Ditching Panniers
#26
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Seriously, though, there are pros and cons with any method for carrying gear while riding.
Whatever works...
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#27
Senior Member
Otherwise, if your bike "fits", you will need a curb to get you tall enough to swing your leg over the saddle.
If you do the cool fixie swing over the bars, nevermind.
Quotation marks indicate size to be referenced according to wide generalized popular and accepted BF references to the subject.
#28
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Functional, once you are on your bike. If your bike is way too "small" I would give one a try.
Otherwise, if your bike "fits", you will need a curb to get you tall enough to swing your leg over the saddle.
If you do the cool fixie swing over the bars, nevermind.
Quotation marks indicate size to be referenced according to wide generalized popular and accepted BF references to the subject.
Otherwise, if your bike "fits", you will need a curb to get you tall enough to swing your leg over the saddle.
If you do the cool fixie swing over the bars, nevermind.
Quotation marks indicate size to be referenced according to wide generalized popular and accepted BF references to the subject.
#29
Banned
I'm confused. Moving the weight of your load from panniers, down low on the sides, to up on top of the rack will make the bike harder to balance and harder to swing your leg over, with a big load you will have to slide your leg over the top tube.
Hard pedaling will really move that load around. The balance will be worse. Some go from a rack basket to panniers for this reason. Also the panniers hide things like a camera etc. Some expensive panniers are totally water proof.
What am I missing here?
Hard pedaling will really move that load around. The balance will be worse. Some go from a rack basket to panniers for this reason. Also the panniers hide things like a camera etc. Some expensive panniers are totally water proof.
What am I missing here?
#30
Banned
I mean, this one alone is brilliant for food delivery and a quick zip back from the market.
https://copenhagenparts.com/
https://copenhagenparts.com/products/...rter-backswept
https://copenhagenparts.com/
https://copenhagenparts.com/products/...rter-backswept
Last edited by acidfast7; 09-12-13 at 05:43 PM.
#31
Yes! That Giant product with the fold-out wings is exactly what I imagined. I should have figured somebody already built one.
Actually, as I thought about it some more, I came up with the same negatives others did; particularly the problem of having to lift your leg over it.
Actually, as I thought about it some more, I came up with the same negatives others did; particularly the problem of having to lift your leg over it.
#32
Nice idea for dry days, on a rainy day though there is no place for the rain to drain through, so the rain will simply be channeled under whatever is attached to the board.
#33
Senior Member
Good point. The reason bike baskets have an open mesh floor. And open mesh sides to reduce wind effect. Even better than panniers in that respect.
#34
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#35
I've got a similar one. The wood is slippery, so get something to make it "sticky". The cord is worth little, replace it with strapping with a ratchet-like system.
Further more, you cant carry more than +/- 5 kilograms on the back, bike will become unstable in the front.
Further more, you cant carry more than +/- 5 kilograms on the back, bike will become unstable in the front.
#36
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Damn, am I extremely indecisive! I have gone back to panniers (thank the Goddess that I have been able to return all of the gear that did not work out for me - receipts/return policies are a wonderful thing), in a way. I bought a pair of vintage Swiss panniers off of Etsy - mine are the ones in the upper left-hand corner - sorry that they do not come up fully for a separate link, but that is just how Etsy lists things after they have been sold. These are panniers that I will use for running about town, not with my laptop. I estimate that I should be able to put quite a bit of stuff in them, just (unfortunately) not my laptop. I am not sure if I will use both at the same time, but they only came as a pair, perhaps, for grocery shopping (light items) they will work (eventually, I want to invest in a small cargo trailer for larger/heavier loads - hopefully, when I go car free when I live in a city where I am capable of doing that).
Also, I think that my lighting search has ceased (hopefully). I recently got two (one for each wheel) Monkey Light 210's , my PB Blinky, and CygoLite Turbo 800 (this little thing is bright with a nice beam - front & sides).
As for my laptop issue, I will probably just have to get a nice backpack (all I have is a Vera Bradley briefcase) to strap onto my cargo cradle, like in the photo examples on the Bike Cargo Cradle site. I noticed that "modern" panniers do not work with my cargo cradle, because of where they sit on the rack, but the Swiss ones have nice leather straps that "hang", so there is no interference from either the pannier or the cradle. I refuse to get rid of my cargo cradle, because I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! Thus, I am happy with it, but am still looking for a school/work solution.
