon seatpost. These racks are notorious to bite into seatposts and destroy them… Better get a frame bag, handlebar roll or ass-rocket
Assuming it’s a round seatpost, why not swap in an aluminum post when you want to use the rack? Seat posts are cheap
Alright, feared as much. Anything you specifically recommend out of those?
There are racks that work with carbon seatposts by putting most of the load through the rear axel, that is not one of those racks.
Not worth risking it imo
Tailfin is the best but pricey option.
Some time ago, I was looking for a rear rack and I was looking on the Topeak website. So, I found this one that I liked and I was looking at the specs, where it was stated in caps “DO NOT USE ON CARBON FORKS”. So, if the guys at Topeak say carbon parts should not be clamped, I believe them 😉
If “ultra light” is what you’re going for I’d recommend a handlebar bag, top tube bag, and an adventure saddle bag.
I myself run a revelate ranger frame bag – pricey but definitely worth it.
Wouldn’t use that rack on carbon. Honestly for 5kg of clothes you could get away with a basic dry bag – Buckle it around the seatpost and then use a strap around the saddle rails.
Unless it was specifically made to have a clamp attached to it you never clamp anything onto carbon
Check out the Topeak tetrarack.
I use an Ortlieb quick rack XL, however my bike geometry allows the clamp to go onto the frame, not seat post.
I use one of these on a carbon seatpost but it has a rubber gasket in between the clamp and the seatpost so you can’t clamp it down hard. It uses less clamping force than what the clamp on the frame uses.
I used. Topeak MTX Beam rack on an Easton EA 90 seat post for 8 years. It had a plastic insert to add to some cushion. I installed as low as possible where the rack touched the frame for support. I did not tighten it very much.
If your budget’s generous, check out Tailfin.
That’s a very long seat post
Might be doable. I have used an axle fixed rack (OMM). It is crazy expensive, but it is nukeproof. I went through Czechia without a problem. And it was a bumby ride with a lot of mtb trails.