Pannier advice

The Rookie

Had a disaster with my panniers the other day, something I was carrying twisted round and went in the back wheel and ripped a chunk out the corner of them.

I have been using fairly cheap and cheerful pannier, vinyl material with no reinforcing (so light), a small triple set so i put my Laptop sleeve in the top, lunchbox in one side and the tools and showerproof in the other.

Tossing up whether to get similar or a better single case that I can easily detach at work.

Don't want it to weigh too much and can't justify spending a lot - thoughts?

beverick

Hmm. Cheap panniers can be the expensive option. About the years ago I had the same problem as you only I had to have the rear wheel rebuilt (and a three mile walk home virtually carrying the bike).

I've used a set of Altura Arran's for the last 10 years which although they're dirty and the most used near side one has a few holes in it where my heel hits it occasionally, they're almost as good as new.

You can pick up a 15ltr single sider Arran for less than £25 (waterproof for less than £30). RIxen and Kaul fittings also mean that spares are easily obtained. You may need to invest in a protective sleeve for the laptop though.

BTW, investing in a higer quality rack (to give more support the bag) may also be worthwhile.

Bob

ugo.santalucia

When the question is pannier, the answer is Ortlieb ... anything else is just cheap crap in comparison. They are solid, retain the shape, have no zips or other mechanisms designed to fail, are fully waterproof... in one word they are German

They are also expensive, but it's the last time you will spend money on panniers

The Rookie

The cheap ones have done me 3 years near enough so I know how to look after them......keep the ideas coming!

zx6man

I used a pair of altura arran46 litres on a coast to coast,you can get them from about 45 quid RR60 I think. Not waterporrf but bought some hi viz rucksack covers which fitted perfectly. they do 16L 36L and 46 in the range.

jimmypippa

ugo.santalucia wrote:

When the question is pannier, the answer is Ortlieb ... anything else is just cheap crap in comparison. They are solid, retain the shape, have no zips or other mechanisms designed to fail, are fully waterproof... in one word they are German

They are also expensive, but it's the last time you will spend money on panniers

I have have Vaude ones, which are also German and a similar price/quality - I slightly prefer the attachment on the Vaude ones to the Ortleib, as the back is a bit more rigid I think (comparing to a colleague's Ortleibs). As I have so far only cycled 19,500 miles with them, it is too early to say how long they will last...

redvee

I bagged a pre-owned Ortlieb a few weeks back for £27 When I get to work, lift the handle and walk away

The Rookie

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll start looking......

The Rookie

Liking the look of an Altura Arran 16l, but can't find dimensions anywhere, anyone got one they could measure please?

jimmypippa

redvee wrote:

I bagged a pre-owned Ortlieb a few weeks back for £27 When I get to work, lift the handle and walk away

^^This

The quick release part on modern high-end panniers are almost worth the money on their own ignoring the absolutely stonking durability.

As an aside, when I bought my panniers, the LBS also had Avenir ones that were a lot cheaper than the Vaude ones, but looked quite similar. I asked to see how well they worked with my bike's rack, and the Avenir's attachments literally fell to pieces in the shop assistant's hands when he tried to work it.

I decided that "buy cheap, buy twice" was probably an optimistic forecast for that type.

godders1

The Beginner wrote:

Liking the look of an Altura Arran 16l, but can't find dimensions anywhere, anyone got one they could measure please?

Width bottom 22cm
Width top 28cm
Depth 15cm
Height 36cm

It's slightly wider at the top hence the two measurements for width.

The height is the main bag compartment. A full bag using a fair bit of the space in the compression section at the top would probably be around 45cm in height.

Mine are now relegated to occasional shopping duties (I use a saddlebag for the commute) but they are very good quality for the price.

The Rookie

OK thanks, blows that one out as it's too small for my laptop in both width and height!

Kieran_Burns

I bought the Altura dryline and have never regretted the decision:

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Altura-Urban-Dr ... =Froogle02



Cost plenty but has never let me down. Comes with a built in carrier for the laptop to make doubly sure it is dry, and converts into a shoulder bag. Pops off the rack and it WAY away from your feet while cycling.

The Rookie

Thanks KB, had spotted that but it was more than I intended to spend.....have you got a pic' on a bike as it looks like it would be very close on my heels!

beverick

The Beginner wrote:

Thanks KB, had spotted that but it was more than I intended to spend.....have you got a pic' on a bike as it looks like it would be very close on my heels!

I'm looking at my Urban pannier now, the bag fits on the off-side panner and sits about 30deg from the vertical on the frame (basically the long sides face upwards). See http://roadpathtoenlightenment.blogspot ... chive.html

Bob

The Rookie

Awesome thanks......

Kieran_Burns

Yup - as shown. I've never even thought about it catching my feet to be honest. It DOES look a little odd but it works, and works very well.