Front panniers

[Gwylan]

I want to add front panniers to a bike.
No fixing holes though

I could use cable ties or similar, or even jubilee clips.

Or I can drill and tap holes in the forks.
How wise is this?

Should I lay down in a darkened room until I feel better?
Then go and by a touring bike suitably equipped?

 

[Paulus]

Please don't start drilling holes in the front fork.😳
P clips are the way forward, they come in a range of sizes to attach the pannier rack to the fork. Available from any LBS.
Do you have a ready drilled hole on the brake bridge, some racks have a third mounting point there.

 

[Gwylan]

Please don't start drilling holes in the front fork.😳
P clips are the way forward, they come in a range of sizes to attach the pannier rack to the fork. Available from any LBS.
Do you have a ready drilled hole on the brake bridge, some racks have a third mounting point there.

Thank you for that.
Off to look for p clips
Not sure, closer examination to follow.
Just want to attach to the forks for one trip.

 

[Gwylan]

Thank you for that.
Off to look for p clips
Not sure, closer examination to follow.
Just want to attach to the forks for one trip.

I now know what P clips are.
Now to find the right size.

Have a stock of stainless nuts & bolts from my boating days.

 

[Paulus]

I now know what P clips are.
Now to find the right size.

Have a stock of stainless nuts & bolts from my boating days.

What kind of front rack are you going to attach?

 

[Profpointy]

At the risk of putting a downer on the idea, I rather doubt it'll work that well. It'll also involved a fair bit of investment just to try it out unless you already have the bits. Quality panniers aren't cheap, and neither is a decent front rack.

Back in the day I had a non-touring bike, admittedly it was nothing special, just a mid grade 10 speed "racer" as we called them, but with a pannier rack and heavy panniers the rear triangle would flex quite badly. Whilst it was usable it wasn't at all nice to ride. My later Thorn proper tourer was rock solid when loaded. Whilst I've admittedly not tried front panniers I'd expect a rather worse result trying them on a fork not designed to take them.

Isn't there any way you can avoid using front panniers such as a combination of handlebar bag, saddle bag, strapping stuff to the top of the pannier rack, overloading the rear panniers slightly, or maybe some kind of luggage on the crossbar - or even by doing without some stuff. I have carried all my caving gear, sleeping bag, food etc just on rear panniers on the aforementioned 10 speed and I'd really not want to cycle any distance with more weight than that. My two lamps were 6lb each back then! Thankfully modern LED lights are a tiny fraction of that these days

 

[MontyVeda]

I want to add front panniers to a bike.
No fixing holes though

I could use cable ties or similar, or even jubilee clips.

Or I can drill and tap holes in the forks.
How wise is this?

Should I lay down in a darkened room until I feel better?
Then go and by a touring bike suitably equipped?

Have a look at Old Man Mountain front racks. Mine attaches to the brake bosses and axle. Not cheap but a great front rack for my MTB.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

I want to add front panniers to a bike.
No fixing holes though

I could use cable ties or similar, or even jubilee clips.

Or I can drill and tap holes in the forks.
How wise is this?

Should I lay down in a darkened room until I feel better?
Then go and by a touring bike suitably equipped?

There are plenty of after market forks available with all sorts of fixtures and fittings. Just buy one and do a proper job pof it. Keep the steerer long so that when you get tired of riding around with pots, pans and jerry cans tied on the front, you take it off, put back your old fork and sell the other one on. Stop phaffing around with hair clips and zip ties.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

There are plenty of after market forks available with all sorts of fixtures and fittings. Just buy one and do a proper job pof it. Keep the steerer long so that when you get tired of riding around with pots, pans and jerry cans tied on the front, you take it off, put back your old fork and sell the other one on. Stop phaffing around with hair clips and zip ties.

He only wants to use front panniers once, so that’s a bit expensive.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Provided the OP's 'why' is robust, a rack which can use the axle to support it is best (rather than p-clips or worse).
A QR axle is required and a drilled fork crown.
https://www.paradisecycles.co.uk/pelago-aluminium-commuter-front-rack.html

 

[Gwylan]

At the risk of putting a downer on the idea, I rather doubt it'll work that well. It'll also involved a fair bit of investment just to try it out unless you already have the bits. Quality panniers aren't cheap, and neither is a decent front rack.

Back in the day I had a non-touring bike, admittedly it was nothing special, just a mid grade 10 speed "racer" as we called them, but with a pannier rack and heavy panniers the rear triangle would flex quite badly. Whilst it was usable it wasn't at all nice to ride. My later Thorn proper tourer was rock solid when loaded. Whilst I've admittedly not tried front panniers I'd expect a rather worse result trying them on a fork not designed to take them.

Isn't there any way you can avoid using front panniers such as a combination of handlebar bag, saddle bag, strapping stuff to the top of the pannier rack, overloading the rear panniers slightly, or maybe some kind of luggage on the crossbar - or even by doing without some stuff. I have carried all my caving gear, sleeping bag, food etc just on rear panniers on the aforementioned 10 speed and I'd really not want to cycle any distance with more weight than that. My two lamps were 6lb each back then! Thankfully modern LED lights are a tiny fraction of that these days

Thanks for that.

This is, I hope, a one hit, 14 days or so trip. Don't want to buy a bike specially. I'd rather deal with the one I know.
Its a voyage, sort of pilgrimage, to celebrate a special mate.
I was hoping to get away with £50 worth of front panniers and waterproof bags. That would supplement kit that I've got.
Intend to travel light . But the bike is very tail heavy so wanted to even things up.

Now the progress in caving gear, especially lighting, is a whole other thing.
Lugging carbide around. Having to find water.
Or those miners lamps that weighed a ton and had indifferent life.
My thing was photography - so a whole other load of kit to transport.
Those were the days.

 

[Gwylan]

There are plenty of after market forks available with all sorts of fixtures and fittings. Just buy one and do a proper job pof it. Keep the steerer long so that when you get tired of riding around with pots, pans and jerry cans tied on the front, you take it off, put back your old fork and sell the other one on. Stop phaffing around with hair clips and zip ties.

That's good advice. But a step further than I had in mind.

 

[Gwylan]

What kind of front rack are you going to attach?

Honestly, the cheapest, simplest arrangement I can find.
Simple rack that attaches to a fork.
But I'm also aware of the buy cheap regret twice maxim.

 

[Gwylan]

I'm starting to look at the economics.
A couple of front panniers, bags and fixings are going to get near to £100. Whoosh, down the tubes. Not suited to my bike.
All a bit of a bodge.

So, what if I go "raid" and trim to the minimum. At least I won't have to carry my poo home.

Concentrate on tools, waterproofs and stuff.
Don't need a stove and all that palaver, there are still enough cafes and pubs across the UK
Clothing on the one to wear, one spare approach.

Take washing liquid, rinse those things necessary. Mid point find a supermarket and buy, fresh and new. Bin the used, or post them home.

I can't spend £100 on clean pants, that's not in my DNA.
But I could buy a new bivvy bag, take my wonder sleeping bag for the worst possible scenario in wet and wicked Wales.

 

[Ajax Bay]

I can't spend £100 on clean pants

You're wearing pants?