Pannier choice

Teuchter

Looking at finally making the switch from a rucksack to panniers for the daily commute. I'll be using a single pannier generally but will probably get a pair so I have the option of carrying more when I have to - it'll encourage me to cycle to the supermarket more often!

Generally they'll be carrying work clothing (occasionally shoes but generally not) and cycling kit (pump, tools, lock, light jacket, etc). Total immersion waterproofing not critical as I always bag things up in carrier bags (habit from hillwalking and motorbiking as well as cycling!). I'd like them to be quick to put on and remove as I'll be removing them when I get to the office.

I've seen a couple that seem fairly similar and would like to hear any comments from anyone who has used them - or suggestions of similarly priced products that may be better (rather not go above £40 a pair). The contenders so far are:

1. Altura Arran 36 Panniers
http://www.dalescycles.com/ProductDetai ... ctCode=204

Dales website lists them as £35 but they were marked £40 when I looked in the shop yesterday - maybe scope to haggle!

2. Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative Symmetrical Panniers
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 126m003712

£20 each or £40 for the pair. If I buy both it'll qualify for free delivery.

Both have Rixen and Kaul fixings and are the same size and material. The Altura ones have the advantage of being available locally here in Glasgow instead of mail order but the EBC ones are tempting as I could buy one now and get another if I like it and feel more capacity would be useful.

Anyone got any experiences of these?

PhilTheFish

Pete,

Just got a pair of Large bags from Halfords for £30. They clip on to the top of the rack with a squeezy quick release. They are great...main bags take all my waterproofs/work clothes/lock and still plenty of room. Pockets on the outsides for my small tools etc.

Phil

Teuchter

Cheers Phil, another choice to add to my indecisiveness!

There's a Halfords not far from my commute home so I may drop in there for a look at them tonight.

dondare

http://bikereader.com/contributors/SAM/glossary.html#16

"PANNIERS. Bags which have been modified to be attached to a bicycle for the purpose of carrying approximately 50% more than you need. Similar to a purse. When shopping, look for panniers with a large capacity and don't buy them, as they just make your bicycle heavier. "

tardington

1) If you go for the Halfords, buy some kellog's cereal to get the 10 per cent off! There was a topic the other day, but there's a token on some packets...

2) I have the edinburgh bikes small panniers (the symmetrical ones) and I love them! I use the pair of them so I can balance the load. And they have the yellow rain cover that comes out a pocket - it is a hideous yellow so is v. visible. And (non-rain covered) they have refelctive bits, and a wee strap to hold a small red light. (and they're front panniers if you want to go touring!)


Um, I don't work for Edinburgh Bikes btw!

Underscore

I must put in a mention for Vaude World Tramp panniers. They are a simple (but probably a bit heavy) pannier that is a) bullet-proof (not literally!), b) water-proof (literally this time - they are supposed to be OK to immerse in water!) and have a really simple system for attaching them to your rack. I've been commuting with my set (though I most times only use 1) for 5 years in all types of weather; they've never let me down and still look barely used. I seem to recall that they do a set of front panniers, that I guess your could use on the back, if you don't need the space.

_

Teuchter

Thanks for the replies so far! It'll be next week before I go for something so any more comments welcome.

I'll swing by Halfords tonight to look at their offerings. The Vaude ones looked good (they had some in Dales when I popped in yesterday) if a little out of my budget. I suppose I could justify it given their long life but I'm trying to avoid getting into a "well it's only x-amount more..." situation! I think Vaude also manufacture some of the more expensive EBC panniers.

Plax

I have a pannier rack, but I have never bothered with panniers. I've always just bungied my rucksack to the top of the rack.

I'm having a conundrum at the moment - my new bike, although having braze-ons at the top of the forks, by the seat post for a pannier rack, does not have anything near the wheel. I've managed to fudge the mudguards by using a p-clip, can this be done with a pannier rack too?

My commute is just over an 8 mile round trip so I was thinking of going back to a rucksack as I usually have a shower when I get to work and get a sweaty back regardless. Don't know whether I should keep the pannier rack in case I change my mind or flog it on ebay.....

karl j

For a cheap & cheerful set you could get a couple of rucksacks from the army surplus shop. (sorry, dunno what they're actually called but the old fashioned 'webbing' type ones)

I fitted up a pair a month or so ago and they work really well , have loads of room inside so they're ideal for the shopping or just carrying general stuff, and are dead-easy to fit onto the rack

ok they arent exactly waterproof, so you may want to use a carrier a bag / liner inside as well if its important stuff you're carrying, but it'll take a while before the rain soaks through to the inside. And it doesnt rain that often anyway, does it

prj45

dondare wrote:

http://bikereader.com/contributors/SAM/glossary.html#16

"PANNIERS. Bags which have been modified to be attached to a bicycle for the purpose of carrying approximately 50% more than you need. Similar to a purse. When shopping, look for panniers with a large capacity and don't buy them, as they just make your bicycle heavier. "

I must admit some of the people I see on my commute have panniers that are big enough to create small gravity wells in the local area.

What are they carrying in them? A full wardrobe, with shoes?

About all I carry in mine is standard repair equipment and a pair of pants and socks, I keep everything else at work.

T800

I'd say go with Altura and support your LBS.

I've been using Altura panniers of various designs for a number of years without any problems, apart from having two of the Rixen & Kaul rack-rail clips fail on tour. On both occasions, this happened with heavy bags when riding hard over rough, off-road terrain (I carry a couple of spares all the time and it takes less than five minutes to remove the broken one and fit the replacement). I currently carry an old Altura Workstation bag on the left side of the rack and on the right of the rack I have one of these Arran 46 bags -- on tour I use both the Arran 46 bags. (My bags are older than those shown in the picture.)

I keep tools and spare tubes/lights in the pocket at the back of the pannier bag -- the bag fills up with clothing when I want to stock my locker at work with clothes but otherwise is empty apart from a rain jacket for most of the week. This gives me loads of space for shopping.

The hi-vis yellow covers rarely get used, but on tour, when riding speeds can be a bit lower and the roads and traffic patterns unfamiliar, we seem to get more space (most of the time) from overtaking motorists with covers on than we get with the covers off.

Teuchter wrote:

... I've seen a couple that seem fairly similar and would like to hear any comments from anyone who has used them - or suggestions of similarly priced products that may be better (rather not go above £40 a pair). The contenders so far are:

1. Altura Arran 36 Panniers
http://www.dalescycles.com/ProductDetai ... ctCode=204

Dales website lists them as £35 but they were marked £40 when I looked in the shop yesterday - maybe scope to haggle!

2. Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative Symmetrical Panniers
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 126m003712

£20 each or £40 for the pair. If I buy both it'll qualify for free delivery.

Both have Rixen and Kaul fixings and are the same size and material. The Altura ones have the advantage of being available locally here in Glasgow instead of mail order but the EBC ones are tempting as I could buy one now and get another if I like it and feel more capacity would be useful.

PHcp

Here's a couple more to add to your shortlist;

http://probikekit.com/display.php?code=b3000
http://probikekit.com/display.php?code=b3006

Same sort of waterproof material as the expensive Vaude and Ortliebs. £26 for the small pair, another tenner for the large. I've seen the small ones, they look like they'd give years of service and be totally waterproof. Not as well finished as my Vaudes nor as clever a fitting, but at less than half the price I'd give them a go.