Panniers and Pannier Rack
PudseyPaul
Posts: 59
Hi
I am a bit of a newbie and have a bianchi carmeleonte Hybrid bike which I use to commute 12 miles a day. I have decided to spend my birthday money on some panniers in which to carry gear to work on (shirt, trousers, towel etc) as the rucksack iuse causes more sweating in summer and can be a bit cumbersome.
Therefore what I would like to know is do I need a certain rack for the bike (after a rear one which goes flat over the back wheel) for my bike or are they a universal fit? Also is there any people would recommend, I would say ny budget is around 60 quid for rack and pannier??
Thanks in advance
I am a bit of a newbie and have a bianchi carmeleonte Hybrid bike which I use to commute 12 miles a day. I have decided to spend my birthday money on some panniers in which to carry gear to work on (shirt, trousers, towel etc) as the rucksack iuse causes more sweating in summer and can be a bit cumbersome.
Therefore what I would like to know is do I need a certain rack for the bike (after a rear one which goes flat over the back wheel) for my bike or are they a universal fit? Also is there any people would recommend, I would say ny budget is around 60 quid for rack and pannier??
Thanks in advance
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Comments
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Tortec Expedition is a good rack. Anything by Ortlieb are good panniers (pricey but def worth the extra).0
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Welcome PP,
You don't need a specific rack, no. I would recommend you take yourself and your bike to a friendly LBS and get them to try a few racks for you. The rack I have cost about £25, and is a tortec ultralight from Evans, it's a pretty versatile rack.
I think you might end up with only one bag for the budget of £60, I can heartily recommend the Altura Orkney bags, I've had them for a couple of years now and they seem to be waterproof - I've never had a problem with them anyway. They're cheaper than Ortlieb, but I still paid £80 (I think) for a pair, again from Evans.
Saying that, riding with only one bag is only an issue if you're carrying a lot of weight. Like a LOT of weight.0 -
An alternative to a conventional rack and pannier setup is the Carradice SQR system. I have one of these for commuting:
http://www.carradice.co.uk/sqr-saddlepa ... slim.shtml
It is pretty sturdily made and has been waterproof so far. It does mean the weight is carried a bit high as a downside however and you lose the versatility of a rack.0 -
It's worth making a quick mention about just how waterproof Ortlieb bags are...We're talking dunk-them-in-a-bowl-of-water-and-the-contents-stay-dry type levels of proofing here.
Plus you can get spare parts for them, so if you happen to catch one on the back of a white van one morning (not that I did, I'm just saying) and snap off the quick release bracket you can buy a replacement bracket for a few quid instead of buying a new bag for £40.0 -
I know this may sound dumb but when those ortlieb paniers are stated as being 40ltrs is that per bag or between a pair of them?0
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You can also get spare parts for the altura ones... new clip for about £1.50.0
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rontana wrote:I know this may sound dumb but when those ortlieb paniers are stated as being 40ltrs is that per bag or between a pair of them?
Per pair. Back ones are around 40 litres per pair, front are around 25 litres per pair. But you can get more in them as long as you're not too worried about them being waterproof.More problems but still living....0 -
Jamey wrote:It's worth making a quick mention about just how waterproof Ortlieb bags are...We're talking dunk-them-in-a-bowl-of-water-and-the-contents-stay-dry type levels of proofing here.
Which is also great when you put wet stuff in them. Gets everything else nice and wet as well.More problems but still living....0 -
For commuting and audaxing I use one of theses:
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=10753&src=froogle
I can fit a shirt and trousers for work, lunch and tools etc. in it comfortably without even folding down the side flaps. Don't have to worry about the bike being unbalanced by a single pannier and there's less chance of it getting snagged on anything while weaving through traffic.More problems but still living....0 -
amaferanga wrote:Jamey wrote:It's worth making a quick mention about just how waterproof Ortlieb bags are...We're talking dunk-them-in-a-bowl-of-water-and-the-contents-stay-dry type levels of proofing here.
Which is also great when you put wet stuff in them. Gets everything else nice and wet as well.
Would you rather have non-waterproof panniers then? :roll:
When I put wet stuff into the pannier I separate it with a plastic carrier bag.0 -
I don't think they're necessary for commuting - way OTT to buy them just for commuting. For a tour where you might be cycling in the rain all day they're maybe a good idea, but for the average commute (less than half an hour each way?) a rain cover is more than enough.
Btw Jamey, why not just buy some cheaper panniers without the theft assist Ortlieb mounting mechanism and put your dry stuff in a plastic carrier bag or liner bag?More problems but still living....0 -
On the contrary, I would imagine they are ideal for commuting because of their durability, they will have a harder life in a shorter time than most tourers will give them. Waterproofing is a big help and preferable to the carrier bag thing (though not a show stopper), yes, rain covers are okay, but when I had such cheap panniers (which also wore out fast) the wet would seep through the back (i.e. facing the wheel) where the rain cover didn't go.
The "theft assist mounting" is a bit perverse, you actually prefer things that are tricky to use? Any pannier can get nicked (though the Ortlieb "plus" versions can be fitted with a security cable accessory).
But, your choice, buy cheap, buy twice (or more, the Ortlieb were my 3rd set, slow learner :oops: )0 -
I disagree with pretty much everything you've said amaferanga. I don't think there's much to be gained from debating it any further so let's just agree to differ.
