Long Commute & Panniers

enoonan

Lo All,
I'm thinking of commuting to work on a regular basis(2-3 times a week) next year and was thinking of getting a set of panniers to go on my Trek 7.1.
The few times I did the 35 mile(each way) commute this year I did it on my road bike with a backpack but I found it a little bit uncomfortable.
I have a pannier rack for the Trek so that is a purchase saved. Will need to get mud guards though.
Can anyone recommend a decent set of rear panniers that are water resistant and can take a set of clothing for work(excl footwear), rain gear and a few spares.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Eoin

tommmy1979

don't have a set myself but apparently ortlieb are the ones to have.. will be getting a set shortly.

wiggle.co.uk have them

I have these. Totally waterproof and have stood up to years of rough treatment. Also, the fixing system is very secure and quick to use.

cdaly_

If you're gonna commute by bike only 2-3 days / week, bring in a week's worth of clothes etc on one of the other days and leave them at work. That way you can use the road bike...


A trek 7.1 is gonna be a fair bit of work over a 35 mile commute...

Wishbone Ash

You may only require a single pannier - they hold a fair amount. I have a single Altura one and I've never been stuck for space.

(35 miles is a long commute - about 110km round trip. I'd do it on a day off but wouldn't fancy it on a workday. You'd need long life lights).

petethedrummer

The Ortlieb front roller classics should be enough to carry clothes to and from work. I have no complaints at all about mine. They have taken a few knocks, one fall and are still in good nick. They're exensive mind.

Newer Ortliebs have the QL2 attachment system which is slightly better than the old system, which I presume is called QL1. I find the Ortlieb attachments far superior to the Rixen Kaul I had on an Altura pannier.

Tonyandthewhale

I use ortlieb's usually and I love them. They're 100% water proof, you can actually fill them with water and it won't leak. The mounting system is the best I've ever seen, very secure (never dropped a pannier in several thousand kilometers of loaded touring and commuting, even when off-road on an un-suspended bike. The mounting system also means the bags can be mounted and removed very quickly with zero hassle and they'll fit a wide range of racks.
As far as I know you can also buy all the small parts seperately so if something breaks the whole pannier doesn't have to be replaced although I haven't broken anything yet.

I've used altura too and they're grand too, waterproof, fairly hardy and a decent mounting system although not as versatile or reliable as ortliebs.

feck sake lads

get yourself a rackbag from carradice probably the best rackbag in the world ;)seriously though its a great piece of kit easy to take on and off fully waterproof and holds an amazing amount of gear .

rp

Tonyandthewhale wrote: »

I've used altura too and they're grand too, waterproof, fairly hardy and a decent mounting system although not as versatile or reliable as ortliebs.

yeah. my experience too, plus the Ortlieb wins over Altura on water-proof-ness, being actually immersible (as happened in the floods a few weeks back).

seamus

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

You may only require a single pannier - they hold a fair amount.

I've always wondered - I'd expect to be carrying between 5 and 10kg of stuff on a commute. Does it not upset the handling having it hanging off one side (the left, presumably)?

Highway_To_Hell

Get use to it very quickly, no issue when moving forward but sometimes when stopping/starting the bike will list to one side but doesn't cause any major problems.

HTH

doozerie

I've been using a single Ortlieb Front Roller Plus (on a rear rack) for commuting for over a year now and I've been very happy with it. Using just one does affect handling a bit but as already mentioned you get used to it quickly enough - on the odd day when I have the bag loaded more heavily than normal then I do notice the different feel for the first few minutes but you quickly adjust to that during the ride too. It is unavoidable though that even once you've adjusted to the slightly different feeling of the bike, it does remain more difficult to throw the bike around in traffic in the same way you could without a pannier. This applies whether using just one pannier or both at the same time, it just applies a little differently for both options. Whether this is an issue depends largely on how you ride, as obviously not everyone likes flicking the back of the bike about at any time - I don't do it much myself but every now and again I go to do something and find the back of the bike resists a little more than I expected. If I was doing that more regularly then I wouldn't forget between times, It's no big deal though, just something to be aware of.

