Racks and Panniers

Don.
Don. Posts: 43
edited October 2010 in Commuting general
Hi Guys,

Im looking for a rear rack and panniers for a Kona Dew.

They'll mainly be used for commuting, but would like to use them for shopping as well.

Any suggestions?
Seen any good deals recently?

Is there anything to bear in mind when buying racks \ panniers?
Is it one size fits all?

Thanks

Comments

  • PBo
    PBo Posts: 2,493
    aldi where doing a rack - if you can get to one, they may have some left.

    My rack is from decathlon - not the lightest, but fits my bike with disc brakes, and has an old skool clip.
  • luther
    luther Posts: 28
    The Aldi rack is actually quite decent.... I picked one up and it screws together quite well. Lidl were doing some touring (2-piece) pannier bags too.
    Car? Scooby....
    Motorbike? Ninja....
    Bike? Sirrus or the XTC
  • MichaelW
    MichaelW Posts: 2,164
    Racks need to be stiff so look for triangulation in the structure.
    Pick the correct height rather than adjustable legs.
    The rear of the rack is best place for mounting a lamp, get one with a mounting bracket.
    If you use mudguards, then the open frame top is more versatile than a solid top-plate for lashing large items.

    Panniers need modern quick-release, locking mounts, not velcro or hook and elastic.
    Thin material wears quickly and flaps in the wind, get tough material.
    A heel cutout profile can be mounted further forward than a rectangular pannier.
    I prefer on large compartment with a flap top and expandable neck, and one rear pocket.
    You need good, lightweight stiffening board at the back and base.
  • downfader
    downfader Posts: 3,686
    I bought a tortec from ribble with the mount panel on the back for lights. Not very expensive but stong and light alu. Decent mudguards (like the SKS ones) will also help out, as theres nothing worse than finding muck all over your bags.
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    My bike has discs, I'm using the Madison ridge disc specific from Allterraincycles, very happy, lightweight ally, stiff and the adjustable mounts mean I could get it just how I wanted it, comes with lots more bolts than you need to make it easy to optimise the mountings.

    Simon
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • downfader
    downfader Posts: 3,686
    Actually scrap my suggestion, just realised you're on a Dew and it has discs. You'd need disc brake specific racks
  • Don.
    Don. Posts: 43
    MichaelW wrote:
    Racks need to be stiff so look for triangulation in the structure.
    Pick the correct height rather than adjustable legs.
    The rear of the rack is best place for mounting a lamp, get one with a mounting bracket.
    If you use mudguards, then the open frame top is more versatile than a solid top-plate for lashing large items.

    Panniers need modern quick-release, locking mounts, not velcro or hook and elastic.
    Thin material wears quickly and flaps in the wind, get tough material.
    A heel cutout profile can be mounted further forward than a rectangular pannier.
    I prefer on large compartment with a flap top and expandable neck, and one rear pocket.
    You need good, lightweight stiffening board at the back and base.

    Thats an excellent post, thanks.

    Wish Id seen it before I went out and got a rack and panniers from decathlon this weekend.

    I ended up getting velcro panniers from decathlon.
    I tried riding in to work on Monday morning and it was a real pain.
    The back of my legs \ feet kept hitting them while peddling, I had the heels of my feet on the peddles so I wouldnt bump into them.
    On top of that, the panniers would jog loose when I went over a bump and twist into the spokes. Not nice when you're travelling at speed.
    To be fair, its possible that I didnt have them secured properly. I'll have a try them again this weekend.
  • Don.
    Don. Posts: 43
    downfader wrote:
    I bought a tortec from ribble with the mount panel on the back for lights. Not very expensive but stong and light alu. Decent mudguards (like the SKS ones) will also help out, as theres nothing worse than finding muck all over your bags.

    I do need to look into mudguards, but I dont think theres any space between the rack and the wheel.
  • Don.
    Don. Posts: 43
    downfader wrote:
    Actually scrap my suggestion, just realised you're on a Dew and it has discs. You'd need disc brake specific racks

    My bike has rim brakes.
    I'll be sure to dig out this thread the next time my bike is stolen and I have to get another rack and panniers. :wink:
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    My panniers are old fashioned nylon strap and buckle and work fine.

