Living Car Free - Need help... pannier heel strike

I hung my new Novara 'Round Town panniers on my 'round town bike for grocery shopping, and I get really bad heel strike. :mad:

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Bike is a Specialized Sirrus base model. Rack is an entry level Nashbar rack. Nope, I'm not going to get a new touring bike with long chainstays, nor an Xtracycle! Can't justify either, economically. Less expensive to get a trailer, really. But I'd prefer to use these nice panniers.

So what are my options? Is there a rack that will keep the panniers further back and/or higher? Who makes it, if it exists?

can you share your bike pics

Jandd Expedition rack - it will allow you to place the bags further back. Problem solved.

I hung my new Novara 'Round Town panniers on my 'round town bike for grocery shopping, and I get really bad heel strike. :mad:

:mad:

:mad:

:mad:

Bike is a Specialized Sirrus base model. Rack is an entry level Nashbar rack. Nope, I'm not going to get a new touring bike with long chainstays, nor an Xtracycle! Can't justify either, economically. Less expensive to get a trailer, really. But I'd prefer to use these nice panniers.

So what are my options? Is there a rack that will keep the panniers further back and/or higher? Who makes it, if it exists?

Had same problem, changed to front lo loaders for 1.5 years. Discovered messenger bag 2 yeas ago, timuk2. Took off all racks and never looked back

thanks, exactly the answer I needed... will investigate with my LBS to see if it will solves the problem.



Jandd Expedition rack - it will allow you to place the bags further back. Problem solved.

Better panniers have a heel cutout shape rather than a square profile to avopid this problem.

thanks, exactly the answer I needed... will investigate with my LBS to see if it will solves the problem.

Not exactly, what I found with my Sirrus was that even if I could cure the heel clearance problem, putting the weight back on the bike effected the handling hugely. Front steering got very twitchy

And the expedition is no light rack. I routinely carry my wife around on mine (on a bridgestone mb-1) with no problems, but if you're not using its massive capacity you may feel silly carrying around such a large rack.

Good point... and at $65, it's not cheap, I'm thinking maybe devote those funds to the purchase of a trailer.




And the expedition is no light rack. I routinely carry my wife around on mine (on a bridgestone mb-1) with no problems, but if you're not using its massive capacity you may feel silly carrying around such a large rack.

That's a shame, sorry to see that your panniers aren't playing nice with your rack. Can you slide the rack back any through the adjustment rails? When I first got my bike the LBS installed my rack a bit to forward, it wasn't level. I leveled it out by using the adjustment rails & had to slide the rack back about several inches. That might give you enough heel clearance if it's possible with your rack. Also the spring clip does not have to be directly middle of the 2 upper hooks, I have my Novaras slightly skewed.

Yeah it's a pity, I will take another hard look to see if I can finesse the rack backwards, but I don't think so. Not more than a smidgeon, I don't think.




That's a shame, sorry to see that your panniers aren't playing nice with your rack. Can you slide the rack back any through the adjustment rails? When I first got my bike the LBS installed my rack a bit to forward, it wasn't level. I leveled it out by using the adjustment rails & had to slide the rack back about several inches. That might give you enough heel clearance if it's possible with your rack. Also the spring clip does not have to be directly middle of the 2 upper hooks, I have my Novaras slightly skewed.

I'm going to try the Blackburn EX-1 Expedition Rack, Nashbar has them for $45. Will let everyone know how it works out.

I'm going to try the Blackburn EX-1 Expedition Rack, Nashbar has them for $45. Will let everyone know how it works out.
Don't do it - the EX1 is the same length as the others so you are wasting your money. Get the Jandd - it is 3" longer (I have both).

Man you guys are good! OK, I cancelled the Blackburn order (whew)

yeah, I didn't mean to steer you away from the Jandd (I love mine, but then again I'm a cargo biker) just to warn you that it's a pretty serious rack.

Another option if you're mechanically inclined is to get a handfull of the stainless steel slotted plates that are used for rack assembly and lots of mixed nuts and bolts and Kludge a little truss system to move the entire rack back (including top and bottom mounting points) a few inches. Makes for a slightly less stable system, but I've done this more than once for clients and it's often the only solution for comfortably mounting rear racks on smaller sized and compact-framed bikes.

I fitted my Carrdice panniers to a light touring bike of similar dimensions to a Sirrus. The Blackburn rack works fine. The Rixen and Kaul pannier hooks bolt to a rail on the pannier. I set the hooks each side of the horizontal rack struts to prevent movement then push the pannier back on its rails until there is sufficient heel clearance.
The problems occur when your pannier has no horizontal movement and no heel cutout.
Moving the panniers back on an extra-long rack may place the weight behind the rear axle leading to handling problems when heavily loaded.

Had same problem, changed to front lo loaders for 1.5 years. Discovered messenger bag 2 yeas ago, timuk2. Took off all racks and never looked back
I just bought a really nice bag at a consigment shop..2 bucks..new..and holds a plastic grocery bag well..plus has many other pockets for things..and is so much easier on the back..then a backpack.
Though..I will need a rack..soon enough, for longer trips.:) :)

A friend of mine had the same problem on her Sirrus. Turned out the problem was she was using a rack intended for 26" wheels on a 700c bike. She got a rack designed for 700c and problem was solved.

The Jandd Expedition Rack solved the problem! No more heel strike! Lots of clearance! Woo-hoo!

Great to see you can use your panniers now. Let us know how well they're working for you? :)