truckface

Hey all -

I was able to score a set of Eclipse "professional" panniers and a rear rack off of Craig's List earlier this year, and I *love* them. I'm looking to get a front rack for the same bike, but haven't seen any Eclipse front racks on Craig's List or ebay yet.

I'd love to see your front racks, handlebar bags, saddle bags, panniers, etc., so I can see what all might be out there in the world. Would help me decide if I should continue to hunt for Eclipse stuff to complete my set, or if I should just go for a Nitto, Tubus, or something else.

So, yeah. Show 'em if ya got 'em!

Here's a not-great photo of my "Professional" model pannier:

oddjob2

Imported from Ann Arbor!

truckface

Is that where they were made originally? I don't think I knew that.

Did they ever make a low-rider rack?

oddjob2

Mr. Jackson, the founder died all too young.

https://art-design.umich.edu/people/detail/shaun_jackson

simmonsgc

1984 Trek 614 I snagged off CL had an Eclipse rear rack. I'd love to find some bags.

Cougrrcj

Like the classic Eclipse bags, I have a soft spot for the original Cannondale bags from the '70s. I have two sets of rear panniers, different models, both Cannondale. I have a handlebar bag that is Eclipse.

old's'cool

These items came as spare accessories with the CILO touring bike I bought a while back. The panniers are now in commuting service with my CILO, while the spare rack found its way onto my Peugeot Versailles, also in commuting service, with panniers from Taiga. There is no brand on the rack that I spotted, so I'm not contending it's Eclipse; it just happens to be in the same photo with the panniers.

Howard

The early Eclipse (Transcontinentals?) scored over the Cannondale (Overlander?) (IMO) in two ways.
First, the Eclipse main compartment had a zippered flap allowing you to separate it into two compartments, with zippered access to the bottom half and top load access to the upper half. Tools and HS (heavy stuff) could go on the bottom, with some food or whatever on top - without getting squished.
Second, I really liked the top loading. Bought a new set of Cannondales once, but found some Eclipse leftovers at an LBS and sold the one to buy the other. They also made an adapter to allow Eclipse bags on a regular rack. Still works.

Later Eclipse panniers seem to have had a more standard mounting system. Have a set of those I still sometimes use for commuting duty.

guzziee

have a complete set that's basically brand new but they literally sat on a barn inside a plastic bag and they have a horse smell , I'll take some pics.

truckface

Yep, that would indeed be the Transcontinental model. Almost scored a shiny orange pair + rack on ebay a few months back, but got beaten by a few bucks in the last millisecond.

Awesome! Definitely take some pics, and let me know if the smell gets to be too much for you.

useyourdagger

If you're still looking, I have a full set of front and rear Eclipse panniers (red) along with Blackburn front (lowrider) and rear (with integrated trunk bag as well).

I can't figure out how to attach photos.

KonAaron Snake 

I have a few bikes with these and several sets of the bags...they show on ebay from time to time. They also had struts that made other racks compatible with the bags.

nesteel 

Original Centurion rack, with the adapters to mount Eclipse bags. Eclipse handlebar bag also:


The horrid yellow bar tape is gone, it has a slight riser stem on it, Gary 2 bars, and it's been converted to 700c with indexed 9speed barends.

thumpism 

Eclipse did make a front lowrider rack but I have only seen one in the metal, belonged to a late friend whose fleet is now likely dispersed to his heirs. That rack was on his Santana tandem.

I have two different pairs of blue bags and one Pro handlebar bag, two Pro rear racks, one standard rear rack and one front rack, plus one set of the Slide Mount rack adaptors. Plus one SPT (Seat Post Thing) that lets you mount the handlebar bag behind the seat. Some pix below. I'll get more. My wife also has some of the later "normal mount" Eclipse stuff in red.

I also have an Eclipse motorcycle tank bag. These were very popular in the '80s.

Slide Mount adaptor on a Blackburn front rack


Seat Post Thing


Pro handlebar bag on my Bridgestone with Giant panniers

leaping_gnome

I love those slide mounts. My original set of rear bags are on loan to my son but they are pretty well worn out - after 35 years. I had mine mounted to my Eisentraut using those Jim Blackburn dropout adapters - also a classic!

old's'cool

Pics? 😉

Pompiere

I just found an Eclipse "Maxrack" at the Memory Lane bike swap. It must be a later model, as it doesn't have the tracks for the panniers.

verktyg 

I have an NOS 1975 Eclipse slide mount rear rack. When I get around to taking some pictures I'll post it in the C&V For Sale Forum. It's like this one:



The Eclipse modular designed bags and racks were the slickest designs on the market in the mid 70's!



In 1976 I built the rear triangle on my touring frame to take the eclipse rear rack. Shortly after that we started rough-stuff riding off road with XC bikes and I never got back into touring.



I still have several Eclipse Bar Bags:



Also some sewup socks:



verktyg

Chas.

crank_addict

TAcrank

I have a complete set of Eclipse Transcontinental front and rear panniers (do not remember the title of the fronts, but they were not the small). I would like to sell them complete with the stock Eclipse front and rear racks, including the low rider kit. Last used on a TransAm trip in 1982 but in excellant condition (some mildew). Hoped someday to get them back on the road again, but at this age, not going to happen. Wonderful panniers and a beautiful design for that era: maybe this one as well.

Patwoz

I acquired these panniers as an accessory from a 1988 Schwinn High Sierra that was used as a commuter bike. I've never seen these before and thought cyclists who enjoy vintage Eclipse bags might like to see them. They are black in color although faded. They have an aluminum backing plate, thick plastic bottom and made from the typical Eclipse canvas. The nice feature is they fold flat against the rear rack or open to a fairly substantial size bag to carry books, groceries, work stuff and so on.

noglider 

I had Eclipse panniers and an Eclipse handlebar bag on my grand tour of Europe in 1981. I used an Eclipse adapter on my Blackburn rack. The system worked pretty well until the interface failed somewhat on one bag, so I had to lash it to my rack with a bungee.

due ruote 

I managed to convince the hanger to conform to a riser stem on my Stumpjumper. It’s a handy bag but I wish it could mount lower.

thumpism 

That Superack is probably as good as any other aluminum rod rack of the era. I'd forgotten about those, but Eclipse probably had to come out with something less dedicated than their own slide mount rack in order to court the users of other brand bags. You could use any hook-type pannier with the Superack.

Here I am with my rig in Austria in '79. I used that handlebar bag on my last tour and likely will again, although I'm using different panniers nowadays.

noglider 

Those portmanteaus with the dropped letter always look strange to me. Is SUPERACK supposed to be like Super Ack or Supe Rack?