Commuting - Attaching panniers

I am sorry if this question has been answered previously, but I did a search and found nothing.

Yesterday I bought myself panniers for commuting, but unfortunately they came w/o instructions. On the label it said that they have 'standard mounting' which I interpret as "This is so simple, even a monkey should figure it out."

However, I can't.

I did a search on the internet, I went on the manifacturer's website, but found nothing.

And so, how do I attach these? The panniers have a metal hook on a stretchy band at the top and then 3 plastic rings below it. My rack appears to be your pretty standard as well, so how do I go about this?

Thanks in advance.

Peter

What brand are your panniers? Could you give us a link to a page with a picture? (or create a crude diagram using your computer's Paint program? (And remember it's Saturday, and many forum users, ahem, only access the forums from work.

My Jandd panniers work this way: There are two metal hooks near the top that are firmly fastened to the panniers. They are horizontal from each other. Dipping down from the metal hooks (one attached to each hook) is a bungee-strenghth band. Atached to the bottom of that band is a third hook. That third hook hooks onto my rack just above where the rack is fastened to the chain stay. Then I stretch the cord, and put the other two hooks over the side of the top of the rack.

Here are some pictures of the rack, inside of the panniers and the panniers on the bike (unattached).

One of the 'hoops' should hook to the bottom of the rear-most rack stay, where it curls back. Then you would "stretch" the top up, and attach the top to the tube that runs horizontally... Usually done by 2 or more hooks mounted to a rigid bar of some sort, but I don't see an implementation like that in your photos. The "Flap" that I see going over the top of your rack, does that have any attachment mechanisms? What brand is your pannier... maybe they have a website? Maybe this is defective, and you're missing something?

From a mathematical point of view, in order to anchor a plane in space, you need 3 non-linear points. the three apparent attachment mechanisms are linear... maybe it's just a thoughtless design?

Not all panniers will fit on all racks. Yours is a totally different system than mine, though. The spacing and width of the top hooks on mine conflict with the support spacing of my rack, so that I can just barely force them on. Major pain in the rear.

The metal hook is supposed to have a long enough stretch cord to go down through the two plastic rings to the bottom of the rack and hook to the rack at the bottom. The two plastic rings just keep the pannier in close to the bike and stable, when the stretch cord goes through them and down to the bottom of the rack to hook on the piece of the rack that is a hook too. If the length of the stretch cord is adjustable you have to use trial and error by putting the bags on and see if they are tight enough to stay on.

Thank you very much for all your help, guys and girls.

I think I figured it out, more or less. I will also try the things you all suggested.

Sounds like every pannier has a different system, tho. :)

Well, don't keep us in suspense! What did you do? :D

I suggest you take it back to the shop and get a proper modern pannier fitting.
Hook and elastic fittings are pretty old fashioned. The modern locking systems are much quicker, more secure and altogether better.

I suggest you take it back to the shop and get a proper modern pannier fitting.
Hook and elastic fittings are pretty old fashioned. The modern locking systems are much quicker, more secure and altogether better.

And they cost a lot more than those particular panniers too. Lot's of new panniers come with hook and elastic cords. I don't really like it either.

Those things are a pain to get on and off, but once on they stay put.