bike racks n panniers n shit

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advice please. am going cycling for 2 weeks in spain in august (i realise that this might be a tad warm). i need to buy a bike rack for a hybrid bike and a couple of panniers - enough to carry 2 weeks stuff, but i'll be travelling very, very light. any brand recommendations and estimated costs? even better, any recommended central london bike shops? i think i also want one of those water backpack tings...

― jaycycling, Monday, 11 July 2005 13:39 (twenty years ago)

4 point mounting on the rack, anything else is a watse of time.

Get front paniers on low riders as well for better balence

Ortlieb make the most waterproof paniers

Do not get a sigle piece U-shaped one piece panier. It is not worth the grief.

Bikefix on Lambs Conduit st will sort you out well and have more time for you than a bigger bike shop.

― Ed (dali), Monday, 11 July 2005 13:44 (twenty years ago)

jay i have a clip on panier rack i can lend u.
p.s. tings sorted for next weekend

― lukey (Lukey G), Monday, 11 July 2005 13:46 (twenty years ago)

haha, thanks lukey

― jaycycling, Monday, 11 July 2005 13:48 (twenty years ago)

I don't much care for camel packs generally. Weight should be carried as low as possible. Plus, any kind of backpack in hot weather = sweaty back = very uncomfortable. Seek ye Laken or Sigg water bottles, 0.75l size.

Pannier carriers, the best I've seen = tubus or SL

Bags, the best = Ortlieb, nothing else beats them. For lightness, space and toughness, the backroller plus is the best. The backroller classic is cheaper, but is made of a heavier material and the fixings aren't as good. There are a lot of cheaper lookalikes, but I've yet to see anything that's as good quality.

You should be able to find stockists of these brands in London quite easily, none of this is particularly esoteric stuff. If you can't find any... (cough, cough)

SL rear rack ~ 30-50 quid
Ortleib backroller plus

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Monday, 11 July 2005 13:48 (twenty years ago)

...Ortleib backroller plus, less that 100 quid per pair, depending on where you get them (nb that these will basically last forever)

Laken/Sigg .75l bottles, less than a tenner each.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Monday, 11 July 2005 13:50 (twenty years ago)

i suggest you go for the cheepest pair of panniers you can find. Its not very likely to rain down ther now is it.

― lukey (Lukey G), Monday, 11 July 2005 13:54 (twenty years ago)

The "cheapest panniers you can find" might not actually last you the 2 weeks, though.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Monday, 11 July 2005 13:57 (twenty years ago)

as i'm fairly likely to do this again and would like panniers for my city commute anyway, i don't mind shelling out a bit. 100 squid sounds a little steep tho... is somewhere like evans liable to kit me out with worse stuff than a specialist shop somewhere?

― jaycycling, Monday, 11 July 2005 14:09 (twenty years ago)

A decent pair of panniers that costs less is the Carradice Overlander. They aren't as big as the Ortlieb, or as waterproof, but they are very good! They're about 50-55 quid per pair.

The rrp on the Ortleibs is 100 quid, I usually do them for 80 per pair, and I think a lot of other places do them for about that.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Monday, 11 July 2005 14:13 (twenty years ago)

i think i saw the ortlieb paniers in brixton cycles for £70-75 the pair but they may not be the same ones, and that was about 8 months ago. i got a pair for my birthday last year and they rule. apparently if you and they fall in the water they are SO watertight that if you've rolled them up properly you will be able to hang on to them and thusly not drown! i have yet to test this claim.

― emsk, Monday, 11 July 2005 14:28 (twenty years ago)

You can actually carry water in them.

Cheaper Orltieb - "classic" = shiny, plasticy/vinyly appearance, dearer Ortleib -"plus" = matt, fine woven cloth appearance.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Monday, 11 July 2005 14:30 (twenty years ago)

bah i cannot carry water in one of mine cos i busted a hole in it, i don't know how. i am unlikely to want to carry water in them though, so that's ok. i have the classic ones, in that case.

