Discussion: Xpd - rear bike rack, yes or no?

Hi everyone. What do you all do with your pack in the bike legs of long races? Do you have a bike rack and strap some stuff down, or just wear your pack for the 300+km?

Bike rack yes. it only takes ~5kgs so I still had stuff in my pack.

I have one of these https://www.thule.com/en/au/campaigns/thule-pack-n... but I also like the look of some of the new big rear bags like this: http://gearjunkie.com/blackburn-outpost-bikepackin... I think Andrem on AP raced with one recently

Two of my teammates have racks or panniers (I forget which) but I just carry everything in my pack. It does get a bit tiring after a while.

Been using a seat post rack for years. Great on long not tech rides. Pain on really tech or hike a bike. Most AR riding falls into non-tech riding. I appreciate anything that takes weight off of my saddle (saves my butt). Probably use the rack on 2/3 of AR riding.

Thanks guys!! I will definitely be getting a rack or bag now ... I just have to decide which one!!

None of the UK based teams use racks in exped races. Not sure why.

In Exped Africa I saw a few teams use these:

https://www.apidura.com/product/saddle-pack-mid-si...
https://www.apidura.com/product/saddle-pack-regula...
https://www.apidura.com/product/saddle-pack-compac...

I would definitely use that over my seat post rack!! The prob with my rack is fastening a bag/pack to it, keeping it in place on rough terrain and then getting at anything that's in it.. total pain in the a$$

I like it too, although I wonder how you would add a bike tow to that set-up.

If your teammate needs a tow, it's time for a new teammate.

How is your search for team mates going tRicky? do you need a reference?

No we've got a team now although we had to pay the guy's entry.

I used the Revelate bag in the GZ, 6-14L and can highly recommend it. It nicely fit my sleeping bag and the tent.
https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm/store.ca...