Tandem Cycling - credit card touring -- bags up front or in back?

Hi. My wife and I are dipping our toes in the tandem touring waters this fall with an 80-mile roundtrip overnight along the Erie Canal Tow Path. Destination is a B&B, so we'll be bringing a set of clothes for a dinner out and fresh duds for the ride home, foul weather gear, tools, snacks, etc. But no tents, sleeping bags, stoves, etc.

I've been looking only at rear-mounted bags, as the bike already has a rear rack on it. Anything to recommend getting front-mounted bags first?

Also, for sizing... 40 liter bags seem like they should be adequate for light/credit card/B&B touring. Any thoughts on this? (Looking at Lone Peak P340s, P400s, and P500s.)

Thanks!

Hi. My wife and I are dipping our toes in the tandem touring waters this fall with an 80-mile roundtrip overnight along the Erie Canal Tow Path. Destination is a B&B, so we'll be bringing a set of clothes for a dinner out and fresh duds for the ride home, foul weather gear, tools, snacks, etc. But no tents, sleeping bags, stoves, etc.

I've been looking only at rear-mounted bags, as the bike already has a rear rack on it. Anything to recommend getting front-mounted bags first?

For front-mounted bags, you want a compatible low-rider rack. (I have an Axiom Journey 2 low-rider that turned out to be incompatible with Arkel panniers if you're interested). With a low rider rack (and front bags), the ride will be more stable than without. Rear bags, less so. It is unusual to have a bike with only front panniers mounted, but we've done it.

Most, if not all bags that fit on the front will mount on the back as well - they're just smaller. Some rear bags will fit on the front, although may need some tweaking to make it happen - like putting them on backwards.


Also, for sizing... 40 liter bags seem like they should be adequate for light/credit card/B&B touring. Any thoughts on this? (Looking at Lone Peak P340s, P400s, and P500s.)

Thanks!
Depends. We did a credit card tour where we carried lunch but ate out for breakfast and supper. And we needed rain gear, and hiking clothes/shoes. For that we used rear panniers plus front - what would seem like a complete set of four panniers for a single that knows how to travel light. Not sure of the total capacity, but I'd guess it at about 90l.

We did a day trip carrying no (significant) food but clothes for going out for supper, and it easily fit in a pair of old Cannondale Front panniers (~30-35l combined); this was a day when we knew we didn't need rain gear, but we could have managed compact rain gear in there as well.

If you're just carrying spare clothing and rain gear you might get away with 18-20l each, if you know how to pack compactly. Tools and spare parts should fit in a seat bag, unless you feel the need to carry a spare tire - which doesn't fit in any seat bag I know of, at least not along with any tools and spare tube(s).

Which part of the Canal Trail? The above-mentioned day trip included about 20 miles of Canal trail.

We use Ortleib... They have a great selection of front and rear bags and very good reputation.

http://www.ortliebusa.com/

We use Ortleib... They have a great selection of front and rear bags and very good reputation.

http://www.ortliebusa.com/
I believe the original question was about capacity. But if we're going to get into specifics of brands, Ortliebs are top loaded, single-compartment bags that are very waterproof. Whether those two features are a plus depends on the couple. The positives are that with a single compartment you can probably get more in, and you supply your own organization; and they are waterproof - they keep dry things dry. The negatives are that what you want may be at the bottom (not everything can be stored toward the top), and they are waterproof - they keep wet things wet. We happen to be "pockets" people who put everything in plastic bags anyhow (which we would with Ortliebs for organization), so Arkels http://www.arkel-od.com work better for us. The difference is less for front panniers, since a) there's less capacity overall for things to disappear into - in the waterproof version; and b) there are fewer pockets for organization - in the non-waterproof version.

For "dipping toes" in tandem credit card touring, the price of either Ortliebs or Arkels may be a bit hard to swallow. I would expect either of these to last 20-30 years, which for us justifies the price, and we tour self-contained (some of the time).

Both Ortlieb and Arkel have nifty locking hooks to keep the bags from coming off if you hit a bump. For me that is a significant selling feature, since I've had it happen enough times with lesser bags. If you're into it, Arkel will sell you just the hardware to convert other bags.

I guess it depends on how much stuff you want to bring, but we've found 2 small panniers on a seat post mounted rack gives plenty of storage for us for a weekend.

