Rear rack
Also called · pannier rack · luggage carrier · rear carrier · bike rack — 'bike rack' also means the public stand you lock to — context decides
A frame you attach over a wheel — almost always the rear — to move a load off your back and onto the bike. The sturdiest kind bolts to dedicated frame eyelets; clamp-on versions carry less.
How to spot itA flat metal platform with side rails sitting above the rear tire, usually with struts running down to the axle and bolted at eyelets.
Best forThe foundation of errand carrying: it turns the bike into the thing that hauls the load, and panniers, a trunk bag, or a basket all mount to it.
Watch outCapacity depends on how it's mounted and its rated limit — a seatpost-clamp rack carries far less than a frame-bolted one. Match the rack to your heaviest real load.
You might say“the metal platform over the back wheel”“the frame bolted above the rear tire that bags clip onto”“the shelf on the back you strap things to”
Source · Tubus and Blackburn rack product documentation; Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary (luggage carriers) · 2026-07
Pannier
A bag that hangs from a rack alongside a wheel, carried in a matched pair or singly. The workhorse of errand and commute carrying: a single one takes a grocery run, a pair balances a bigger load.
How to spot itA structured bag hanging low beside the rear wheel, hooked over the top rail of the rack, often with a roll-top closure or a rain flap.
Best forEveryday hauling with the weight down low where it barely affects handling — groceries, a change of clothes, a laptop, a week of errands.
Watch outThe mounting system matters more than the fabric: a secure hook keeps it from bouncing off over bumps. For year-round use, look for a waterproof or rain-covered design.
You might say“the bags that hang down each side of the back wheel”“the bags that clip onto the rack over the rear tire”“the pair of bags on the sides people put groceries in”“the ones that look like saddlebags on the back of the bike”
Source · Ortlieb and Arkel pannier product documentation; Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary (pannier) · 2026-07
Basket
Also called · front basket · wire basket
An open-topped carrier — front or rear — you simply drop things into, with no clipping or packing. It mounts to the handlebars, a front rack, or over the rear wheel; materials run from wire to woven to molded.
How to spot itAn open box or bowl, most often on the front above the wheel, that you can see straight into — nothing to unclip, nothing to zip.
Best forGrab-and-go convenience: a bag, a parcel, a small crate, the daily this-and-that you don't want to pack away.
Watch outA load up front can affect steering, so keep front-basket weight modest unless the bike has a front rack built for it; and an open basket neither secures nor waterproofs what's inside.
You might say“the open basket on the front you drop a bag into”“the wire or woven box on the handlebars”“the container on the front for grab-and-go”
Source · Wald and Basil basket product documentation; Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary (basket) · 2026-07
Porteur rack (front platform)
Also called · front rack · platform rack
A flat platform rack mounted low over the front wheel, in the French 'porteur' delivery tradition, for carrying a load where you can see it. Best on bikes and cargo bikes designed for front weight.
How to spot itA low, flat tray over the front wheel — wider and more platform-like than a skinny touring rack — often with a lip or rail to strap a box or bag down.
Best forCarrying bulky or awkward loads in full view, and setups where you'd rather watch the cargo than have it behind you; it shines on bikes built for front loading.
Watch outFront loads affect steering more than rear ones — a bike not designed for it will feel heavy and vague up front. Weight suits frames and forks rated for it.
You might say“the flat platform rack over the front wheel”“the tray on the front you strap a box or bag to”“the wide low rack at the front for carrying a load in view”
Source · Wald, Soma and Velo Orange front-rack product documentation; Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary (porteur / front racks) · 2026-07
Trunk bag
Also called · rack-top bag · rack trunk
A bag that sits on top of a rear rack rather than hanging beside the wheel like a pannier. It holds less than a pannier pair but is quick to reach into; some expand into fold-down mini-panniers.
How to spot itA compact bag riding on top of the rear rack behind the saddle, strapped or clipped to the platform, often with a grab handle and a top zip.
Best forSmaller everyday loads you want easy access to — a lock, a layer, tools, lunch — without the bulk of full panniers.
Watch outCapacity is modest, and a tall, heavy trunk bag raises the load higher than panniers do, which is felt more in handling. Keep the heavy stuff low.
You might say“the bag that sits on top of the rear rack”“the box-shaped bag strapped over the back rack”“the small case on top of the rear carrier”
Source · Topeak and Axiom trunk-bag product documentation; Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary (rack luggage) · 2026-07
Frame bag
Also called · frame pack · triangle bag — for the half-frame version that fills the frame triangle
A bag that mounts inside the main triangle of the frame, strapped to the top and down tubes. It carries weight low and centered — the most stable place on the bike — without a rack. Ranges from full-triangle to small half-frame and top-tube bags.
How to spot itA wedge- or triangle-shaped bag zipped into the open space in the middle of the frame, held by straps around the tubes rather than hung from a rack.
Best forKeeping weight low and centered for stable handling — tools, a tube, a pump, snacks, a phone — and bikes with no rack eyelets.
Watch outCapacity is limited by your frame's triangle, a full frame bag can crowd a bottle cage, and a bulky one may rub your knees. Fit is frame-specific.
You might say“the bag that fills the triangle in the middle of the frame”“the zippered bag strapped inside the frame under the top tube”“the pack tucked between the top tube and the pedals”
Source · Topeak, Apidura and Revelate Designs frame-bag product documentation; Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary (bags) · 2026-07
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