Can you put a rack on a carbon frame?

[robbielink]

Disclaimer: I had no idea what I was doing when I bought a Trek Pilot last year. I'd never seen a "modern" bike before and didn't do any research. It's complicated but it was basically an impulse buy and I got a great deal on it.
Having said that - I love this bike and I'm riding it a lot and I want to do more with it including longer trips so...
Can I put a rear rack on this to use panniers? I've got eyelets on the rear fork but can't see how a rack would attach to the top of the frame or seatpost (which is also CF) without potentially causing damage.
Anyone know anything about this?

[NealH]

It is best to avoid putting a rack on a carbon frame that wasn't designed for carrying a load - which probably applies to 95% of the carbon road frames out there. You can still buy a small rear rack that attaches to the seat post and stays however, a rule of thumb is not more than 15 lbs on this rack. Even that might not be recommended by Trek. It is prudent to call them on this.

I suspect those eyelets on your bike are for fenders.

[esther-l]

For carrying a rack, you could consider getting a non-carbon seatpost and mounting a seatpost-mount rack. Do you have the eyelets for hooking the bottom of the panniers onto the frame?

How much weight do you want to carry? Would a strap-mounted front bag hold enough cargo?

Now you have me wondering.... I saw a Litespeed bike towing a trailer with a child a few years ago.... what frame material was that Litespeed bike?

Esther

[RickF]

Now you have me wondering.... I saw a Litespeed bike towing a trailer with a child a few years ago.... what frame material was that Litespeed bike?

Litespeeds are titanium. Pound for pound, titanium is stronger than steel, aluminum, or carbon fiber, but because it is so strong, the manufacturers use less to make a lighter bike. Still, it is probably as strong as a steel frame, stronger than carbon fiber, and less prone to metal fatigue than an aluminum frame.

On the other hand, towing a trailer with a Litespeed is like pulling a boat trailer with a Porsche. It can be done, but why? I bought my CRV because I just did not feel right hauling garden supplies in the Lexus.