Personally, I would not go to a front handlebar bag, or front panniers,unless I needed more storage than rear panniers could handle, given the effect that weight up front can have on handling.

Personally, I would not go to a front handlebar bag, or front panniers,unless I needed more storage than rear panniers could handle, given the effect that weight up front can have on handling.

I have not tried them on the tandem yet, but on my single, front lowrider pantiers actually improved stability and handling of the bike. I usually put 50% of my weight in the front bags. Not so with the handlebar bag.

I have not tried them on the tandem yet, but on my single, front lowrider pantiers actually improved stability and handling of the bike. I usually put 50% of my weight in the front bags. Not so with the handlebar bag.

My experience matches yours - low riders improve stability and handling, bar bag makes it worse, and I speak from tandem experience. The difference between tandem and single is that for the low riders the change in handling is less on the tandem than on the single. I don't know about the bar bag, as it has been 25 years since I used a bar bag on a single, and only days since I used one on the tandem. Whether I'll use the bar bag on the tandem depends on the type of ride. For a casual neighbourhood ride the bar bag is handy for discarding jackets as we warm up; for loaded touring I keep the bar bag lightly loaded and the low-riders compensate. In between, I might forego the convenience for the extra stability. Outside of casual neighbourhood rides, I would never ride with just the bar bag.

We we're going to do a CC tour of a section of the canal this summer but things didn't work out on our calendar. We were thinking of an 80 mile trip as well (one-way, shuttled back) and I wasn't planning on anything other than rear panniers. The CC was key in reducing the cargo, my thinking was basically an extended day trip with a change of clothing for the night, very minimal. As for rain gear, the plan was to bag cycling part of the trip if serious rain was forecast and just drive to the B&B, otherwise a summer shower wasn't a concern and we would just get wet or wait it out, if you're planning a fall trip this would obviously not be an option.

I guess it depends on how much stuff you want to bring, but we've found 2 small panniers on a seat post mounted rack gives plenty of storage for us for a weekend.

In Upstate NY in the Fall?

Hi, all, and thanks for all the comments. I weighed Ortliebs, Arkels, Lone Peak, Axiom, etc., and decided that the Lone Peaks (not sure which model, yet) would probably suit our needs.

The trip is planned for early September, so weather isn't a huge concern (if it's 40 or abover, we're going! rain... well, we'll see how much :)). 40 miles from Schenectady to Canajoharie, and back, is the planned excursion.

Thanks again!
David

Gee Dave,
You kind of put the bug in me now. Thinking of looking for a B & B maybe out towards the cape that we can ride to and do an overnight. Once hurricane Bill goes by!

Gee Dave,
You kind of put the bug in me now. Thinking of looking for a B & B maybe out towards the cape that we can ride to and do an overnight. Once hurricane Bill goes by!

Busted! I'm a lobbyist for the New England tourism industry! :)

We bought the tandem (as an early anniversary gift to ourselves) with the thought of someday taking these types of trips, so it seems only right to take in on its maiden overnight on our 20th (or as close as the school calendar will allow). We're also hoping hurricane season weather doesn't befoul our plans.

Now if I could just decide on bags. (I swear I spent less time picking my last car than I've spent thinking about bags!) It's the Goldilocks Syndrome... don't want too big... don't want too small... want jussst riiight. ("The perfect is the enemy of the good" fits in there somewhere, too.)

40 liters... 52 liters... 40 liters... 52 liters...

Too. Many. Choices.

Get these ones:

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Product_10053_10052_172282_-1___

At $45 + S&H. 38 liters. We took them for a 10 day credit card tour in Italy. They worked great!

Get these ones:

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Product_10053_10052_172282_-1___

At $45 + S&H. 38 liters. We took them for a 10 day credit card tour in Italy. They worked great!

I have nothing good to say about bags of that brand/source, except to say that my experience with same motivated my purchase of Arkels. I used a Nashbar bag for <2 years as my commute pannier. This was on my single. I occasionally carried my laptop in it (in its laptop case). Occasionally, when my laptop was in it I would hit a bump and have the pannier jump off the rack and land on the asphalt. The latch on the laptop barely works by now. The plasticized hook on the bottom (of the pannier) gradually wore its plastic off, so it was two nasty pointy bits of stiff wire. Then the elastic connecting the hook to the rest of the pannier broke. When the pannier fell off the last time. This one was convertible into a pretty nice knapsack. Too bad it was sold as a pannier. With my previous Cannondales (high end 25 years ago) lasting 20+ years, I figured I could pay 5x the price and still be getting a bargain.

