Panniers and Rack

Racks:

http://www.tubus.com/index/lang/en/rubrik/Rear%20Carriers/

Panniers:

http://www.ortlieb.de/_browse.php?lang=en&tfile=radtasche

these are very good

Guy Anderson said:

I need to set up my mountain bike for light touring, and need advice,
opinions and suggestions about rear racks and bags. So far the Topeak
outfit looks pretty good, and I'd welcome any opinions re it:

http://www.topeak.com/t8/products/bags/mtxtrunkbagdxp.php

Thanks!

This page (http://www.biketouringtips.com/searchTips.html?
country=&state=&place=&id=Bike%20Touring%20Equipment&subtopic=17.2)
lists 14 links to information about racks and panniers. Several of
them will be of interest to you.

Ray

You need four point fixation for panniers. i.e. if you have a FS mtb
don't get one of these seatpost things with a rack with sidelegs as
they'll break. A friend did and they did, if you follow me.

Ortlieb bags are great EXCEPT that being only two compartments, it is
a pain to find anything. After 10 years using them on multiple tours,
I'm going back to multicompartment all-in-one bag where I can find
things. I will need my stuff in plastic bags, but it's preferable to
emptying everything onto the road!!

I'd strongly suggest Tubus or Bruce Gordon for the rack. They are
made of hollow chromoly steel and are stronger as well as lighter than
solid aluminum.

From my experience an Ortlieb bag is perfect. If you need more
organization consider putting things into mesh organizer bags. The
main drawback is that you really cannot put something inside that is
wet or even damp. Everything inside get wet. But, they keep the
water out as long as they are closed properly. The attachment system
works very well and is secure as long as you get it attached correctly
in the first place.

I also use Jannd bags. They are strong, but mine are awkward to put
on or take off. But they are not for keeping things dry in a long or
heavy rain. So typically I have Jannd bags on the back, Ortleib on
the front and my wife carries Ortleib on the back. The Jannd bags
take the wet stuff and the stuff than can get wet. One of the front
Ortleib bags on the front gets my sleeping bag and a few other
things.

Tom

On Feb 13, 2:07�pm, "Guy Anderson, Sr." <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I need to set up my mountain bike for light touring, and need advice,
opinions and suggestions about rear racks and bags. �So far the Topeak
outfit looks pretty good, and I'd welcome any opinions re it:

http://www.topeak.com/t8/products/bags/mtxtrunkbagdxp.php

Thanks!

"Guy Anderson, Sr." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I need to set up my mountain bike for light touring, and need advice,
opinions and suggestions about rear racks and bags. So far the Topeak
outfit looks pretty good, and I'd welcome any opinions re it:

http://www.topeak.com/t8/products/bags/mtxtrunkbagdxp.php

Guy, for light touring the Performance bags and racks work very well. There
are better things available but they are much more expensive and are
intended for round the world tours.

On Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:01:20 -0800, "Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo.

com said:

Guy, for light touring the Performance bags and racks work very well. There
are better things available but they are much more expensive and are
intended for round the world tours.

Thanks, Tom. AMAOF, I have already mounted up the Performance rack
with el cheapo Nashbar Daytrecker bags. This rig will be fine for my
purposes.

On Feb 29, 1:26 am, "Guy Anderson, Sr." <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

On Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:01:20 -0800, "Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo.

com said:

Guy, for light touring the Performance bags and racks work very well. There
are better things available but they are much more expensive and are
intended for round the world tours.

Thanks, Tom. AMAOF, I have already mounted up the Performance rack
with el cheapo Nashbar Daytrecker bags. This rig will be fine for my
purposes.

Nashbar has this neat thing that works as both a backpack and a
pannier. I rode 250 miles in 4 days with one on only the left side. I
packed light though.
It took me a couple of hours to get used to weight being mostly on the
left side. I was planning to ride completely on my own and I wanted to
lock the bike and carry everything else into a store if necessary.

Does anybody make a practical, functional hard shell "trunk" that can stay
mounted to a bike rack at all times, rather than having to be removed every
time you leave the bike?

Papa Tom said:

Does anybody make a practical, functional hard shell "trunk" that can stay
mounted to a bike rack at all times, rather than having to be removed every
time you leave the bike?

A two minute google turned up several, such as:
http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm?skunum=37760

Thanks, Guy. I guess what I SHOULD have asked was "Has anybody had good or
bad experiences with any of the hard shell trunks on the market?"

I realize that just about anything anyone can think of is already available
on the Internet ad nauseum. However, there's nothing like a first-hand tip
from a current user. For example, I guess my first questions to a person
who has used the trunk you linked me to would be "What has the manufacturer
done to make sure the whole trunk can't be removed from the luggage rack
with a screwdriver?" and "Does the height of the trunk interfere with
mounting or dismounting the bike?"

That said, does anybody have any input?

Papa Tom said:

I realize that just about anything anyone can think of is already available
on the Internet ad nauseum. However, there's nothing like a first-hand tip
from a current user.

I use a BIG Chrome (The Kremlin) messenger bag for commuting. <G>

Quoted message said:

For example, I guess my first questions to a person
who has used the trunk you linked me to would be "What has the manufacturer
done to make sure the whole trunk can't be removed from the luggage rack
with a screwdriver?" and "Does the height of the trunk interfere with
mounting or dismounting the bike?"

That said, does anybody have any input?

I do!

Hardshell cases are great on motorcycles, because motorcycles are
heavy. Somebody who really wanted into a bicycle rack trunk could
either:

1.) Steal the whole bike .

-- or --

2.) Cut it right off of the soft aluminum rack. How would I do that?
Cable cutters would go through the rack rails much faster than they
would cut a lock. If I saw you parking daily and had time to plan, a
cordless saw or drills, as made by DeWalt, Porter Cable, Milwaukee,
etc... and available at pawn shops everywhere, cheap! Would have me
in your hardshell trunk in seconds.

After all, if it looks secure, there's something inside worth
stealing!

The best anti-theft rack trunks come with shoulder straps, or you
bring the bike inside.