Mounting panniers and mudguards on a racing frame

[greenmark]

From what I could tell, you managed to cycle zero distance between having the bodge and the crud road racers. In the meantime someone in the background upgraded from their green toy car to a full size one.

Back to topic, there are racks out there that fix onto the quick release bolt. The upside is that they are designed to push the rack back a bit, so that you get the extra heel clearance you need to use panniers. The downside is that they are not secure when you have to remove the rear wheel.

 

[HJ]

....

Your image isn't working, could you try again?

 

[ColinJ]

From what I could tell, you managed to cycle zero distance between having the bodge and the crud road racers. In the meantime someone in the background upgraded from their green toy car to a full size one.

Absolutely incorrect!

The neighbours' kids do tend to leave their toys lying around in the car park. (Doesn't bother me, I don't have a car!)!

I rode a whole season with the bodged kit in place, including my two longest rides ever, with small panniers on my bike - from Hebden Bridge to Coventry and back a week later. I tackled Holme Moss, Snake Pass and numerous other big hills on the way out. Approximately  230 km each way and 4,000 m of climbing (143 miles, 13,000 ft). On the way back, Snake Pass was closed for repairs so I detoured via Strines, with its very nasty 25% climb of Ewden Bank!

I hereby declare that such bodges can be effective, but yes, I'd rather have a proper touring bike and do it properly. I kept worrying about what I'd do if one of the P-clips broke, and also if they were damaging my frame.

 

[andym]

From what I could tell, you managed to cycle zero distance between having the bodge and the crud road racers. In the meantime someone in the background upgraded from their green toy car to a full size one.

That's a bit unfair: if you look carefully the wall is different - in the first picture the wall is on two levels. So he must have moved at least a couple of yards. Also there's a bottle of orange squash in the second picture.

 

[greenmark]

I can't seem to edit the post again, but here is is me trying to retry uploading the image. Otherwise the image can be found on this guys blog. Check the entry for 16 March 2010.

http://bikingintaiwa...ul.com/2010/03/

http://bikingintaiwa....com/rack03.jpg

 

[Holdsworth]

Well I have a lot to think about

I have decided to keep my current bike and resist the lure of eBay for time being. In the meantime I have removed both the pannier rack and the old mudguards as they simply aren't working for me. I am considering purchasing a set of Crud RoadRacer MK2, after seeing a set attached to a racing bike at college today. They seem ideal for my needs and not too pricey either, I have carried out a clearance test on my brakes as advised by a blog review of them and my bike passes

As for luggage, I am looking to continue using my current college backpack and upgrading to a more suitable one in due course. I will shop around for one and see which ones are more comfortable for cycling, and also how good the back ventilation is. I really like the idea of those Carradice saddlebags, I bit expensive IMO but look like they might come in handy.

So a proper rucksack/saddlebag with roadracer mudguards, would that be a good setup for me until I can upgrade to a proper commuter bike?