I have nothing good to say about bags of that brand/source, except to say that my experience with same motivated my purchase of Arkels. I used a Nashbar bag for <2 years as my commute pannier. This was on my single. I occasionally carried my laptop in it (in its laptop case). Occasionally, when my laptop was in it I would hit a bump and have the pannier jump off the rack and land on the asphalt. The latch on the laptop barely works by now. The plasticized hook on the bottom (of the pannier) gradually wore its plastic off, so it was two nasty pointy bits of stiff wire. Then the elastic connecting the hook to the rest of the pannier broke. When the pannier fell off the last time. This one was convertible into a pretty nice knapsack. Too bad it was sold as a pannier. With my previous Cannondales (high end 25 years ago) lasting 20+ years, I figured I could pay 5x the price and still be getting a bargain.

We use the panniers twice a year, maybe. The OP was interested in determining the ideal capacity for his pourpose. The cheap Nashbar panniers could help him in that decision.

+1 on the Arkels - rear rack! Unless you are doing longer non-cc touring, I don't know why you would opt for front panniers, just my .02 cents. But it sounds like the purchase has already been made.

For 80 miles + an overnight, a small set of rear panniers should suffice.
We prefer rear bags as front ones can affect the bike handling somewhat.
We can credit card tour for a lomg weekend with total of 22 lbs of gear.
Heck, a trunk rack with expandable or drop down extensions could do the trick too.
Enjoy the ride TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

After hemming, hawing, researching, polling, emailing, and phone-calling, I decided to go with the Lone Peak P500 panniers. Mostly because I buy wholeheartedly into the expression "Go big or stay home." (One phrase with 1,001 useful applications.) I should have them this week, so Joan and I will have the opportunity to get a few loaded rides under our belt before leaving for our trip.

Folks on the forum were helpful (so surprise there), as was Wayne from thetouringstore.com.

I'll post pics and a detailed review at some point -- after I have some experience actually using them.

David

ps - something Wayne told me, that didn't affect my decision (I'd already placed the order) but I thought was pretty cool so I'm commenting on it -- Lone Peak stuff is made in Utah. Apparently, pieces are cut at a Lone Peak facility, and then distributed to "stay-at-home moms" for assembly/sewing. Neat.

We just finished a ten day credit card tour in England using a set of Ortlieb Backrollers on the rear rack with a small handlebar bag up front. We had maybe 25-30 lb total touring gear, including the weight of the panniers. Next time I think we will try a small set of front panniers on a low rider rack, ditch the handlebar pack and underfill the rear panniers for better load distribution. In fact, two sets of small FRONT panniers like the Ortlieb frontrollers (one set in front, one set in back) would have been ideal with the gear we were carrying. Although our setup with the larger rear panniers worked OK, there are two aspects to having all the weight on the rear rack that I didn't like:

1. We found it difficult to stand on the (many, steep) hills that we encountered. The rear end being so heavy compared to the front made the rear feel like it had a mind of its own when we got out the saddle. I don't know for certain that balancing this with more weight on front panniers would solve the problem, but it would be worth trying, as I really missed being able to stand effectively on steep climbs.

2. Nothing to do with the ride, but when you are "walking the bike around" (happens more than you would think while negotiating European towns) having all the weight in the back made the bike a bit unwieldy. And the rear end was a bit heavy for the stoker to lift around obstacles on her own when doing tight U-turns, hopping curbs, parking it, etc. requiring the captain to dismount and walk around to the back of the bike to help manhandle it. More of an inconvenience than anything, but something that could partially be mitigated by spreading the weight front to rear with two sets of small panniers.

My experience with touring with front panniers on a single has been pretty positive, so it's hard for me to imagine that they would adversely affect the handling on a tandem any more than on a single. You DO push more frontal area through the wind, so will lose some speed on the downhills (not always a bad thing!). Slow speed handling is also less nimble, but at higher speeds the front lowriders actually seem to increase the stability of the bike, in my experience.