Another luggage question.

Julesh said:

I'm also thinking of buying a rack pack for those sort of days where a
bar bag isn't big enough and a pannier is overkill. Can anyone suggest
some products to look at from the many available. Are there any
rackpack/rack compatibility issues of which I need to be aware?

I'm assuming that on the sort of days when neither a rackpack or a pair
of panniers are adequate by themselves it's not impossible to have both
fitted at once - or is that another issue I need to look out for?

I found a rackpack a bit fiddly to fit on and off. Also some items in a
near empty rackpack tended to slide about. A rackpack may also obscure
a seatpost mounted rear light.
I would go instead for a small single pannier.

Iain

In article <[email hidden]>

Julesh said:

I'm also thinking of buying a rack pack for those sort of days where a
bar bag isn't big enough and a pannier is overkill. Can anyone suggest
some products to look at from the many available. Are there any
rackpack/rack compatibility issues of which I need to be aware?

A small pannier isn't bigger than a large rack pack, but I suspect that
when you say "a pannier" you're talking about one of those nasty one-
piece things that sling over the rack and are attached with straps
rather than clips.

Quoted message said:

I'm assuming that on the sort of days when neither a rackpack or a pair
of panniers are adequate by themselves it's not impossible to have both
fitted at once - or is that another issue I need to look out for?

The cheap one-piece panniers will stop you from easily fitting anything
on top of the rack.

Quoted message said:

Julesh said:

I'm also thinking of buying a rack pack for those sort of days where
a bar bag isn't big enough and a pannier is overkill. Can anyone
suggest some products to look at from the many available. Are there
any rackpack/rack compatibility issues of which I need to be aware?

I'm assuming that on the sort of days when neither a rackpack or a
pair of panniers are adequate by themselves it's not impossible to
have both fitted at once - or is that another issue I need to look
out for?

I found a rackpack a bit fiddly to fit on and off.

Apart from when panniers are fitted as well*, Carradice Prima Top bag is
dead easy with its four velcro straps. This design also keeps the cost and
weight down, and the reliability and compatibility up. The pockets are
particularly handy. Just replace the noisy zip tags with cords.

* In this case it's possible but fiddly to fix the pack on too. You could
always just strap some bare luggage to the rack. Or get bigger or more
expandable panniers.

www.carradice.co.uk/clearancetopbag.htm . £29 & free postage. Bargain!
Other colours also available there and elsewehere.

Quoted message said:

Also some items in
a near empty rackpack tended to slide about.

Pad it out with a plastic bag, if not carrying a jersey or jacket.

Quoted message said:

A rackpack may also
obscure a seatpost mounted rear light.

That might have been a problem for mine without an extended bracket.

Quoted message said:

I would go instead for a small single pannier.

Less aerodymanic :-) Also don't usually come with shoulder straps.

~PB

I wrote without reading:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

A rackpack may also
obscure a seatpost mounted rear light.

That might have been a problem for mine without an extended bracket.

Sorry, I mean it might have been a problem with the standard bracket on back
of rack. Yes the bag would make a seatpost mounted light useless in most
cases.

~PB

Rob Morley said:

In article <[email hidden]>

Julesh said:

I'm also thinking of buying a rack pack for those sort of days where a
bar bag isn't big enough and a pannier is overkill. Can anyone suggest
some products to look at from the many available. Are there any
rackpack/rack compatibility issues of which I need to be aware?

A small pannier isn't bigger than a large rack pack, but I suspect that
when you say "a pannier" you're talking about one of those nasty one-
piece things that sling over the rack and are attached with straps
rather than clips.

Quoted message said:

I'm assuming that on the sort of days when neither a rackpack or a pair
of panniers are adequate by themselves it's not impossible to have both
fitted at once - or is that another issue I need to look out for?

The cheap one-piece panniers will stop you from easily fitting anything
on top of the rack.

Hello,
Currently I have a very nice,largish, single pannier, which is great
for a bit of shopping but a bit of a beggar on a day tour as whatever
small item you want to retrieve will have slipped to the bottom and will
need digging for. Regretably the pannier is in need of replacing and my
present plan is to continue to get some new panniers for shopping, a
rackpack for day tours and hopefully both if I need more capacity.

One piece panniers - do such things really exist!

Julesh