The manufacturer does not include instructions for proper assembly which, simple as it may seem in theory, was more than a little confusing to me. After perusing Google search I figured it out. Straight out of the packaging, the rack was not a universal fit for my bike; I ended up going to my local bike shop, where they constructed a special bracket to attach to the lower bracket of my bike (drivetrain side). I have gone grocery shopping and have weighed it down with at least 40 lbs. worth of items, and it is solid. Overall, I'm pleased with my purchase of this rear rack: although it needed a bit of tweaking, it was far cheaper than the Surly rack available at my LBS.