― emsk, Monday, 11 July 2005 14:33 (twenty years ago)

(but i don't mean that as a diss to the paniers, it is a tiny hole and only noticeable when something i am carrying in the panier has spilled)

― emsk, Monday, 11 July 2005 14:34 (twenty years ago)

If you get on to yr nearest Ortleib dealer, you can actually get patches for them!!

(OK, I'm going to stop shilling for Ortleib now)

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Monday, 11 July 2005 14:35 (twenty years ago)

Ha, this reminds me of the earlier Sidi shoe discussion. Like Sidis, Ortliebs are rather dear, but really, really good in so many respects. Commenting further when Pash, who knows the field better than I, has already spoken at length, is probably unnecessary, but I will do a testimonial anyway.

I have been commuting (carrying about 35 lbs of casebooks, laptop, clothes and food) for several months using Ortlieb Frontroller Classics (which are smaller then the Backrollers) as rear panniers. Why Frontrollers? Because my commuter bike is an old-school cyclocross racing frame with relatively short chainstays, and I suspected the larger size Ortliebs would have bad heelstrike problems. If you are truly travelling light, the smaller size might be sufficient. The Backrollers are almost comically huge to me, but then I don't Tour like that. The Ortliebs are: bomber, very adjustable in terms of fore-aft placement, ultra-waterproof, and have an very nice, quick and secure attachment mechanism--they can't fly off due to a pothole, etc. US retail ranges $95 (web) to $120 (REI). Downside--the Classics are each one big bag--no little compartments or sidepockets for organization.

― Hunter (Hunter), Monday, 11 July 2005 19:50 (twenty years ago)

Depends if you are camping or not. If you have to carry a tent, sleeping bag, bed roll and a stove then you almost filled up two rear panniers and the top of the rack. Not camping, then all you need is a change of shorts, a pair of trousers for the evenings, a waterproof and a couple of t-shirts.

― Ed (dali), Monday, 11 July 2005 19:56 (twenty years ago)

i had carradice panniers for all of my touring and they are great, just not waterproof, however builders rubble sacks soon fix that.

― Ed (dali), Monday, 11 July 2005 19:58 (twenty years ago)

When I was researching panniers, some dude who's big into touring wrote a scathing review of Ortliebs because they are too waterproof and his sweaty and wet shit mildewed and fermented in the heat. He had other complaints too, I don't remember what they were.

― Hunter (Hunter), Monday, 11 July 2005 20:06 (twenty years ago)

sweaty wet shirt goes underneath your cargo net on the rear rack so it can dry.

― Ed (dali), Monday, 11 July 2005 20:07 (twenty years ago)

Ed are you liking your new bike?

― Hunter (Hunter), Monday, 11 July 2005 20:22 (twenty years ago)

I've got a camelbak. if you dont mind having a sweaty back its great and its stable enough to not be uncomfortable, got from london to brighton without needing to fill up water again and it was pretty hot that day.

― stevieshaw, Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:46 (twenty years ago)

I'm doing the coast to coast (whitehaven to newcastle) at the end of august and think panniers have to be the way forward. but ive got a mountain bike with chunky tires, anyone know racks that will fit? haven't tried to find any yet but i guess i need tall ones and with solid top to act as mudguard. also how big panniers? been looking at them and 40 litres seems about right? emsk ive seen your ones what capacity are they?

― stevieshaw, Tuesday, 12 July 2005 10:52 (twenty years ago)

Chunky tyres aren't the problem, disc brakes often are.

New bike is phenomonal. Really enjoying it.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:01 (twenty years ago)

ok i got disc brakes too should probably have told you that. how do i avoid/get around that problem?

― stevieshaw, Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:05 (twenty years ago)

you have got a hard tail, right?

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:09 (twenty years ago)

If you have a hard tail you might have to use a long bolt w/a pillar washer to move the pannier rack out of the way of the disc, then again maybe not, take yer bike to yr local specialist and try a rack up against it.