A side benefit of using just one pannier is that the unused one of the pair becomes a useful spare to have. Mind you, neither of my Ortliebs show any significant signs of wear and tear (I use each of them on a different bike so they both get used) so I don't expect to have to worry about repairing or replacing either of them for a long time to come. Incidentally, the attachment mechanism is so good/convenient on these that I was concerned that someone could easily swipe the bag from the back of the bike while I was stopped in traffic - so I use a toe strap to "tie" the pannier handle to the rack. That adds a minor inconvenience when attaching/removing the pannier and wouldn't be necessary at all for someone less paranoid.

Before switching to these panniers I used a Topeak bag on top on my rear rack. That was very convenient too, when used with a Topeak rack which houses the attachment mechanism, but it was not properly waterproof which was a pain - it had reasonably good water "resistance" though, but in heavier rain that was not always enough even over my modest 11km commute. The biggest issue though was that it raised the centre of gravity of the bike and threw the handling off more than I liked. I used that for several months before deciding that a pannier would be preferable even though it moved the weight to one side rather than centred. I've not been tempted to go back.

Wishbone Ash

seamus wrote: »

Does it not upset the handling

As others have said it doesn't really (although I'd say 10kgs would be noticeable).

seamus wrote:

having it hanging off one side (the left, presumably)?

I always put the single pannier on the right as it's reflective and I assume it may encourage traffic to give a wider berth. But I've noticed that all other single pannier cyclists always use the left side. Do they know something I don't? :eek:

carthoris

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

But I've noticed that all other single pannier cyclists always use the left side. Do they know something I don't? :eek:

As we cycle on the left it is the right side and the right side is the wrong side and not the left side. Clear ?

We cycle on the left and this causes most cyclists to dismount on the left of the bike, so if the pannier is on the right hand side of the rack it feels more awkward to remove it. Also dismounting on the left usually means the right hand side is placed against the bike stand for locking and the pannier would be in the way if it was on the right hand side of the rack.

I use a pair of Ortlieb Back Roller classics - they are a little expensive but are worth it. The Front Roller is the same just a little smaller and based on the past 18 months of use I think that the Front Roller would have been big enough for what I use them.

ianopino

I was using dhb panniers (one on the left, about 7kg load) for about 5 months 60k daily. brilliant, waterproof and not as expensive as ortlieb but wiggle don't seem to stock them any more

I reckon I developed a bit of an imbalance in my glutes from having the weight on one side (bit of a hilly commute so need to push a bit) I also found that when you hit a bump at speed the rear wheel wanted to kick out to the heavier side, so I switched the pannier to a center mount which feels and handles a lot better. I don't have the carradice system but It looks perfect to me - good capacity, center mounted, low center of gravity, and water-proof.

Cheers

Wishbone Ash

carthoris wrote: »

As we cycle on the left it is the right side and the right side is the wrong side and not the left side

"Scratches head"!

carthoris wrote:

dismount on the left of the bike.... .........Also dismounting on the left

I have visions of my oul lad years ago who always went through the proper ritual of mounting and dismounting. He'd be half way to work and still have his left foot only on the inside pedal waiting to get his leg over!:) I just sit on the saddle when going or stopping.

I usually lock my bike to the right side of a stand although when going to work I have indoor secure storage and don't need to use a lock. I would still find it easier to remove a pannier from the right side while standing on the left.

le petit braquet

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

But I've noticed that all other single pannier cyclists always use the left side. Do they know something I don't? :eek:

I use the left side because there is extra clearance when travelling up the inside of a row a cars as the pannier hangs over the kerb.

As for panniers, then Ortliebs are the dog's and mine passed the ultimate test in the recent deluge in Dublin with flying colours

Wishbone Ash

le petit braquet wrote: »

I use the left side because there is extra clearance when travelling up the inside of a row a cars as the pannier hangs over the kerb.

Good point but the pannier hardly extends futher than the handlebars? (i.e. a right mounted pannier would still pass if a handlebars made it?)

le petit braquet wrote:

As for panniers, then Ortliebs are the dog's and mine passed the ultimate test in the recent deluge in Dublin with flying colours

My Altura passed with similar colours (although my front light and computer died a death!)

tomasrojo

I put a single pannier on the right. No particular reason for using that side, except maybe that the reflector is on the side of passing traffic. I counterbalance it very slightly by carrying a Fahgettaboudit lock on the left. When I'm carrying a lot and not using the trailer, I use two panniers. I do carry about 5-8kg in the single pannier when I'm doing a small shop. It does unbalance the bike a bit, but it's nothing drastic.

seamus

The only reason I reckoned the left is because the right is the drive side. Just seems neater to me to put a single pannier on the opposite side.

doozerie

I carry my single pannier on the left, mostly so that it is out of the way of traffic - my handlebars do jut out a little further than the pannier but the pannier is lower and therefore not always likely to hit the same obstacles as the handlebar, and also I find it easier to avoid hitting things with the handlebar end by shoving the bars around a bit whereas the back of the bike is not as easily manoeuverable as quickly so I prefer to have it as far away from (unpredictable) traffic as possible.

