mrv 

520 Twin Rear Carrier Basket - Waldsports

I'm working on spending too much money a free Peugeot lead pipe reverse conversion (drop bar to flat bars). (I think that might be called a high-bread now a days...)
A thought occurred to me as I searched for a taller stem - one option being a Wald stem.

Does anyone tour with wire baskets? Granted they are heavy. But cost of a $40 baskets and a couple of on-sale dry sacks, it seems like it might not be too bad of a trade off.

Besides weight, why not use baskets? I'd like to know before I spend the $40.

Thanks!

McBTC

The sound of zippers won't drive you nuts. Wrapping up everything in plastic when it rains gives you that cool homeless look.

spinnaker

If you are going to invest in dry sacks and baskets, why not just invest in a moderately priced pair of panniers? Unless you want to use the dry bags for another purpose?

I would not want anything solid to carry gear on my bike. Too much of a chance for them to get hung up on doorways, bollards, basically any narrow opening.

DropBarFan

A friend wanted a basket on her city bike so I discovered that the old-time wooden baskets were much stronger than the wire ones. I think a wire basket has to be pretty heavy to be fairly strong & most are for lighter use. I kinda like the plastic wastebasket pannier idea, they say it's pretty ez & practical.

Teamdarb

I do

On another bike I run two baskets. It's no different compared to the bike packing stuff. I have been using the Wald ones. You can get them basic without the brackets and stuff, or remove them yourself.

jimc101

#Teamdarb what does the RHS brake lever do on your bike? can't see it being connected to anything!

BigAura

It's looks like a work-in-progress mock-up, without a chain too.

Hey Teamdarb, if I was doing the build I'd hit that frame with a couple of coats of paint

mrv 

I'm using bags now for touring / camping - tour pic - the Nashbar's I got on C.L. for about $20, rear rack used for maybe $25, Jandd bags were... much more and the front Thule' front rack was kind of pricey.
That's what got me thinking about the cheap Wald's (if I make the current Franken'bike project a touring bike).
@McBTC - HA! even with my panniers, I was looking pretty homeless. Hardly ever got good service when I stopped for lunch on a 5 day ride.
@Teamdarb - Still finding it a bit of a leap to add a front basket. Got to work out the rest of my semi-retired CAT 6 racer mentality...

10 Wheels

staehpj1

I had a warmshowers guest stay with us who had a big wire front basket and a pair of side baskets on the back. He was packed super heavy, as in way over 100 pounds of gear. He was managing OK.

Personally I'd just go with something like Nashbar waterproof panniers (regularly $79.99, but they go on sale for a good bit less fairly often). Pair those with an inexpensive rack and you won't be spending much more than the cost of the Wald basket and dry bags.

Teamdarb

But I like light red.
2 reasons. I don't use the rear brake. The other is it is a spare for if the other breaks or I get tired of using my left hand.
I've been on a continuous tour of North America since '11, besides dynamo lights - baskets have been the best investment. I ride everywhere and got tired of having bags hang up. I'm also pretty short which puts my gear insanely low. The pink bike is much too large for me at 22", I ride it over swampy areas. I use a duffel bag in there.

This is what I just rode up the east coast on and back

Teamdarb

I should mention, the front panniers only contain tent on one side and sleeping bag on the other.

BigAura

Cool :]

Hey, I recognize Gravelly Pt. I'm spending most of my time in Alex.Va with my GF there. I'll look for you out and about. I ride this when not touring.



No rear brake either, but it's fixed.

Happy Feet

This is how I'll do my next trip with my Raleigh. Drybag up front, saddlebags on the back:

gna

Jeff Teel uses baskets on his tours:

Teamdarb

One huge recommendation on getting a basket is to purchase one that is painted. Then take it to be powder coated. It'll be stronger and durable. The silver Wald galvanized coating looks terrible after time.

DropBarFan

How about carbon fiber baskets? Aero like wire but stronger. Baskets make sense, less wind resistance than panniers when unloaded/part-loaded.

irwin7638

I use a Wald basket on the front of my bike while touring. I think it's a nice convenience during the day when you want a place to store a piece of clothing or something during the ride. It is also nice toward the end of the day when I stop for groceries before camping. I doubt they weigh anymore than panniers and can make the bike more useful for town use when not traveling. The folding variety is a bit heavy because of the extra heavy joints etc, but could definitely work on a long trip.

Marc

mrv 

I've only done one multi-day tour. I can see having an open basket up front being pretty nice. I had to un-roll or dig into one bag or another just to stash some food.
I had my map bungee'd to my front rack. A higher basket would have been much nicer. I might give a front basket a try for the next long trip.

Rob_E

I've used Wald, rear baskets on a short tour. For a tour, I think I'd go with cheap panniers instead. But baskets might have more general utility.

Squeezebox

Are baskets more noise? Clatter and such?

TomPalmer

I really like a front basket touring and commuting/utility riding. I won't tour without one. I also made some rear panniers from charcoal briquette containers, $11 each and about $5in hardware.
As already stated, plastic bags are your friends, I use ziplock freezer bags.
Picture attached with front basket.
good Luck,
Tom

Teamdarb

Noise? Depends on what you put in them and how. I use rubber pieces between metal to metal contacts or snug the heck out of zip ties. On one bike I use double baskets. One is on a standard rack long ways. The other I've moved the supplied brackets further out to lessen the wobble over single track.

Squeezebox

Really bad idea!!

Happy Feet

You don't have to tell us every time you have a really bad idea. Just wait awhile and it will pass...