Looking for a couple of good looking and functional grocery bags/panniers. Anyone have any ideas? Not wanting to spend a fortune but would like something light and usable for purpose. Grocery shopping and carrying whatever.
Panniers
- Thread starter KenX
- Start date
I have some from a long time ago I used to do an American Youth Hostel bike ride (pedaling only) for a month and a half. It was sort of easy riding 30 miles a day. There were some days no riding was done. We did a total of 1000 miles. Some times big hills though.
Here is the thing about a huge hill and maybe 7 percent grade for miles, you pickup speed. All you do is hold the brake levers, until the rear wheel does not need brakes.
Why, because one of the panniers on my carrier had a cotter pin come out and the bag was oscillating till it found the edge of the bag caught in the rear wheel spokes. Did I skid the rear wheel on the bike with my body down to get a low center of gravity as I covered maybe 30 feet while fish tailing. Yep!
Just saying, check out how well the bags are attached to the carrier for the way they are made. Happen to be these bags were sold and branded AYH. I got another brand later Aviner and they had a hook instead of big cotter pin so that may be better. The cotter pin on the prior bag was prone to get loose more so I think.
Mostly I found I needed a better carrier with more side bar structure to keep the saddle bags from hitting the spokes even if the came loose and started to sway. I got a better carrier. The rack I had used with this close call was only a single bar on each side which in my opinion is just too dangerous. Look into what type of carrier rack you have, do not let this happen to you.
The current ones on EBay look a little like what I have:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Avenir-Pann...A%2BFICS%2BUFI&otn=21&pmod=140971159034&ps=54
Only once in person did I see a locked up rear wheel do better distance than I did. It was a bungee cord on a full size motorcycle wound up in the rear wheel. Some guy comes screeching to a halt of about 75 feet while I looked over to the street to see what gives while I am strolling down the side walk next to this!
MT
Here is the thing about a huge hill and maybe 7 percent grade for miles, you pickup speed. All you do is hold the brake levers, until the rear wheel does not need brakes.
Why, because one of the panniers on my carrier had a cotter pin come out and the bag was oscillating till it found the edge of the bag caught in the rear wheel spokes. Did I skid the rear wheel on the bike with my body down to get a low center of gravity as I covered maybe 30 feet while fish tailing. Yep!
Just saying, check out how well the bags are attached to the carrier for the way they are made. Happen to be these bags were sold and branded AYH. I got another brand later Aviner and they had a hook instead of big cotter pin so that may be better. The cotter pin on the prior bag was prone to get loose more so I think.
Mostly I found I needed a better carrier with more side bar structure to keep the saddle bags from hitting the spokes even if the came loose and started to sway. I got a better carrier. The rack I had used with this close call was only a single bar on each side which in my opinion is just too dangerous. Look into what type of carrier rack you have, do not let this happen to you.
The current ones on EBay look a little like what I have:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Avenir-Pann...A%2BFICS%2BUFI&otn=21&pmod=140971159034&ps=54
Only once in person did I see a locked up rear wheel do better distance than I did. It was a bungee cord on a full size motorcycle wound up in the rear wheel. Some guy comes screeching to a halt of about 75 feet while I looked over to the street to see what gives while I am strolling down the side walk next to this!
MT
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Thank you for the advice. Probably would have been something I would have overlooked the first time and the first time could have been enough for not a second chance to get it right. May just settle for a basket in front or on back rack. I don't want there to be a chance of anything to get caught up in the spokes while cruising down the hard pavement.
...here's a link to a rack on Amazon i'm eyeing myself that's rated for 77lbs, ...it's a bit pricey but safety is more important than economy i think.
Portland Design Works Payload Rear Rack - Steel
...a rack like this should provide a solid base for whatever panniers you end up with. ...it looks pretty nice too i think.
, bozo
Portland Design Works Payload Rear Rack - Steel
...a rack like this should provide a solid base for whatever panniers you end up with. ...it looks pretty nice too i think.
, bozoAttachments
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These panniers are $25 and prime eligible: http://motorbicycling.com/showthread.php?t=48550 which means free shipping for amazon prime members. I run them and am very happy.
