Commuting - I lost my brand new Pannier yesterday

What a day I had yesterday. I was out for a ride and I lost one of my brand new panniers. It somehow fell off the rack. It had the hooks on top and a cord for the bottom of the rack.

I retraced my route 8 times and I couldn't find it. In the pannier was my u-lock, the key for the lock, the key for my house and about 6 bucks in change.

Now I have to buy a new lock and try and find a replacement pannier. Can anyone tell me how to add a wedge to the hooks on my remaining pannier so that I don't lose that one?

I bought the panniers 1 week ago. what a horrible day of riding yesterday.

What a day I had yesterday. I was out for a ride and I lost one of my brand new panniers. It somehow fell off the rack. It had the hooks on top and a cord for the bottom of the rack.

I retraced my route 8 times and I couldn't find it. In the pannier was my u-lock, the key for the lock, the key for my house and about 6 bucks in change.

Now I have to buy a new lock and try and find a replacement pannier. Can anyone tell me how to add a wedge to the hooks on my remaining pannier so that I don't lose that one?

I bought the panniers 1 week ago. what a horrible day of riding yesterday.
Most panniers I've seen have a velcro strip that can be used to connect the pannier to the rack in addition to the hooks. Check to see if yours do. Another low tech option would be to run a short bungee cord through the carrying handle and your rack.

If you invent your own way to attach the pannier, be very careful that it is secure. A partially attached pannier that could get in your wheels would be very dangerous.

Most panniers I've seen have a velcro strip that can be used to connect the pannier to the rack in addition to the hooks. Check to see if yours do. Another low tech option would be to run a short bungee cord through the carrying handle and your rack.

If you invent your own way to attach the pannier, be very careful that it is secure. A partially attached pannier that could get in your wheels would be very dangerous.


banerjek, my pannier ( the one remaining one) doesn't have a velcro strip. I thought about using something to connect the carrying handle and the rack, but I figured the hooks would do the job :(

Mine has the velcro, but it's starting to wear out (can't complain, $25 Nashbar panniers and they're 3+ years old). I've thought that getting a cord with a snap clip on the end, and tying that to the rack, then clipping that onto the carry strap of the panniers would be a good alternative. Of course, that means the thing can fall off and be dangling by the cord, which with my luck will then swing into the spokes.

banerjek, my pannier ( the one remaining one) doesn't have a velcro strip. I thought about using something to connect the carrying handle and the rack, but I figured the hooks would do the job :(
Especially when you have something heavy in a pannier, when you hit a bump, you can throw the pannier off the hooks even when things seem pretty snug. Depending on how the carrying handle is positioned, a D ring like they use for climbing may provide a very convenient and reasonably secure way to attach the pannier.

The axiom pannier that I have has a wedge block that can be rotated to act as an opposing force to the hooks. The hooks are coming around the top and outside of the rack metal tubing. The wedge is on the bottom and inside of the rack tubing. I would have assumed that all axiom panniers have this part. They even sent me extras of these parts in case mine break or fail. You can see the wedge in this image.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/soreyes/IMG000032.jpg

You might try and contact axiom and ask them why your pannier does not feature this additional attachment piece. It's possible the will help you out with the loss of your new pannier in one way or another.

soreyes. when I get a hold of Axiom. what do I ask them? Do I ask them why my panniers do not have a wedge block?

My REI Safari panniers have two metal tabs that snap out to grab the bottom rail of the rack platform. You have to push a button to release them. Them seem very secure once latched onto the rack. However, I have only ridden with them a few times so can't vouch for how well they hold up long term. I think the other REI brand panniers have the same feature.

My Novara ones have a plastic hook that grabs the rack near the middle (between top of rack and wheel hub) plus the 2 hooks at the top.


Safari panniers (http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=48125352&storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&color=DAISY/GRANITE&img=/media/t/1143212.jpg&view=large)

soreyes. when I get a hold of Axiom. what do I ask them? Do I ask them why my panniers do not have a wedge block?
I would explain how happy you were with the panniers, Let them know you have seen the wedge block device on the typhoon pannier (that my picture). Ask them why that is not included on your pannier. Maybe there is a technical reason, maybe it was just a design evolution that has not made its way into the entire line. Ask nicely if they will help you with a deep discount on a single replacement. It seems like it would be in their best interest in terms of PR to keep a customer happy. Especially since you have been discussing their product in an online board with a huge potential customer base for them.

BTW, I beleive that axiom is a division of Norco. You can see they mention it in the timeline:
http://www.norco.com/company/timeline.php
Norco is based in Canadian, so don't forget to mention that your National pride is on the line:
http://www.norco.com/company/contactus.php

bummer. Since you are in the market again to buy another set check out Deuter Rat pack
http://www.deuterusa.com/img/systems/quickLock.gif
This link shows their locking system that is easy(1 hand) to undo. The bungie w/ hook panniers are notorious for coming off. I have never lost the Deuter. I even ride 1 mile single track in my commute.

Hook and elastic mountings are not a good choice. I have had cheap panniers bounce off on trails.
Modern quick-release, locking mounts are used on all high quality panniers. Rixen and Kaul are the main manufacturers of this type of mount and R&K Klickfix is used by a number of good brands. You can mount R&K rails to most bags with a few rivets. Similar systems are used by Ortleib. They can be mounted and removed in less than 1 second with no fiddling about and will not come undone.

I have the Sunlite Traveler 1 Pannier set. They are attached like saddle bags and have straps so you can bind them to your rack, plus the bungee hooks on the inside. I also have a bungee cord I put around and over them just in case. I got them on eBay for about 30 bucks. they are pretty water resitant, I got hit by a wave from Lake Michigan (the bike path gets really close to the water sometimes and on windy days... it can be shocking to say the least). but my clothes in the bags remained dry.

