Cycling: panniers and front rack etc.

[richnfamous]

I've just got myself a lovely (road) bike at a lovely price. It's my day-to-day transport (which keeps the lard off a certain part of my body) but I also want to use it for touring.

I've already got a decent Blackburn rack on the back and the front forks have got 'low-loader' attachments for a rack.

Has anyone got any recommendations for rear and front panniers, front rack and maybe a handlebar bag? I don't want the 'Rolls Royce' version but they have to be decent quality.

[foxy mars]

Well done and I'm sure you will enjoy what is a really good leisure sport.

I've done Cycle-Touring for 30 years now and had a full spec touring bike namely a Carlton Corsair, a lovely bike it was, now gone. But have now got a more high spec touring bike called "Kara-Kum" made by Dawes, I got it for cycling-camping as to carry the heavy luggage which consists of rear/front panniers and bar-bags.

Anyway getting to what you want to know, cycling gear is a minefield. The more money spend the better the product, it makes sense to me. I have the Ortlieb front and back panniers and have just got a Carradice Carradura barbag.

But, getting to the question. Is what type of touring would you be doing.....is it camping or youth hostel, maybe bed and breakfast/hotels.

My pannier racks are Bor Yueh and are esq for heavy loads such as camping gear, however the Blackburns are ok, but I think for more money spent, the Tubus are the best, which in time I will be getting for 2011.

If you were to say, do hostelling or b&b in that respect. Then a pair of rear panniers and a bar-bag would be ideal for that use, for camping, a pair of front panniers is a must.

I think the cheap panniers are false economy and to spend a bit more cash on a better product say like Ortieb or Carradice is in the long term, is better value for money. The Ortlieb panniers are a bit expensive, but are 100% waterproof, no need for outer cover's. The Carradice panniers are more affordable and are really well made and in Chorley, Lancs.

All the cycling products have increased in price, due to the euro and the weakness of the pound. But, if are to do cycle-touring in a big way, then that is it, I'm afraid.

The best advice I can give you, is join the CTC forum or have a browse on it. I'm on it and am sure 100% advice will be answered for you, like I said earlier it's a minefield for products. On a last note, I can recommend the Carradice Carradura bar-bag. Bike-Plus have them on a special offer.

Hope all this helps and I'm sure once you are set up - the whole cycle-touring thing will be a delight, try the Yorkshire Dales or the North Pennines area or better still the Lake District. All grand stuff, enjoy yourself.

[richnfamous]

Thanks for the reply. My bike's my daily transport and I intend to tour and wild-camp. The panniers aren't just for touring, but also for shopping, etc.

I've been looking at the Ortleib panniers (I've never been let down by their dry bags) so I think I'll go for those.

For longer trips I'm going to build a trailer which I can drop my rucksac into as cycling and then walking sounds ideal to me.

Incidentally, the bike is a Carrera Vanquish which I got at about 1/3 of the list price. It's replaced my Specialised Hard Rock which was excellent, but not as good on the road as I'd like.

[sparkymarky]

A couple of years ago, my partner and I did a cycle tour down the west coast of scotland. You can't beat cycling touring, you go quick enough to see the changing scenery but slow and quiet enough to spot the wild life. Our panniers are the classic front and back ortlieb, can't beat them, nice and solid built, use them every week for grocery shopping, commuting, holidays. They are still waterproof with no major problems, the only mishap was my mistake of picking up the heavily loaded pannier by its release mechanism strap causing the screw to come loose.

[foxy mars]

The Ortlieb are the bee's knee's for cycle-touring, like you say, 100% waterproof and very robust. The only downside of the Ortlieb's is no exterior pockets, to store first aid kit, tools, inner tubes etc. But you can buy the Ortlieb pockets, in which you use a template pattern, then punch a hole in the pannier bag and screw on the rail. The pockets don't come cheap, then the panniers don't come cheap either.

I have the Ortlieb front and rear Roller Classic and rear Bike-Packer Classic. The rear Roller Classic I use for shopping, which I can get 4 shopping bags in, 2 in each pannier bag and ofcause the Bike Packer is used for touring and I believe Ortlieb have improved on that design, I have the older version.

Here is my bike with the Ortlieb bags minus bar-bag. This was taken up on Sleightholme Moor, 2 miles east of Tan Hill.

[bran goesgoch]

Impresive panniers them Foxy, I think I'll put them on my Xmas list, might be to late though....sigh!

[foxy mars]

Originally Posted by bran goesgoch

Impresive panniers them Foxy, I think I'll put them on my Xmas list, might be to late though....sigh!

Yes, the Ortlieb panniers are very good for cycle-camping. I can recommend them for any budding cycle-tourist.

[welshcameraman]

Yea go for the Ortliebs. I have cycled all over Europe including a ride from Swansea to Bilbao and they have never let me down. When I first bought them I was wary about the waterproof claim, so I rode around in a storm after filling them with toilet rolls to test them. Perfect!!! What an advantage not to have to use liners.

In the same time my wife has gone through a set of Karrimor and a set of Jack Wolfskin panniers, just because she didn't like the roll top style of the Ortliebs. Though on a trip to Ireland a few years ago with friends, she used my panniers and was completely sold on them.

My set are at least 15 years old and though not used as much now, are still going strong. Mainly used now by my wife when she cycles to work.

Money very well spent, in my opinion you can't go wrong.

Martin

[foxy mars]

The Ortlieb pannier idea came from a German cyclist who was fed up of getting his gear soaked after heavy rain. His inspirational came from the tarpaulin from a passing lorry in the south of England on his cycling tour, thence the idea was born.

If you go on the Ortlieb website, there is a interesting history on the Ortlieb pannier bag

[Boddie]

I tested most panniers when I ran Brooks England, the saddle company, a few years back. I rated highest the Ortleibs, second best for me was Vaude.

Here are the Ortleib on my Chas Roberts Transcontinental, a beaut of a bike