Lola also has a new Crane bell, Abus Rack Brackets, and a cute little tool roll. So, she is all set (for now, as we all know, this thing we call biking/commuting is addictive, as is the gear)!
Thanks for all the advice!
If only bikes had built-in alarms, like cars ... !
Thanks!
Also, I think that my lighting search has ceased (hopefully). I recently got two (one for each wheel) Monkey Light 210's , my PB Blinky, and CygoLite Turbo 800 (this little thing is bright with a nice beam - front & sides).
As for my laptop issue, I will probably just have to get a nice backpack (all I have is a Vera Bradley briefcase) to strap onto my cargo cradle, like in the photo examples on the Bike Cargo Cradle site. I noticed that "modern" panniers do not work with my cargo cradle, because of where they sit on the rack, but the Swiss ones have nice leather straps that "hang", so there is no interference from either the pannier or the cradle. I refuse to get rid of my cargo cradle, because I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! Thus, I am happy with it, but am still looking for a school/work solution.
Lola also has a new Crane bell, Abus Rack Brackets, and a cute little tool roll. So, she is all set (for now, as we all know, this thing we call biking/commuting is addictive, as is the gear)!
Thanks for all the advice!
If only bikes had built-in alarms, like cars ... !
Thanks!
Last edited by Bikeforumuser0011; 09-22-13 at 08:58 PM.
#37
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#38
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I've got a similar one. The wood is slippery, so get something to make it "sticky". The cord is worth little, replace it with strapping with a ratchet-like system.
Further more, you cant carry more than +/- 5 kilograms on the back, bike will become unstable in the front.
Further more, you cant carry more than +/- 5 kilograms on the back, bike will become unstable in the front.
#39
Count Orlok Member
Damn, am I extremely indecisive! I have gone back to panniers (thank the Goddess that I have been able to return all of the gear that did not work out for me - receipts/return policies are a wonderful thing), in a way. I bought a pair of vintage Swiss panniers off of Etsy - mine are the ones in the upper left-hand corner - sorry that they do not come up fully for a separate link, but that is just how Etsy lists things after they have been sold. These are panniers that I will use for running about town, not with my laptop. I estimate that I should be able to put quite a bit of stuff in them, just (unfortunately) not my laptop. I am not sure if I will use both at the same time, but they only came as a pair, perhaps, for grocery shopping (light items) they will work (eventually, I want to invest in a small cargo trailer for larger/heavier loads - hopefully, when I go car free when I live in a city where I am capable of doing that).
What did they add or change to them?
Last edited by gna; 09-22-13 at 10:29 PM.
#40
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Those look like surplus Swiss army bread bags. I have a pair I use as panniers sometimes.
What did they add or change to them?
What did they add or change to them?
How do yours work out as panniers? Do you like them? Find you can put a lot of stuff in them? A lot of weight?
Thanks!
p.s. Thanks for the link! I wish I had known about the site!
#41
Count Orlok Member
I think that is what they might be. Though, I am not really sure. If he did do anything to change them, and again, I am not sure if he did, I think that it was to add the leather "tabs" to make the actual pannier hooks. At least that is what it looks like to me, but I will find out more when they get here, and will update with photos.
How do yours work out as panniers? Do you like them? Find you can put a lot of stuff in them? A lot of weight?
Thanks!
p.s. Thanks for the link! I wish I had known about the site!
How do yours work out as panniers? Do you like them? Find you can put a lot of stuff in them? A lot of weight?
Thanks!
p.s. Thanks for the link! I wish I had known about the site!
I can't remember where I bought mine, but I think it was off ebay and I think I only paid about $20 for two, so it looks like the going rate has gone up some. They were an addition to some Swiss Army Ammo bags, which make very attractive panniers, but are even smaller.
They work OK as panniers, though they are not all that roomy. I ran the beltloops around my rack and I used a bungee ball cord to strap the bottom loop to a rack stay. I had a change of clothes and some other items in mine, and they seemed ok, though I'm not certain how they would do with a lot of weight.
#43
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The leather tabs are the beltloops, I think. Here's another link about them.
