I’ve been eyeing this rear rack ever since it was featured on BIKEPACKING.COM on June 26, 2026. The "SKLAR BIKES Lightweight Rear Rack" has finally arrived at Circles, so I bought one immediately and installed it!
SKLAR BIKES Lightweight Rear Rack
I installed it on my SKLAR PBJ, which I ride almost every day. As many of you may already know, the PBJ is a steel ATB that combines playfulness and practicality, crafted by the California-based handmade bike brand, SKLAR Bikes.
Since it’s capable of handling everything from touring to trail riding, I think this is pretty much the only bike you need for just about any cycling-related fun!
Why SKLAR
Why I installed the "SKLAR BIKES Lightweight Rear Rack"
The reason I decided to get a rack in the first place is that I was planning a camp ride recently and tried to mount an OUTER SHELL Dropper Seatpack, but...
It was interfering with the rear tire...
Realizing it wouldn't work, I ended up packing most of my gear into a backpack and heading out. As a result,
I was completely drenched in sweat!💦
My shoulders were hurting, and I was losing energy because I couldn't cool off, so I knew I had to get a rack. I bought it and installed it as soon as it hit the store shelves.
Initial Impressions
My PBJ is a size S, and this is how it looks once installed.
Since the struts connecting to the seat stay mounts ended up at quite an angle on the S frame, I’m currently planning to use a SALSA CYCLES Rack Lock 35.0mm to fix them directly to the seat clamp so that the struts look perfectly parallel to the ground from the side, then I'll cut them to size.
Owners of M or L size PBJs should be able to mount it relatively parallel!
(I haven't cut mine yet, but it comes with resin caps to cover the struts, so be sure to protect the cut ends once you trim them!)
The rack itself weighs about 640g, which is fairly light, so it’s great that I don't really notice any extra weight while riding.
Features of the "SKLAR BIKES Lightweight Rear Rack"
This is what it looks like when you actually load it up.
Even without panniers, you can mount items directly to the rack using SIMWORKS Thunder Straps or SIMWORKS Thunder Rack Straps. Fitting a 1L Nalgene bottle, a sleeping bag, or a sleeping mat seems like it would be a breeze.
With a maximum load capacity of about 13.6kg, it can't carry a huge amount of gear like a typical touring rack, but it allows you to carry what you need smartly while maintaining the bike's natural, nimble handling. It has a minimalist, modern design that works for everything from bikepacking to daily errands, offering a level of freedom in how you pack that you just don't get with conventional large carriers!
