Symox

I just got one set of the Ortlieb Sport-roller classics and love 'em.
Can't figure out what the purpose of the D rings on the fronts of the bags are for though. Are they just additional attachment points? Are you supposed to tie two bags together across the rack's platform (when using on the rear) via the D rings to prevent rattles?

Thanks

Tourist in MSN

I have hung a lock from them, but if there is an official purpose I do not know what it is.

Later I started to use the strap over the top to hold my lock instead, as the D ring is plastic and not that strong, I did not want to lose a lock if it broke.

KC8QVO

The D rings are for the shoulder straps.

All Ortleib bags come with shoulder straps so you can detach the bag from your rack and carry it with you - such as if you have valuables and you want to carry them with you when you go in to a restaurant or what ever.

I am not sure how many of us really use a pannier bag in this manner, but that is what the D rings are for. I have several Ortleib shoulder straps still new in the bag that came with all mine.

The only bag I have carried with me, and will keep in my tent with me, is my handlebar bag - for obvious reasons - important stuff is in there and stuff I need access to routinely through the day and night. Though, I don't really use the shoulder strap. I just carry it.

indyfabz

I bring a shoulder strap with me when I tour. Useful when I leave the other bags in camp and make a grocery run. Same when I am home and ride to the market.

Symox

Can you explain how the straps are supposed to connect to the D rings? On mine (like the pic in the OP) the straps are connected with buckles.

Doug64

The shoulder straps on Ortlieb Roller panniers are already connected to the bag with buckles. There is not any reason to connect the shoulder strap to the center D ring. It is my understanding that the D ring on the center strap is used to lash additional gear to the top of the rack with a bungee cord or strap.

Shoulder straps are great when you have to carry your gear into a hotel or onto a train. I can carry my 4 panniers, rack pack, and bar bag onto a train without too much of a struggle. It could not be done without shoulder straps.

My wife and I carried all our gear from the passenger car to the baggage car to retrieve our bikes in one trip. She only uses two rear panniers, rack pack, and bar bag. Sometimes she can grab one of my bags.

cyccommute 

From the Ortlieb data sheet on the Sport Roller.

They don’t say how they are to be used. The shoulder strap is hooked on the bottom of the pannier. I use the D-ring on mine to control the straps on the buckle so that they don’t flap around


…sometimes.




To be fair, I was rummaging around in side the bags in the rain and didn’t hook them back up. Considering that the day’s “ride” consisted of riding to the ferry, taking the ferry to Makinac Island and then taking the ferry to Mackinaw City (at most 5 miles), it didn’t matter that the straps were flapping around.

base2 

Ortlieb rack pack duffel bag

Tourist in MSN

Good guess, but I think not. I use the pannier strap buckle to clip into the Rack Pack buckle. Pannier D ring not used. Shoulder strap for Rack Pack stowed. Shoulder strap for pannier in the hook.



The Rack Pack D rings are used for the Rack Pack shoulder strap. The strap clipped into the bag in the photo below is not the original Ortlieb strap, used a different strap on this trip.

djb

Re rack pack, I too use the rack pack buckles to hold it onto each panniers middle top buckle. Handy and fast method.

KC, I too use the straps as intended, with their end buckles that buckle to the panniers buckles, they don't have hooks that can be used on a D ring. Take a look at your straps.

Come to think of it, I've never used these D buckles ever....in close to 30 years of using Ortliebs... but they certainly could be handy one day with a Bungie or a strap if needed to strap something larger onto your rear rack and panniers---and really probably why they are still put on Ortliebs, as another option for travelers.

sloppy12

I use them for hanging on a nail in my garage

gauvins

According to Ortlieb "They serve as additional fixing points for mounting or for carrying straps".

If the question was meant to ask how we use them -- We attach colored coded ties to identify bags (which person, which side of the bike), to assist in figuring out what goes where. (a better way would be to have bags of different colors, but they are typically sold in matching pairs).

Tourist in MSN

I have not traveled with another that had the same color and style of Ortliebs, so I have only had to worry about confusing the starboard (green) or port side (red) panniers, color coding with a bit of colored tape on the pannier works fine.

robow

Doesn't the backside hook give away it's likely side ? Mine always point rearward (or towards the stern for MSN Tourist)

Tourist in MSN

Rear Ortlieb panniers, hooks towards the stern, works the same on the two different rear racks I use.

Front Ortlieb, I use three different model of racks on my three touring bikes, the hooks are not reliably pointed aft (to the rear).

And I have had a set of Carradry panniers, finally tried them for the first time on my last tour, thus two different sets of panniers complicate things.

Color coding simplifies everything.

Doug64

Yes, the hooks are a great indicator, but I also use zip ties on my panniers: red for port and green for starboard. More importantly to me, the red indicates the gear, toiletries, towel and clothes I use when stopped, and the green indicate bike clothes, rain gear, tools, spare tubes, etc, that I use on the "go". It makes it easy to look at the bag when it is off the bike and know what is in it. Then the load is balanced out by moving some things around, and hopefully I know where most of my things are located.

Steve0000

I write 'L' and 'R' on the back side of my panniers. What could be simpler?

robow

Such logic of that nature will only ensure you merit a deduction in style points.

MAK

When not using my rack pack, I put wet items or items that need to be aired out in a small mesh lingerie bag (or two) and hang the bags on the D-rings with carabiners. Excellent way to dry or deodorize things while you ride.

a_d_a_m

I think you're the first person to post a pic of the setup that makes sense.^^^ I always wondered what the hell I was supposed to do with the shoulder strap (I bought used bags so if they came with instructions, I never got them)...... Here, I've been setting them up like this all along:


Thank you for the education!!!

Tourist in MSN

Happy to help. My first tour I was not buckling my Rack Pack right, but someone in a campground also had that setup and I saw how he did it.

cyccommute 

You aren’t setting yours up wrong. I don’t even carry the straps because they are mostly useless. If I carry the bags off the bike, it’s easier to just pair the panniers and carry them by the handles on top of the bag. Carrying them over the shoulder with a strap quickly becomes uncomfortable because of their weight and size. One bag can be carried fairly easily but not two or four. Even then, it’s usually easier to carry the bag by the handle. I think I had the shoulder straps on my first trip but I haven’t carried them since and that was 20 years ago.

Tourist in MSN

If the differing opinions on this thread appear confusing, this is the way the manufacturer uses that strap, several photos showing the strap used with the lower hook.
https://www.ortlieb.com/en_us/produc.../rear-panniers

You will also see a few of the City version that does not use those straps, that has buckles attached elsewhere and lacks the strap and the hook at the bottom for the strap. A friend of mine uses the City version panniers.
https://www.ortlieb.com/en_us/sport-roller-city+F6002

But if you want to use a different method, use what works for you.