Take a look below.

http://apnu.runswithscissors.com/images/DahonJack/Jack05.jpg

Thanks for the replies everyone. I phoned Norco / Axiom today and the warranty guy said that the bungie cord on the bottom should have been shortened before I rode. He said if I pulled down on the knot near the bottm hook, the cord would tighten and get smaller.

I took the remaining pannier back to the shop where I bought it and the guy there said the same thing and he took the cord off, and tied a few knot in it to make it shorter and now it fits really nice. He said he has the same hook and elastic attachment hand he has never had any problems with it.

He said he will see what he can do about getting me a replacement pannier. I have to call him back on Wednesday.

bummer. Since you are in the market again to buy another set check out Deuter Rat pack
http://www.deuterusa.com/img/systems/quickLock.gif
This link shows their locking system that is easy(1 hand) to undo. The bungie w/ hook panniers are notorious for coming off. I have never lost the Deuter. I even ride 1 mile single track in my commute.

That's the same mounting system as Ortlieb uses. Much superior to the hook and bungee system. You can even retrofit a set of bag with it by going here (http://www.ortliebusa.com/cartgenie/prodList.asp?scat=21).

I always zip tie the hell out of my panniers

For one, they'll never fall off
Second, I don't have to worry so much about them being nicked off my bike when left unattended. A thief would have to be really convicted about taking them because it would seriously take a good 10 minutes undoing all the zip ties

I usually have a pannier on each side. When I do, I connect the carry handles with a cheap caribiner. If not, I use the carabiner to clip the carry handle to the rack.

I got a replacement pannier yesterday. It wasn't the same kind as the one I lost but it is still pretty nice. It is the Axiom Mackenzie pannier (single) and it has the wedge that soreyes mentioned in his post.

That wedge sure makes a BIG difference in holding the pannier on. It can't come off until; the wedge is twisted, and even then it would take a lot of force to knock the pannier off.

The pannier even has the same kind of bungie cord and hook that soreyes has on his.

The price for the single pannier was $35.00 but they let me have it for $15.00. I also bought a new wheel as well.

here is a link to the pannier: www.axiomgear.com/bags_panniers/mackenzie_single.php

if you click the photo, you can enlarge the picture and see the wedge on the rear of the bag.

Hooray for Canadian companies taking care of thier own. I am glad it worked out. My Typoons are holding up well for everyday commuting.

Isn't that a sick feeling?... looking back near the end of your commute to see a naked rack? It happened to me a few months back. I retraced my route, but no pannier. I had a few more items in mine - like my pump and tools and ufortunately, or so I thought, my cell phone.

But a week later one of my friends gets a call from an Air Force reserve pilot who found my pannier on his way into the Burbank airport (right at the start of my commute) and dialed the first number in my cell phone. He picked it up for safe keeping, but wasn't able to try and find me until he flew back into the airport a week later. He kept it secure all that time and wouldn't accept so much as a burger an' beer for returning it.

Sorry you didn't have a similar happy ending. But I thought I'd share mine.

DanO

Hm. those hooks are supposed to attach to the rack? :o I couldn't figure out where/how they were supposed to attach so I cut 'em off so they wouldn't get caught in my wheels. now I just have the hooks.:rolleyes:

I have cheap panniers... hooks at the top and the bungie cords holding at the bottom. I've only ever lost a pannier once, and that was when I hit a pothole that was big enough that it ruined my wheel and came very close to making me crash.

Hm. those hooks are supposed to attach to the rack? :o I couldn't figure out where/how they were supposed to attach so I cut 'em off so they wouldn't get caught in my wheels. now I just have the hooks.:rolleyes:

Some racks don't have the lower attachment point... don't ask me why not? Guess you're just supposed to use the top of the rack on those.

I have the Sunlite Traveler 1 Pannier set. They are attached like saddle bags and have straps so you can bind them to your rack, plus the bungee hooks on the inside. I also have a bungee cord I put around and over them just in case. I got them on eBay for about 30 bucks. they are pretty water resitant, I got hit by a wave from Lake Michigan (the bike path gets really close to the water sometimes and on windy days... it can be shocking to say the least). but my clothes in the bags remained dry.

Take a look below.

http://apnu.runswithscissors.com/images/DahonJack/Jack05.jpg

Sweet rig. I've been scoping those out on ebay as well. It's a toss up between those and the Toploader 3 with hideaway 'pseudo' panniers.

My wife had her pannier bumped off the rack yesterday on our commute home together. Didn't notice till she got home and I didn't notice even though I rode behind her, at times, after it occured. Out of sight; out of mind? She didn't feel the pannier come off, either. Luckily, someone found it and turned it into the cops without taking anything out of it (and it had plenty of goodies). Whew! Time now to tie those things down for the next trip.

I have a Topeak MTX with quick track Trunk/Pannier that I would recommend to everyone. Its quick to slide on and lock plus it has the velcro straps if you should need them. My only complaint is that it has too much room. I tend to try and fill all of it for some unknown reason which adds a lot of extra weight on my ride.

Brian

Heh same here Brian. I even keep a big ole roll of duct tape in mine because...well I never know when I'll need it. Just took it grocery shopping tonight...hauled home a gallon of milk, 4 32oz. bottles of Powerade, 3 cans of chili, a loaf of bread, two 18.4 oz containers of Gatorade powder, 2 boxes of mac n cheese...along with my spare tube, pump, multitool, keys, garage door opener, zip ties, other small stuff I'm sure I'm forgetting...

It's my first time having a rack/bag system so I don't really have anything to compare it to, but I'm sure it's easier to just click it in place than strap it to a rack.