Matthew_T
"Young and Ex-whippet"
- Location
- Prestatyn, North Wales
Panniers on road bike??
- Thread starter mikmurray
- Start date
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Ride
Active Member
- Location
- The Devil's Isles
I'd say be certain it is an aluminium or alloy rack and check its weight capacity. Topeak makes some nice ones. I've been using their Explorer Tubular Rack for about a year on all weather and haven't had any issues with it.
Ride
Ride
gaz
Cycle Camera TV
- Location
- South Croydon
Depends on the size of the laptop, look up the dimensions of the trunk bags and you can work out if yours will fit.
Matthew_T
"Young and Ex-whippet"
- Location
- Prestatyn, North Wales
MisterStan
Label Required
- Location
- Out there somewhere
I've got a rack and panniers on my road bike for commuting to college. Dinner, change of clothes, drink and a few other bits and bobs. Doesn't really affect handling as there isn't a lot of weight in it (apart from picking it up but that's to be expected) but my average speed does drop off by 2mph or so but over my 3.5 mile commute it makes no difference.
Make sure you get a decent rack though. A cheap one will fall to bits - I've got one of these: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tortec/tour-rack-ec005641
And these panniers: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/altura/arran-16-pannier-ec008437
16L each - perfect for commuting. Any more and you'll just pack stuff for the sake of it which is only going to slow you down.
Beware though - it might not fit (mine didn't) straight off the bat. You might need one of these if you need a higher mounting point for the arms: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=19012
I use these, often just the one.... As mentioned, don't fill them if you don't need to.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Topeak do a laptop type bag for the MTX system. Quite a few of us use these MTX system bags - pretty good, but not waterproof, so will need to factor in a rain cover.
MisterStan
Label Required
- Location
- Out there somewhere
Bloody iPad....I don't understand.... you didn't write anything!
Certainly no issue with only having one pannier. In fact for commuting it makes much more sense to only have one bag to worry about than two if you can get everything in.
I've commuted for a good couple of years now with one Ortlieb that contains my full suit, shirt underwear and shoes, toiletries, and a towel. If I need to take anything additional - i.e a Wiggle return for lunchtime posting, or my laptop, then that goes in the other side, but for general everyday commuting just one is perfect. You get over the weight imbalance in the first half mile of riding, and then won't notice it again.
Ortliebs back rollers are great by the way. Totally waterproof, hard-wearing, and very spacious.
I use a Tubus rack. Also very good quality and lightweight.
I've commuted for a good couple of years now with one Ortlieb that contains my full suit, shirt underwear and shoes, toiletries, and a towel. If I need to take anything additional - i.e a Wiggle return for lunchtime posting, or my laptop, then that goes in the other side, but for general everyday commuting just one is perfect. You get over the weight imbalance in the first half mile of riding, and then won't notice it again.
Ortliebs back rollers are great by the way. Totally waterproof, hard-wearing, and very spacious.
I use a Tubus rack. Also very good quality and lightweight.
MisterStan
Label Required
- Location
- Out there somewhere
- Location
- London
Friendly place on here isn't it 
There's places OP where you'd have been flayed alive for even asking the question or a super-boring ping-pong mock war would have ensued.
You might be interested in the Tubus Fly. (link below - other retailers available - got mine from Brixton Cycles.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tubus-fly-r...s++fly+broad&gclid=CMqHraXt1LECFTMhtAodFzEAhQ
Tortec do something similar and cheaper.
Nice minimalist lines - designed to just carrier panniers - no room for a rackpack thingy but you often don't need one - and panniers can be faster to put on and off - as anyone who has ever suffered my post pub faffing with my old velcro-mounted pack will attest.
Yes, best to generally get things off your back.
There's places OP where you'd have been flayed alive for even asking the question or a super-boring ping-pong mock war would have ensued.
You might be interested in the Tubus Fly. (link below - other retailers available - got mine from Brixton Cycles.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tubus-fly-r...s++fly+broad&gclid=CMqHraXt1LECFTMhtAodFzEAhQ
Tortec do something similar and cheaper.
Nice minimalist lines - designed to just carrier panniers - no room for a rackpack thingy but you often don't need one - and panniers can be faster to put on and off - as anyone who has ever suffered my post pub faffing with my old velcro-mounted pack will attest.
Yes, best to generally get things off your back.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Have a look at the Blackburn carriers. Quite a wide range, reasonably made, reasonably priced, lifetime guarantee. A reasonable middle ground choice.
Gravity Aided
Legendary Member
- Location
- Land of Lincoln
Love the Blackburn carriers , one on my commuter is so old it says Jim Blackburn on it . Still works great . Not much to go wrong , though .