If you have rear suspension, you'll probably have to get a seat pillar rack, and carry smaller bags.

carradice have a few useful bits for people w/suspension bikes, check out the limpet front panniers and the sqr bags.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 11:12 (twenty years ago)

yes hardtail. thanks for advice

― stevie shaw (stevieshaw), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 12:55 (twenty years ago)

found 40l classic ortlieb panniers for £70 here. is it a bargain?
http://www.sjscycles.com/store/vIndex.htm
"plus" ones are £100

― stevie shaw (stevieshaw), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:10 (twenty years ago)

OK, I don't want to shill and stuff, but I have a pair of back roller pluses in red/black, and a pair in blue/black, and I'll do either pair for 85 incl postage, 80 if you collect them. If yer starting at the newcastle side of the c2c, i'm quite near that. (south shields)

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:14 (twenty years ago)

we're starting at whitehaven although now i come to think of it it would be nice to finish there because there is some delicious ice cream on sale at the beach.

dont know if i want to spend that much, come to think of it dont know if i want to spend 70. i think what i should do is go to a proper bike shop instead of the internet and have a good look at what's available.

― stevie shaw (stevieshaw), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:32 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, that is always the best thing. If you wave cash, it'll usually get a bit cheaper, plus you get to inspect the stuff before you buy it, actually look at alternatives etc etc drone drone.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:35 (twenty years ago)

exactly - shake it and see if it breaks. thanks for the offer though, i'll probably wish i'd taken it if i get hooked and want proper long bike touring holidays

― stevie shaw (stevieshaw), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 13:44 (twenty years ago)

stevie, no idea what capacity mine are, it doesn't say on them and i have never been good at guess-how-many-sweets-are-in-the-jar competitions. if they're unrolled and stood up they top is higher than my knees.

― emsk, Tuesday, 12 July 2005 16:23 (twenty years ago)

ed whats yr new bike? picture?

i miss cycling in london....leeds sucks for it.

― ambrose (ambrose), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 19:14 (twenty years ago)

Didn't i send you one. It's a second hand Eddy Merckx that was the steal of the century on eBay. I can't believe how lucky i am to have it. A serious lightweight racer with really, really good components (campag chorus); well looked after too. I'd like some new wheels for it but they are not necessary so long as i keep greasing the hubs.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 19:27 (twenty years ago)

flickr links

http://www.flickr.com/photos/94341479@N00/25530417/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94341479@N00/25530416/

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 19:42 (twenty years ago)

p.s. tings sorted for next weekend

Anyone else wonder about this?

Is cycling in London good? I've never tried it. I don't really ride bikes, but I might try.

― I'd still rather be in Tokyo (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 19:51 (twenty years ago)

I love cycling in London. You have to be fucking aware. Aware of arsehole taxidrivers, crap drivers and crap other cyclists endangering you. What's pissing me off right now is other cyclists jumping red lights at crossroads and me coming in from a side street with a green light and having to skid to a standstill because some cyclist hasn't bothered to look before jumping the red light. i was this close to ending up in a tangled mess with one un-helmeted pillock this morning.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 20:14 (twenty years ago)

i used to actually look forward to travelling to work! somethign about the mania and the obviosu efficiency of movement. also the £0 price tag and the speed! was the fastest mode of trasnport for me from hornsey to clerkenwell (25 mins). i also love driving in london tho, so its the same thing i guess.

just check the london cycle network maps out and pick a good route. eg avoiding the whole of upper street and holloway rd byt going down liverpool rd. avoid right turns unless they are signalised etc etc

BUT!

stop at red lights
act like you are a real vehicle
cycle properly, obey the rules of the road.
nb 99% of cyclists in london seem not to give a shit.
stop at red lights, again. for fucks sake

― ambrose (ambrose), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 20:36 (twenty years ago)

sorry, back to paniers. i am thinking of getting some of these, but it seems pricey. maybe i will get my dads old canvas 40s jobs.

i like yr new bike ed, yellow is awesome! not sure if i liek the "eddy merckx" typeface tho

― ambrose (ambrose), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 20:40 (twenty years ago)

stop at red lights
act like you are a real vehicle
cycle properly, obey the rules of the road.
nb 99% of cyclists in london seem not to give a shit.
stop at red lights, again. for fucks sake

The obeying like a real vehicle is a big one. I got hit by a car when I was in 8th grade. Why? Because I ran a stop sign on my bike. My fault = no insurance.