I can't remember where I bought mine, but I think it was off ebay and I think I only paid about $20 for two, so it looks like the going rate has gone up some. They were an addition to some Swiss Army Ammo bags, which make very attractive panniers, but are even smaller.
They work OK as panniers, though they are not all that roomy. I ran the beltloops around my rack and I used a bungee ball cord to strap the bottom loop to a rack stay. I had a change of clothes and some other items in mine, and they seemed ok, though I'm not certain how they would do with a lot of weight.
I can't remember where I bought mine, but I think it was off ebay and I think I only paid about $20 for two, so it looks like the going rate has gone up some. They were an addition to some Swiss Army Ammo bags, which make very attractive panniers, but are even smaller.
They work OK as panniers, though they are not all that roomy. I ran the beltloops around my rack and I used a bungee ball cord to strap the bottom loop to a rack stay. I had a change of clothes and some other items in mine, and they seemed ok, though I'm not certain how they would do with a lot of weight.
#44
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Those are in fact the Swiss "salt and pepper" bread bags. Meant to clip to the top of a Swiss military rucksack. The side shown facing the outside of the bike is actually the underside of the bread bag. The other side with the thick stuff "salt and pepper" pattern canvas is the top of the bag and the more weather resistant side.
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I appreciate the links! I found the rack that I really want, but (unfortunately) I cannot afford the $200 for the Minoura King Rear Carrier. I just wish it did cost almost as much as Lola hersel!
Thanks for the help!
Last edited by Bikeforumuser0011; 09-28-13 at 04:12 PM.
#46
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Those are in fact the Swiss "salt and pepper" bread bags. Meant to clip to the top of a Swiss military rucksack. The side shown facing the outside of the bike is actually the underside of the bread bag. The other side with the thick stuff "salt and pepper" pattern canvas is the top of the bag and the more weather resistant side.
#47
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#48
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Oh, here I go again! Me, and my - insert your choice of word/words here - indecisveness! I tried my cargo cradle, and (unfortunately) it just didn't work out for my needs. I found that it was a little too wide, which I originally thought was not going to be a problem, since I had bought it not thinking that I was going to go back to panniers, but my needs have changed and I have gone back to the tried and true method. I just purchased one of the OYB Bike Bag via Out Your Back Door, as I had to return the Swiss Military Panniers that I had bought via NewLeafFabrications, because the way in which they opened/closed was not a convenient option for my needs off the bike. Alas, I am still looking for a pannier option for work/school to haul my MacBoo, books, folders etc.
As for my rack, I am (as stated) returning the cargo cradle , and am in the process of designing a smaller option with Rich, the owner of Bike Cargo Cradles. The reason that I am considering it - we are still working out the plans for my Transit TS-1 Rack, is because I am afraid that the one that I want, the Portland Design Works Payload, other than the one I really want, the Minoura King Rear Carrier, but just can't afford the $200 for it, is too heavy for Lola.
Any thoughts?
As always, thanks for all the help.
As for my rack, I am (as stated) returning the cargo cradle , and am in the process of designing a smaller option with Rich, the owner of Bike Cargo Cradles. The reason that I am considering it - we are still working out the plans for my Transit TS-1 Rack, is because I am afraid that the one that I want, the Portland Design Works Payload, other than the one I really want, the Minoura King Rear Carrier, but just can't afford the $200 for it, is too heavy for Lola.
Any thoughts?
As always, thanks for all the help.
Last edited by Bikeforumuser0011; 09-28-13 at 04:35 PM.
#49
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This rack (around 40 euros):
Panniers sit on the lower rails, with about 2-3 cm room to the top. Which makes it easy to have both panniers, AND a flat board or whatever you like on top.
Along with these panniers:
For around 100 euros they are waterproof, durable, and easy to mount on-off.
Then go for a cheap laptop backpack, and tie it to the rack like this:
This has worked for me in the past few decades.
Panniers sit on the lower rails, with about 2-3 cm room to the top. Which makes it easy to have both panniers, AND a flat board or whatever you like on top.
Along with these panniers:
For around 100 euros they are waterproof, durable, and easy to mount on-off.
Then go for a cheap laptop backpack, and tie it to the rack like this:
This has worked for me in the past few decades.
#50
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The OYB bag is quite small. We have a couple , bought in surplus stores. They are more like purse-size.