Pannier Rack??

[marooncat]

I currently have this rack fitted on my bike (well one very similar anyhow)

Rack

The problem is cause I am a short ars* and have my saddle low, I can not fit a wedge bag underneath the saddle cause of the metal upright bar at the front of the rack. If that was not there I would have enough clearance to get the wedge bag in (at the moment I use a bungie cord to keep it in place - works but a pain)

I have two options, take a hacksaw to the upright bar or buy a new pannier rack (growing in height is not an option unfortunately ). However I am not wanting to spend a fortune on a new rack.

So basically, anyone any suggestions of a cheap but decent rack I can get (for 26" wheels) or has anyone modified an existing rack and how easy is it to cut the bars?

 

[Haitch]

Is a handlebar bag a solution?

 

[marooncat]

To be honest it is not something I have thought about trying (have pictures of old ladies with wicker shopping baskets on the front of their bikes) and to be honest I would be worried about getting it tied up with the brake/gear cables..

 

[Haitch]

What about a tool bidon or one of those triangular bags that fit into the frame?

 

[John the Monkey]

Or a small rack bag? Would fit atop the rack, and give you room for tools & waterproof &c

 

[soulful dog]

You could get another rack, the Avenir Classic rack, doesn't have the raised bar so your wedge bag might fit with it. I've not got this rack so can't recommend whether it's any good or not, and it does look a bit more flimsy than your current rack. So maybe the better option is to use a different bag?

Would something like the Abus Frame Fit Bag (£13.99) be big enough, or as John the Monkey suggests, a rack bag. It's the dearer option but would give you more space to carry stuff if required. Mind you, check it won't be squashed a bit by your saddle.

 

[Fiona N]

I use an Abus mtb frame fit bag (from Evans cycles) on my road bike - it's a different shape than the one in the link above, rather longer and slimmer and fits at the front of the main triangle of the frame. It will nicely hold P* repair kit, small pump, tubes and a small retractable (emergency) lock, although mostly this stuff lives in the (very small) under saddle bag and I use the frame bag for a waterproof jacket mainly

 

[Amanda P]

Assuming you can borrow one, the hacksaw option seems like the cheapest one.

It'll save some weight as well.

 

[marooncat]

thanks for all the suggestions, i think I am going to go for the cheapest... hacksaw and see how well that works (or how easy it is to cut)

 

[Amanda P]

If your rack is alloy (and it looks like a Blackburn copy, so probably is), cutting it will be easy. You might want to smooth off the cut ends with a fine-ish file so that they don't wear holes in the bottom of your saddle pack.