Ive run those bags and my left bag just got completely sucked into my spokes. The bike stopped instantly and the back wheel locked up completely. If I was riding at any speed I wouldn't be here today to warn you. Ive read of many other people this has happened to with these panniers.
If you use these bags please be careful.
I just have the found these two carriers just to show how the side bars look and how many are used....here's a link to a rack on Amazon i'm eyeing myself that's rated for 77lbs, ...it's a bit pricey but safety is more important than economy i think.
Portland Design Works Payload Rear Rack - Steel
...a rack like this should provide a solid base for whatever panniers you end up with. ...it looks pretty nice too i think.
I am not using the links images for the explanation of the material used in their making or anything other than the fact that besides the vertical bar there are two more that intersect by the axle. That helps keep the bags out of the spokes.
http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-63107030-Explorer-Bike-Rack/dp/B000FIE3WI/ref=pd_sbs_sg_1
http://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-Bicyc...3261390&sr=1-1&keywords=bike+carrier+rat+trap
The one Bozo shows a link to still has got to be better than the one vertical bar on each side. It mentions that it does not interfere with disk brakes. I suppose if that was an issue for me it would be a consideration.
What ever you get for the bags to hang on the rack, I would not trust just using the bungee hook with tension adjustment alone. I would probably add something extra to hold it on addition to the bungee.
I guess a rack that could be made with additional bars that has sort of a box shape container on each side to put the bags might be overkill and add more weight, just a thought. Should I find the need I’d use my MIG welder to build something the likes of. My offroad bike I am thinking of some way of carrying tools and parts with me should I need to fix something. It is not as easy out on the trails getting back as on the road where you can come back with a pickup truck.
MT
I use the carrier in the first link. I got it so my bags would have less chance of getting pulled into my spokes. It didn't work. The carrier is very strong and well made but was no help with these panniers.
Well, I have the same Topeka that you supplied a link for the same reason. Looks like I will need to think this out a bit. Thanks for the information.
...another option you might consider is baskets, ...i'm using a pair of Wald 582 folding baskets on my bike for trips to the grocery store.
...i still need to upgrade my rack to be sure it can handle the weight of gallons of milk and juice and such but the baskets are rigid and appear to be well made so are unlikely to just 'fall' into the wheel even with the crappy rack i'm currently using.
Wald #582 Folding Rear Mounted Bike Basket
...they are NOT as big as the description would have you believe but all in all, not a bad option.
, bozo
...i still need to upgrade my rack to be sure it can handle the weight of gallons of milk and juice and such but the baskets are rigid and appear to be well made so are unlikely to just 'fall' into the wheel even with the crappy rack i'm currently using.
Wald #582 Folding Rear Mounted Bike Basket
...they are NOT as big as the description would have you believe but all in all, not a bad option.
, bozo
I run dual folding Wald 582s on a Topeak Explorer rack on my motor assisted bicycle (secured with Grade 8 bolts and loctited), they work great for most trips.
This set-up has been mounted on several of my bikes - motored and not - in the last 6 years.
My pedal bike has the M-Wave Double Day Tripper bags mounted on a Topeak Explorer rack. The bags are cheap, but they hold quite a bit!
They definitely need to be secured properly for heavy loads.
This set-up has been mounted on several of my bikes - motored and not - in the last 6 years.
My pedal bike has the M-Wave Double Day Tripper bags mounted on a Topeak Explorer rack. The bags are cheap, but they hold quite a bit!
They definitely need to be secured properly for heavy loads.
I do have one of those Wald baskets. Ordered it and decided not to use it. Now I've decided to use it again. With it solidly bolted on to the rack there should be little or no worry about the thing getting into the spokes. I will have to order another one though. I don't think I can stop at just one. Have to make things symmetrical.
I had the same problem as well. I went to a local sheetmetal shop and grabbed some flat bar out of their scrap bin and made supports that bolt to my luggage rack and my axle. This keeps the bags out of the spokes.
I never took any pics of the supports I made, but I will try to remember to grab a couple pics on my next day off.
