Touring - Blackburn lowrider and Ortlieb panniers

Perhaps someone with more experience can help me out. I have a new bike ordered and I was given a used but serviceable Blackburn lowrider front rack ('wishbone' or 'crown' style with a bar looping over the top of the front wheel).

What I'd like to know is: can I use this with Ortlieb panniers? Are there any adjustments that have to be made?

Also: Jandd vs. Blackburn, any comments?

I would be surprised if Ortlieb front panniers did not fit Blackburn front rack. Could you include a photo of your rack, perhaps someone has actually tried it. You will probably have to play around with the adjustable QR hooks to get them properly aligned to fit the rack.

--J

Kitos (thanks in Finnish, though I may have spelled it wrong -- perkele).

I can't supply a photo! The bike's at the LBS and the rack is in the basement and the Ortlieb bags are in another store. Ergo, I can't try to hang the bags myself.

I'm trying to figure out if I should buy another front rack....

I have Ortlieb bags (for the rear) and I used to have a Blackburn lowrider front rack (until it was destroyed in an accident). If your question is about the mounts fitting the tubing, they will fit. Actually, my rear rack is a Blackburn and it has the same diameter tubing as the front Blackburn rack. As another respondent indicated, the bag mounting clamps may have to be repositioned, but that is an extremely easy task involving an Allen wrench and a couple of minutes.

If your question is about the size of the bags, that is another matter, but Ortlieb certainly makes a smaller size that will. I happen to have VanDe bags for the front.

I have Ortlieb bags (for the rear) and I used to have a Blackburn lowrider front rack (until it was destroyed in an accident). If your question is about the mounts fitting the tubing, they will fit. Actually, my rear rack is a Blackburn and it has the same diameter tubing as the front Blackburn rack. As another respondent indicated, the bag mounting clamps may have to be repositioned, but that is an extremely easy task involving an Allen wrench and a couple of minutes.

If your question is about the size of the bags, that is another matter, but Ortlieb certainly makes a smaller size that will. I happen to have VanDe bags for the front.

Yes, that's my concern -- the mounts fitting the tubing. The tubing is not round, and the mount seems to require that. (That's my recollection anyhow.) I appreciate the post! Thanks.

The Blackburn tubing is not round? Must be a different model than I had. Maybe I need to scratch what I said before.

The Blackburn tubing is not round? Must be a different model than I had. Maybe I need to scratch what I said before.

Well, on the Blackburn lowrider front rack (silver) that I have here, there's a round tube welded onto a flat piece about half an inch wide (it sits vertically when the rack is installed). The hooks of the panniers sit overtop of the round bit.

I tried my panniers on the rack -- after finally assembling everything, which I couldn't do before (hence my post) -- and everything is fine. It just LOOKED odd.

Yes, same round tube vs. flat piece -business here with my no-name low rider front rack. Never had a problem with it.

(and your spelling of perkele is perfect, but kiitos could use another "i". I wonder which of the two you use more frequently :D)

--J