The Trek Allant+ 8S is a performance e-bike built for riders who want to go far and go fast. The super powerful Bosch Performance Speed motor and extra long-lasting battery are perfect for long-distance commuters and avid e-bike riders. It also has thoughtful design features created specifically for people who prefer riding their bike over driving their car. And, your smartphone doubles as your controller, so you can use it for directions, music, and more.
I just happened upon this bicycle when touring our new local bike store and after a quick test ride decided that I absolutely needed it as a commuting bicycle now that I live in the city.
One problem with the bike, however, is that it has an integrated rear rack that is formed and attached to the rear bumper and tail light and it can’t simply be removed or replaced. The rack itself is not very functional when it comes to placing anything but pannier bags on the side.
Named after the French word for baskets, panniers offer roomy storage, protection from weather and the ability to quickly disconnect from a rack on your bike so you can take your gear with you. They attach to racks using a simple system of spring-loaded hooks, clips or bungee cords. They can be used singly or in pairs, and are designed specifically for front or rear racks.
Trunk bags are smaller than panniers but larger than seat bags, making them a happy medium for carrying extra clothing, bike tools and lunch. Many have plastic sheets to reinforce the base area and retain the shape of the bag. Packing is simplified by some sort of pocket system or divided storage. Some trunks even offer integrated raincovers.
While I plan to use pannier bags with my bike, I also wanted to have the ability to place a trunk bag on the bike as well. Unfortunately, there is no way to put a rack trunk bag on the rear rack which limits the rack’s usefulness. So I decided I needed to find a way to mount another rack over the already present rear rack which can’t be removed due to its integration with the rear bumper and rear light.
I searched a ton of user forums and other online resources and had a very difficult time figuring out if others have done this and it still seems like others are also finding this a challenge. I decided to research a lot of racks and then try to come up with the best options for me. I also wanted to add a front porteur rack and decided to install the front and rear racks at the same time.
Here is the list of supplies I needed in order to get this done:
- Soma Deluxe Porteur Front Cargo Rack – Black Crmo
- Optional Soma Fence attachment
- Topeak – Uni Super Tourist DX Rear Rack (Disc)
- Bontrager Eyeleted Seatpost Clamp. Quick Release. Size: 36.4 mm
The Soma Porteur Front Rack was a breeze to install. Out of the box, I was initially concerned that it wouldn’t be tall enough, but there are axle mount plates that extend it just enough to add to the braze-ons located just in front of the axle. Mid fork stays are easily attached completing the installation.
I look forward to using this front rack with a recently purchased large saddlebag.
The rear rack was a little more challenging. I wanted a rack that would allow both a trunk and pannier bag attachments and decided to go with the Topeak Uni Super Tourist DX Rear Rack (Disc). Again, I was initially concerned this wouldn’t work as I intended to place the fork mounts directly over the already attached mounts of the integrated rack, but I was able to easily mount the rack using the rear eyelet on the rear fork and didn’t need to touch the integrated rack at all. The Topeak rack fits perfectly over the integrated rack.
The one additional item I needed to purchase was the 36.4 mm Bontrager eyeleted seat-post clamp in order to attach the mounting bracket arms.
The entire installation time was no more than 30 minutes total from start to finish. I recently purchased the Topeak MTX Trunkbag EXP and am ready to start my work commute in style.