There's agreat selection of panniers these days on ebay and Amazon- China has really bought the prices down again to reasonable- although panniers are really more meant for touring on a bike- I had a couple on a month ago, and with a front basket- I really had quite a bit of stuff from the store, and room for more-
but panniers are not as practical and are a little risky for shopping- I'm still going to get some saddlerbag baskets- but haven't decided if I'm going with a standard wald design- they have 3 basic designs, or going to fashion my own onto a blackburn rack I have already-
fashioning my own would be the lightest setup, because an alloy rack saves a lot of weight comapred to the same part of a steel wald basket- the baskets are heavy and then full of stuff can be really heavy-
Basket makers carefully DON'T make saddlebag sizes like that- but two front baskets are only slightly wider than at least two of the Wald saddlebag baskets, and would carry just as much- sunlight makes some front baskets a bit smaller and slightly cheaper- if you already have a rack especially, two front baskets can be a cheaper alternative
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BASKET-WALD...prg=1005&rk=3&sd=400322499008&#ht_1261wt_1602
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BASKET-WALD...ltDomain_0&hash=item5d4115268d#ht_1261wt_1602
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BASKET-WALD...ltDomain_0&hash=item53fada7b80#ht_1261wt_1602
The three Wald models are also on Amazon and prices vary so shop for the best price when you buy. If you get some used, be sure they come with the front hardware, or it'll cost you another $9.
baskets can be attached to rear racks easily and safely with small worm clamps- be sure to anchor the bottom too-
You can also put a basket on top of the rear rack- but that doesn't carry as much as the two larger sizes of saddlebag baskets- (the smaller Wald saddlebag is actually equilvalent in cubic inches to a Wald front basket size, which is also then the rear rack size as well-)
and the center of gravity of the load is then higher and not as well balanced- and you have to be careful getting off the bike, as your leg tends to want to hit the basket when you swing it back over
I have a rear trunk bag of nylon for the top of a rack or saddlebag basket- and it holds quite a bit too, and at a lower profile than a top basket- cheap now from China- it cut the price in half of what it was at Wal-mart a few years ago-
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sports-Cycl...ltDomain_0&hash=item3f1500d4f0#ht_3588wt_1004
A bike with a front basket, a saddlebag basket and with a nylon trunk bag on top of that will really carry a lot- and that's what I'm going for before the winter when I want to take as much as I can with each trip- and the set up is not that heavy-
below are some baskets I lashed to the seat rails of my scooter with nylon rope and plastic ties- they are Wald "fender" saddlebags- I got used- no longer made, but sometimes used on ebay, made to fit across fenders and I simply removed the middle hardware and tied each basket separately- You have to look closely because the baskets are not that big, and painted blue.
baskets make a BIG difference in practicality-
but panniers are not as practical and are a little risky for shopping- I'm still going to get some saddlerbag baskets- but haven't decided if I'm going with a standard wald design- they have 3 basic designs, or going to fashion my own onto a blackburn rack I have already-
fashioning my own would be the lightest setup, because an alloy rack saves a lot of weight comapred to the same part of a steel wald basket- the baskets are heavy and then full of stuff can be really heavy-
Basket makers carefully DON'T make saddlebag sizes like that- but two front baskets are only slightly wider than at least two of the Wald saddlebag baskets, and would carry just as much- sunlight makes some front baskets a bit smaller and slightly cheaper- if you already have a rack especially, two front baskets can be a cheaper alternative
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BASKET-WALD...prg=1005&rk=3&sd=400322499008&#ht_1261wt_1602
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BASKET-WALD...ltDomain_0&hash=item5d4115268d#ht_1261wt_1602
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BASKET-WALD...ltDomain_0&hash=item53fada7b80#ht_1261wt_1602
The three Wald models are also on Amazon and prices vary so shop for the best price when you buy. If you get some used, be sure they come with the front hardware, or it'll cost you another $9.