    The Maddison ridge has a centre solid section to act as a mudguard and is height adjustable anyway, I use a short mudguard fitted the wrong way round so it comes a longish way down in front of the seat tube and stops under the rack that then provides the rest of the protection I need.

    Simon
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • salsajake
    salsajake Posts: 702
    think about what you want to carry - I sometimes need to take lever arch file/laptop - so most pannier bags would be useless. Got a Vaude one in the end, similar in size and shape to a large laptop bag, which has done an excellent job for me.
  • jimmypippa
    jimmypippa Posts: 1,712
    salsajake wrote:
    think about what you want to carry - I sometimes need to take lever arch file/laptop - so most pannier bags would be useless. Got a Vaude one in the end, similar in size and shape to a large laptop bag, which has done an excellent job for me.

    The Vaude ones are pretty robust. I guess they are roughly equivalent in quality (and price) to the Ortleib ones, which I hear are also good.
    http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=6404
  • marksteven
    marksteven Posts: 208
    i like the tortec stuff got 3 of them big strong touring 1 ultralite 1 & 1 called velocity this 1 is very sleek itfollows the line of the seat stays i use carradice panniers
  • nwallace
    nwallace Posts: 1,465
    Any one got recommendations for a front low rider, fixed fork with disc brake fitted, and bags?

    Hoping to do the western isles in April but no chance of me carrying enough stuff just on the back.
    Do Nellyphants count?

    Commuter: FCN 9
    Cheapo Roadie: FCN 5
    Off Road: FCN 11

    +1 when I don't get round to shaving for x days
  • roundthebend
    roundthebend Posts: 205
    Sorry to bump this, but there's enough of these threads already without another one so similar.

    I bought some cheap pannier bags a few months ago and they're nice and big for my commute, but the use metal hooks and elastic bands to keep them on. They make a racket when they bounce around and I have to tangle the elastic around my rack to make them stay on.

    New job starting soon so I'm treating myself. Plus, I may need to carry smart office clothes so I want something a bit more robust and with compartments for my kit:

    waterproofs - over trousers and jacket both roll up small.
    lock - just a D lock
    lunch box - and sometimes some loose bits like fruit, yoghurt, crisps
    office clothes* - trousers, shirt, tie and shoes
    odds n sods - wallet, phone, keys, magazine, mail/paperwork etc.

    * I might be able to leave clothes at work and get changed on arrival.

    So I'm looking for some panniers - a pair or even a 3 piece set to accommodate all of that. They must clip onto the frame, and must be shaped so I don't catch my heels on them. Ideally will be waterproofed, and have a couple of large compartments plus a smaller one for keys/phone etc.
  • salsajake
    salsajake Posts: 702
    office clothes will be the tricky one as they are likely to get creased whatever you put them in, but I have managed to get shirts in broadly ok in my Vaude Freiburg by putting everything else in the other compartments. Comes with water proof cover and you would get everything in, but you will better off mounting d-lock to the bike as it is a lot of weight to hang from the pannier rack and will crush everything in the bag
  • Don.
    Don. Posts: 43
    Any suggestions as to what I can do about preventing the panniers from twisting into the spokes?

    I do have them securely velcro'd down, but during the journey they seem to jog free, enough to slip into the spokes.

    Is there a bracket or something I could use?
  • salsajake
    salsajake Posts: 702
    depends what panniers you have and what rack and where they are coming through. Best bet would be to attach something to the pannier frame at the correct height to prevent the bag coming past it - probably some lightweight wood with a couple of holes drilled in it and clever use of zip-ties!

    Or slide something thin, .light and stiff inside the pannier to give it shape - which is built in on the Vaude Freiburgs I use
  • g00se
    g00se Posts: 2,221
    downfader wrote:
    Actually scrap my suggestion, just realised you're on a Dew and it has discs. You'd need disc brake specific racks

    The 'standard' Dew has V-brakes. The Dew Plus and up have discs.
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Don. wrote:
    Any suggestions as to what I can do about preventing the panniers from twisting into the spokes?

    I do have them securely velcro'd down, but during the journey they seem to jog free, enough to slip into the spokes.

    Is there a bracket or something I could use?

    Some corrugated plastic (like the stuff they use for the 'for sale' boards) cut to fit snugly will hold the panniers out of the spokes.

    Simon
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.

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