― giboyeux (skowly), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 20:45 (twenty years ago)

the more cyclists (in the uk) act like road vehicles, the more they will be treated as one (ie with grudging respect) i firnmly believe this. of course thats becasue in the uk, we force cyclists to act as part of standard road traffic. in holland, it seemed that cyclists and moped riders formed a sort of 3rd force, with pedestrians, cars/lorries/buses and 2 wheeled transport operating on equal levels, but seperate.

― ambrose (ambrose), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 20:55 (twenty years ago)

The 3rd force would be a great name for...something. From what little I've seen in Chicago, bikers are not completely welcome on the road just as yet (even though they are considered vehicles under law). I got honked at all the time: 25% friendly drivers letting me know they're coming up on me, 75% assholes).

― giboyeux (skowly), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 21:01 (twenty years ago)

I think this comes into the "n shit" section of the thread title. What do people think about cyclocomputers? I really want to be able to see my speed and how many miles I've travelled while I'm riding - can anyone recommend a cheapish one to me? (Norm, I'd be delighted to buy one off you if you do them)

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 14 July 2005 08:41 (twenty years ago)

The one collette brought me back from the states is brilliant. Big clear 4 line display so you can see everythinga t once without havng to cycle through lots of screens. Planet bike protege 8.0.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 14 July 2005 08:45 (twenty years ago)

I usually do the Sigma range, which work well & are reliable (which is the most important thing from my POV) the basic speed/trip distance/cumulative distance/time thing is about 12 quid, but I'm out of stock at the moment!! I'll get a couple on order, & let you know when they're in, Barry.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Thursday, 14 July 2005 08:57 (twenty years ago)

That's very kind of you, Norman. Yes, reliability is totally the key. Much appreciated.

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 14 July 2005 09:52 (twenty years ago)

Should we do I bike forum? I've got a few threads that probably would be better not cluttering ILE with. How about 'I Love To Ride My Bicycle'

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 14 July 2005 16:14 (twenty years ago)

Yes.

― carbon (carbon), Thursday, 14 July 2005 16:47 (twenty years ago)

cycling in london? cycling in london is wonderful. yeah you have to be fucking aware, of all the hazards above (a bus knocked me sideways then ran over my toes once! it was fine tho) and BENDY BUSES WHICH ARE THE DEVIL ARGH, but seriously - you know that scene in trainspotting where ewan mcgregor's just moved to london and they do that montage thing of all the london tourist tat - guards in furry hats (i am trying to remember what they're really called but all i come up with is "bumblefuck", it's good but it's not right), the queen, red buses, st paul's, japanese tourists, whatever - i feel like that all the time riding around london. esp going over bridges. also cycling around london *in the middle of the night* - this is absolutely beyond compare, this is one of my favourite things to do ever, especially if it's just been raining and everything's a bit slick, the streetlights are making everything yellow, there's almost no other traffic around, you can hurtle around london's arteries (yes while stopping for lights, obv, this is much easier at this time cos you have clearer sight lines and less surprises and obstacles) and feel like you're the last person in the city. i had a wicked ride from soho to dalston the other night, took about 15 minutes, barely touched the ground...

― emsk, Friday, 15 July 2005 09:08 (twenty years ago)

Slick roads at night time = not a chance of ever seeing the white lines. The fact that drivers have this problem would terrify me as a cyclist.

― Markelby (Mark C), Friday, 15 July 2005 09:35 (twenty years ago)

really?? i can see them fine!

― emsk, Friday, 15 July 2005 09:53 (twenty years ago)

six years pass...

my carradice bike bureau has a major seam tearing out. otoh, i have used the FUCK out of that bag, it is pretty amazing.

― tebow package scenario (Hunt3r), Saturday, 17 September 2011 14:34 (fourteen years ago)

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