baskets can be attached to rear racks easily and safely with small worm clamps- be sure to anchor the bottom too-
You can also put a basket on top of the rear rack- but that doesn't carry as much as the two larger sizes of saddlebag baskets- (the smaller Wald saddlebag is actually equilvalent in cubic inches to a Wald front basket size, which is also then the rear rack size as well-)
and the center of gravity of the load is then higher and not as well balanced- and you have to be careful getting off the bike, as your leg tends to want to hit the basket when you swing it back over
I have a rear trunk bag of nylon for the top of a rack or saddlebag basket- and it holds quite a bit too, and at a lower profile than a top basket- cheap now from China- it cut the price in half of what it was at Wal-mart a few years ago-
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sports-Cycl...ltDomain_0&hash=item3f1500d4f0#ht_3588wt_1004
A bike with a front basket, a saddlebag basket and with a nylon trunk bag on top of that will really carry a lot- and that's what I'm going for before the winter when I want to take as much as I can with each trip- and the set up is not that heavy-
below are some baskets I lashed to the seat rails of my scooter with nylon rope and plastic ties- they are Wald "fender" saddlebags- I got used- no longer made, but sometimes used on ebay, made to fit across fenders and I simply removed the middle hardware and tied each basket separately- You have to look closely because the baskets are not that big, and painted blue.
baskets make a BIG difference in practicality-
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Still waiting for some ALLOY saddlebag baskets, that really shouldn't be that much to manufacture, when you think about all those aluminum cans they sell everywhere on the cheap-
Wald has made the same baskets since I was a kid- I had one of the small models on my 20" bike about 1962 it must've been
Like I'm fond of saying- it's all controlled by Big Oil so that the selling of gasoline in mass quantities is never much threatened-
the main reason why motorized bikes are still illegal in so many places-
name me one other convincing excuse....
Wald has made the same baskets since I was a kid- I had one of the small models on my 20" bike about 1962 it must've been
Like I'm fond of saying- it's all controlled by Big Oil so that the selling of gasoline in mass quantities is never much threatened-
the main reason why motorized bikes are still illegal in so many places-
name me one other convincing excuse....
I put panniers on my cruiser, even though I don't plan on doing much touring if any. It is my daily driver (and in fact my only bike), and my ride to work. The panniers allow me to keep a rag and a few tools for roadside repairs if necessary, and also to carry my work clothes (khaki pants and a black t-shirt and black sneakers is no fun in this heat). So I can ride back and forth to work in flip flops and shorts. I also think they improve the classic motorcycle cruiser look I was shooting for. I'm not concerned with weight, the panniers don't add so much as to weigh the bike down anymore than the engine or myself already does, and the bike does reach the speeds I'm geared for, so I'm happy with it.
If one ever wonders about panniers and folding baskets together:
and
Well, ofc the baskets weren't unfolded in that pic, and really, those are smallish panniers. They will barely hold a 12-pack of 12oz cans each.
The combination will hold 4 12-packs tho, not counting the 8 cans the trunk will keep cold
I've done a lot of grocery shopping on my bike!
The panniers simply sit on top of an unfolded basket. It gets real heavy hauling over 300oz of fluid lol
Topeak's pannier/trunk bags sure aint cheap, and mine is a clearance find from 2006. I like how they clear the baskets when the baskets are folded tho.
The Mwave panniers won't clear with an Explorer rack and 582s, you need a skinny rack for that, from my experience.
If you want to get brave and haul srs, ya might get a Wald 157!
and
Well, ofc the baskets weren't unfolded in that pic, and really, those are smallish panniers. They will barely hold a 12-pack of 12oz cans each.
The combination will hold 4 12-packs tho, not counting the 8 cans the trunk will keep cold
I've done a lot of grocery shopping on my bike!The panniers simply sit on top of an unfolded basket. It gets real heavy hauling over 300oz of fluid lol
Topeak's pannier/trunk bags sure aint cheap, and mine is a clearance find from 2006. I like how they clear the baskets when the baskets are folded tho.
The Mwave panniers won't clear with an Explorer rack and 582s, you need a skinny rack for that, from my experience.
If you want to get brave and haul srs, ya might get a Wald 157!
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