Commuting - rain and my transit epic rack trunk

I've got a Performance Transit Epic rack trunk and this AM it rained like mad during my commute. I have a low-tech waterproofing system that I like: I simply drop a plastic bag over top of the rack trunk and secure it with twine along the length of the rack trunk about halfway down. Works great.

My question: I need a better plastic bag than I've got. The one I've got came from a new computer box -- may have been used to wrap the CPU. It's got some factory perforations in it that I don't like for obvious reasons.

Can anyone who uses the performance transit epic rack trunk recommend a somewhat thick, clear plastic bag for using as I've described? Maybe a food storage bag of some sort, but I wonder if such a bag would come in a large enough size.

thx

I use the transit epic panniers and a topeak delux rack trunk because I like the rail mounting system. I use double walmart plastic bags on the inside as liners, I put the plastic in the panniers and trunk then give the top a twist and stick it down side the load and close the pannier and trunk bag. I never have wet things and I commute year round in all weather. When I get to my destination I remove the plastic bags (loaded with things and my panniers and trunk bag dry in about 1/2 hour. This has been the best way that I've found to keep my things dry and bags from smelling like old socks. I have learned one thing from experiance and that is, nothing in the world is truely water proof in the rain on a bike. Plastic bags, one inside the other is the only way to go, and when you put the bag inside your trunk it won't get cut or ripped.

mrfix has the right idea.

place items in waterproof bags inside the pack/trunk; then place a plastic bag over the trunk

I know that my packsack will get wet in the field. I segregate like items in sturdy plastic bags inside the packsack.

At the grocery I found very sturdy plastic trash compactor bags 2'x2'x 2.5 mil

PS

I carry a Refrig-A-Wear two piece insulated parka suit in my pickup. I "vacuum packed" it in this manner:
-pants in one bag, and coat in another
-coffee table upside down on the bag
-I stood on the coffee table to force air out of the bag
-my wife twisted closed the bag
-I secured the bag with tape

the two bags fit under the seat of my pickup.

It works for me

Originally posted by vlad
It works for me
That's all that matters.

Originally posted by vlad
...
I carry a Refrig-A-Wear two piece insulated parka suit in my pickup. I "vacuum packed" it in this manner:
-pants in one bag, and coat in another
-coffee table upside down on the bag
-I stood on the coffee table to force air out of the bag
-my wife twisted closed the bag
-I secured the bag with tape

the two bags fit under the seat of my pickup.

...[/B]

This conjures up a mental image of Lucille Ball packing her suitcase. If you are old enough to remember "I Love Lucy" (a very old TV sitcom) then you know what I mean.

<still chuckling>
Dan

Why not get a tarp and cut the right size piece out of it? It will hold up much better over time.

Plastic bags are at their most effective for waterproofing when used inside the panniers to line them. Personally, I'd be avoiding anything with perforations in it, because of the seepage possibilities.

Leaks in panniers on rainy days when transporting my bike with a rack was one of the reasons I switched to a messenger bag. The messenger bag has the advantage of being nice and dry at the start of the ride, not having to contend with the gale force winds and rain on the rack. Yes there are removable panniers but my experience with them is that removing them is a bit of a pain.

Originally posted by Andy Dreisch
Leaks in panniers on rainy days when transporting my bike with a rack was one of the reasons I switched to a messenger bag. ....Yes there are removable panniers but my experience with them is that removing them is a bit of a pain.

Did you try modern panniers with clip-on systems rather then the hook on a piece of elastic ? I take about 3 secs to fix and remove the bags
My waxed cotton bags by Carradice are OK after heavy rain, but I still use bags if its realy wet. Ortleib panniers are really waterproof , welded polyester is used as in canoe-bags. Its the woven and stitched nylon/cordura ones that leak like seives.

Originally posted by MichaelW
Did you try modern panniers with clip-on systems rather then the hook on a piece of elastic ? I take about 3 secs to fix and remove the bags...
Actually, no, and thanks for the tip. I haven't shopped for panniers in a while. I've been partial to my messenger bag.

Has anybody tried that shoe spray that they sell everytime you buy shoes? I bet that would work on bags....

If you want to keep your rack trunk dry, you can also check out hard rack trunks, like these:
http://21wheels.com/cargo_cache.html
http://www.velotique.com/bag-hb.htm
(both sites taken from lockable rack trunk (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=115103) thread)

If you are old enough to remember "I Love Lucy" (a very old TV sitcom) then you know what I mean.
Luceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Ju got some 'splainin' to do!