There are other reasons for having it on the left too, mostly relatively minor, such as: as I cycle on the left of traffic it comes more naturally to me to put my left foot down should I need to top and as the weight of the pannier is on the same side this makes it a little easier to support the bike and prevent it toppling over when the pannier is heavily packed; similarly on one of my commute bikes I have a kickstand on the left and when resting the bike on the stand I find it more stable when the weighted side is leaning directly onto the stand. I always mount the bike from the left too and again I find it easier to control the weight leaning into me than away from me while doing so. To a certain extent its simply just a matter of what I am used to though.

To me the biggest advantage of having the pannier on the right would be the fact that its reflective patch might be more visible to traffic. Plus it might help protect the rear derailleur in a fall. The pros of hanging the pannier on the left still outweigh those benefits though, for me.

rp

Only reason I mount the pannier on the right is so roadies can't tell it's a fixie and so don't shout after me: "hipster douchebag!"

manwithaplan

seamus wrote: »

The only reason I reckoned the left is because the right is the drive side. Just seems neater to me to put a single pannier on the opposite side.

Me too.

I have an Altura Urban 20. It has never let any water in, even in very heavy rain but my commute is a lot shorter than the OP's. The first one I had was stolen with my old bike. When I replaced my bike, I got the same rack (Tortec Ultralight) and pannier but the clipping on and off isn't as smooth as it was. The system is very secure but that minor annoyance still bothers me slightly.

petethedrummer

I dress to the left.

Explosive_Cornflake

I used to put mine on the right. I preferred hitting it off a car than hitting it off a ped. Also as mentioned above, it's better to look bigger on the right hand side rather than the left.

Civilian_Target

I have these ones
http://www.probikekit.com/us/vaude-aqua-rear-bicycle-panniers.html

They're very good, reasonably spacious, light (when empty) and the right-kinda shape. Straps to put it on my back would have been nice, but not having them does keep the weight down. The size is about large enough to fit a 15" laptop, and can protrude from the bike by up-to about a foot.

Picked them up in 2005, reckon they've gone on and off the bike over 2,000 times since then - I managed to break one of the rip-handles off about 2 weeks ago, I've bodged it back together with a coat-hanger and ordered a replacement handle for $10.

Definitely recommend.

When I travel with one bag, it goes on the road-side at day-time, and the footpath side at night-time.

monument

My bag is on the right --

I've never seen any pannier wider than the handle bars of a bike (not even when my fairly large one is fully loaded) and if you bike is going to look wider on one side the right seems logical given it will make the bike appare wider to motorists thus they should keep further away.

Clooney George

You may only need 1 pannier - they carry a reasonable quantity. I have 1 Altura one and I've never been cornered for place.

Colonialboy

enoonan wrote: »

Lo All,
I'm thinking of commuting to work on a regular basis(2-3 times a week) next year and was thinking of getting a set of panniers to go on my Trek 7.1.
I have a pannier rack for the Trek so that is a purchase saved. Will need to get mud guards though.
Eoin

Bring your bike with you when you go to get the panniers. Some racks have twists or turns in the metal or maybe different sized tubing that can affect how your pannier attaches.
I have a Trek 7500 also that came with a pannier rack, and the set of panniers I got dont exactly attach perfectly, the plastic locking piece is too narrow for the rack tubing so its really the velcro strap thats keeping it in place.

It gives the same issue when I attach the kids seat on the rack, theres a bump on the rack just under the saddle that gets in the way and I cant be arsed ordering the extra long posts stem for the seat.

Also dont use chunky tyres on that commute, put a couple of semi slick road tyres on it and when you get some momentum going you wont feel a thing . Those hybrids are great for training.
happy commuting

enoonan

All,
Thanks so much for all the info. There is much food for thought.

Thanks again.

Eoin