Luggage carrying

[Tiberius]

Hi Everyone,

What do you all use for carrying things with you?

So far, all I have been using is a rucsac on my back. The rack on the Torq looks tempting but everything I've tried to put on it doesn't fit. Partly because the raised bar at the front seems to be in the wrong position and partly no doubt because I insist on carrying awkward things.

Are panniers the thing? Should I be looking at detachable or fixed ones? Are there decent packs that will go on the rack. The 50 cycles and Nycewheels websites are offering different things so there doesn't seem to be a manufacturers recommendation.

Nick

 

[flecc]

I like panniers, and have these traditional Altura 16 litre ones, plus the Dutch throwover panniers which have reinforcing panels which keep the box shape. The panels can be taken out if wished.. Two pics:

 

[ITSPETEINIT]

Touring or Shopping?

Hello Tiberius:
My preference became entrenched when I used to tour over a period of weeks. My preference is for panniers on the side of the carrier located by good clips over the top rail and secured at the bottom by an elasticated cord. It is essential to be able to detach them. I use Carradice 60 litres (the pair). They can hold far too much for the limits of the carrier.
I used the top of the carrier for other 'awkward' kit (tents, sleeping bags). You are right about the upswept front of the carrier fitted to eZee bikes and now, it seems, also to Kalkhoff. It does not quite hold a spare eZee battery.
Batteries require something more special which I have yet to solve.
Flecc's for Shopping seem to be ideal - but one must watch the weight factor - 25 kgs is not much (only a bag of cement).
Rucsacs are fine up to a point but the rule that was expounded to me was: "one should make the bike do as much of the weight carrying as possible - it's less tiring for the rider".
If you are a person with a bigger sized foot you should be wary of panniers that catch the heel. Although the top fitting can be moved an inch or so back on the rail, there could be a tendency for the pannier to work its way forward.
I had a handlebar bag on my tourer which was a boon when making short calls in that it could be easily removed and carried away. But e bike bars have so much flight deck clutter on them it's difficult to find a good fitting that can be accommodated.

By the way Flecc: where did you get those Dutch Throwover panniers? They look just the business for touring and taking the mother in law! Well she can't say I did not offer.

Peter
PS considering weight, one might use a trailer - Flecc has great expertise in this department too.

 

[flecc]

By the way Flecc: where did you get those Dutch Throwover panniers? They look just the business for touring and taking the mother in law! Well she can't say I did not offer.

Peter
PS considering weight, one might use a trailer - Flecc has great expertise in this department too.

It was The Dutch Bike Company, Cambridge, Peter, a branch of a Dutch business. The types they have seem to vary, so best to phone and discuss. Mine have angled fronts to avoid risk of heel collision, unlike the ones currently shown. They aren't particularly big, but the reinforcing panels makes them good for avoiding crush damage of the sort that tall sack type panniers cause to fragile items.

Also the large stable top area is ideal for a large boxed item, with a front to rear bungy securing it.
.

 

[keithhazel]

angled front panniers

Basil Briefcase Pannier Bag (Double) Heavy Duty Touring BACK - £29.69


these look pretty good with angled front, the dutch company dont seem to have very wide ones at moment

 

[Tiberius]

Hi Guys,

I'm back to the panniers questions again. I have a rack bag Altura Arran Rack Bag for £24.99 | Altura Bags - Rack | Cycle | Wiggle but its just not big enough, so I'm thinking of panniers.

Do these come singly or in pairs? The wiggle site is not always clear on that, nor on whether fixings are ordered separately. How do they fit to the rack, are they easily detachable, do they stop the use of the rack bag? Etc, etc.

Or to look at it from the usage point of view. If you go shopping, do you leave them on the bike, bring the shopping out and load it, or do you unclip the bag and take it into the shop?

Nick

 

[flecc]

They are normally in pairs, but the fastenings vary. The Altura ones use a vertical clip arrangement which gives very quick lift off, but for extra security they have a velcro strap which can be around the top rail of the carrier. many good bike shops stock the £24.99 16 litre ones which you could look at to understand the clips.

The clips at the top are screw adjustable for tightness, and there's a horizintal clip below to engage one of the carrier vertical struts. This is adjustable for position and tightness as well. Different makes have different arrangements.

Throwover panniers are permanently joined by a top strap or straps and can are usually strapped underneath. I altered my ones by slotting the top band to take the carrier's own clip, passing through and holding them on with it's spring loading, making them quickly detachable.

There has been the odd design that can be used for shopping as well, but that's rare and usually involves compromises. I just use a couple of the larger semi-permanent plastic shopping bags the supermarkets encourage us to use, these nicely filling each pannier bag of about 16 litres or so.
.

 

[SimonHutt]

Agu pannier bags etc

I have a very useful Agu Quorum briefcase that attaches to one side of the pannier rack on my Ezee Torq. It has an angled attachment bar so that it is clear of the foot (as long as you put it on the rhs of the bike!).

It doesn't appear to be available anymore, but I have been impressed by the quality and attention to detail, so it might be worth checking out their range here.