I think Ortlieb panniers are worth the money and you don't. That's fair enough, everyone's entitled to an opinion.0 -
Fair enough. I do actually own a pair of Ortlieb panniers which I've used for probably 12 months of touring in Africa. I also own Altura and Karrimor and like them infinitely more.More problems but still living....0
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Funnily enough I have had Altura and Karrimor. Disliked Karrimor for several reasons, the Altura is a laptop/briefcase pannier. Does the job well enough but it is heavy and bulky for the internal space, and the fitting arrangement is clumsy to use.0
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Ooooh pannier controversy!
One of the reasons I like the altura ones and chose them over the Ortlieb was the little pockets in them on the outside of the bag, which allows quick, relatively easy access while still having them on the bike, and stops you losing things like your wallet in one big bag. The Ortlieb ones I looked at didn't have this, others may.
However, with the altura ones, the clip does stab you in the side a bit when you're using the shoulder strap and walking.
Swings and roundabouts!
I should also add that my Altura ones are completely waterproof and brilliant and have a removable liner you can wash.
They are, however, the top of the range ones.0 -
The reason Ortlieb panniers don't have handy pockets on the outside is the waterproofing. Everything inside the outer shell will stay dry even with the bag dunked in a river/stream/tub of water up to the bottom of the lid.
A pocket on the outside would compromise this, though I admit there are times when it would be handy.0 -
I've got one of these rack bags
http://www.cyclebasket.com/products.php ... 5b0s141p97
only £17 (from £30!). I can fit loads in it – clothes, lunch, tools, waterproofs etc.
And I got a cheap Madison rack for about £20.
So, well below your budget!0 -
Again for clarity, as long as you have the 'lid' of the bag over the top of the handy outside pocket on the Altura, it's waterproof too! You couldn't dunk it in a river I don't think, but I have never had problems with the waterproofing.0
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Fair enough. Haven't used Alturas myself, just remember when I was researching prior to buying in September I read about some people having problems along the seams in torrential downpours (not that common over here, I know, but it does happen sometimes).
Maybe they were using cheaper ones, since yours seem to be similar in price to Ortliebs.
Anyway I was getting mine with Cycle2Work vouchers so I didn't mind spending £20-£30 extra for something which had nothing but glowing reports online, as it didn't really feel like I was spending my own money
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My Altura is fine re: waterproofing, I have commuted 13-20 miles e/w with it in foul weather and it never let in a drop (I was trusting my £1800 laptop to it, so it needed not to!). I just prefer the lighter/simpler/ single skin Ortliebs, and the fittings are better. I have the Bike Packer Plus which also have an external pocket, useful for keys, and there is an internal pocket, but to be honest, I do prefer the Back Roller Classics to the Bike Packer for its simple and flexible closure.0
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A pannier mounting system with a locking , quick-release hooks (eg ortleib, carradice, Altura etc) is just so much better than cheap hook and elastic . They are quicker to mount and release and far more secure.
For touring the roll-top style panniers are good but for everyday use I prefer a flap-top, you can stash or grab bits of clothing without having to unroll everything. An extendable collar is useful for occasional overloading (eg carrying bread or paper towels).
Material should be tough and durable with stiffening on back and base. Many panniers seem to add to many plastic mouldings or cheap board which adds weight. My Carradice are very lightweight but have survived 15 years so far.
You need a rack which can accept the mounts, ie a single rod/tube running along each side. Beware of designs that double up the tubing with long welds, the hooks cannot use these twin-rod sections.
The top-plate designs also act as mudguards. If you already have these, the open framework style is much more useful for tying on large objects. Some racks have special mounting rails for their special bags. I would stay away from propietry fittings and Keep It Simple Stupid.
The rear of a rack is the best place for a lamp so look for a built-in lamp mounting bracket.
Make sure your bike can take the rack. Even if you have threaded eyelets, these can be obscured by brakes (disc or V). Topeak make a special disc-brake rack that is 2" wider to go around the caliper.0 -
I've got Blackburn racks (front and back - though only put the front ones on for touring) and have just got new shiny yellow Ortlieb front rollers, which I use on the back rack for commuting. Before that I had the Edinburgh BIkes small panniers (the grey and red ones) which I used till they were falling apart. I'd rate both of them to be honest. I have some big black Vaude rear ones I use for touring, which are about ten years old but still bomb-proof. Very similar to ortlieb.
My sister does touring too, she has the Altura ones and she likes them a lot.
Oh, I also have an Altura Fusion large saddlebag, mainly got it cos it looked cool! 8)
[quote="lost_in_thought"
One of the reasons I like the altura ones and chose them over the Ortlieb was the little pockets in them on the outside of the bag, which allows quick, relatively easy access while still having them on the bike, and stops you losing things like your wallet in one big bag. The Ortlieb ones I looked at didn't have this, others may.
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Heh! I quite like how my puncture kit migrates to the bottom, so I can find it! My new ortliebs do have a mesh pocket on the inside though.0 -
I have some very tatty old panniers which do let in water but as I'm loath to spend big on waterproof panniers I've just ordered these for under a fiver delivered..http://www.dotbike.com/ProductsP2004.aspx?A%3d0%26TRACK%3dDDI0
