Commuting - Rack/Pack suggestions for new commuter

I'll be commuting on my Jamis Coda beginning in June and wondered if you all could provide suggestions on good rack/pack combinations for this bike. My commute is short (max 3 miles each way), though I will also use the rack/pack for short touring on weekends.

My rough estimation of what I'd carry daily:

Work shirt, fresh tee-shirt, khaki pants, lock(s), brown-bag lunch, work-related paper materials (couple of manilla folders), room for two hardback books and two drinks.

I'm looking for a single pack that I can mount to a fixed rack (don't want a seatpost rack).

Apologies if this has been covered before for the specific bike I've mentioned.

Thanks,

------> SliverStreak

Rack wise, most people seem happy with Blackburn. I use two small Altura panniers, that are fine for my commutes (often just use one on the traffic side).

Richard

I think you can safely buy a Blackburn or similar rear rack and not spend a lot of money for a high-end touring rack.

I'm not clear what you mean by "pack." Are you looking for something that can be worn as a backpack when not on the bike? I don't have any suggestions, in that case.

I use panniers -- small ones from Arkel (http://www.bicyclebags.com) -- and a rack trunk (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.html?SKU=6176) from Performance.

The rack trunk contains everything I always carry -- lock, glasses, tools, wallet, ID, tire repair stuff, etc. -- and goes on whichever bike I'm riding.

One pannier contains rain gear and stays on my rain bike, on a front rack. The other pannier is for my work clothes and thermos etc. and goes on the non-drive side of my "dry" bike's rear rack or on the other side of the rain bike's front rack.

It's perfectly OK to ride with one pannier, by the way.

A tip, if you don't already know: learn to roll, rather than fold your clothes. Well-rolled khakis and shirts won't be wrinkled, and take up less space (and are easier to drop into a plastic bag and into your pannier) than folded ones.

In the summer, when I often wear shorts and sandals at work, I can generally carry everything I need in the rack trunk and dispense with the panniers altogether.

RichC

I use a blackburn and a cheaper, but similarly designed look-alike, bith work well.
I use a single pannier most of the time, and can carry heavy loads without trouble. Only use both my panniers on shopping trips.
I use Carradice ones, which have a very tough water-resistant material with a cut away for heel clearance, a lightweight corrugated plastic stiffener on the back and base, a single outer pocket and a big reflective triangle. The attatchment is with modern plastic clip-on fittings. Whatever the make or model, you should look for similar features. Panniers take a beating, so they need to be tough.
Carradice and Ortleib make a range of panniers from expedition ones to commuting/document bags.

You need good panniers, for communting look at Ortelieb or Carradice

The one item you have forgotten as a coomuter you will be carring is a big lock.

Here might be your solution.

http://www.topeak.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/Store/rearmule.html?L+scstore+fqfq4304ffd477d4+1004547028

I carry my Kryptonite on the top of the rack. Hook a bunji chord to your rack and it will hold the lock in place. The chord can be used to carry bulky item as well.
That topeak rack looks like throwing metal at the problem, which on a bike is never a good idea.

Thanks for all the great info! Can I ask another question or two?

Re: Blackburn racks, is there a preferred model for commuting/touring?

I definitely plan to commute with a rack trunk only. My commute is short (approx 3 mi each way) and I can dress casually at work so will not need to haul a lot of clothing. The mule rack with U-lock rails is cool, but I think I'll just chuck the lock in the rack trunk.

Will the Blackburns easily accommodate various brands of panniers if I choose to/need to add them later?

And, is there a good argument for commuting with a single pannier rather than a rack trunk? Just curious on this one. It seems people here use both approaches.

----> SliverStreak

Originally posted by SilverStreak

Re: Blackburn racks, is there a preferred model for commuting/touring?

Will the Blackburns easily accommodate various brands of panniers if I choose to/need to add them later?

And, is there a good argument for commuting with a single pannier rather than a rack trunk? Just curious on this one. It seems people here use both approaches.


The Expedition (three legs per side) is the one most people use.

Nobody would last long making panniers that don't fit on a Blackburn rack.

Panniers hold more than rack trunks, but rack trunks are easier to organize and get at things with, and generally have more compartments and pockets and such.

A pair of pants, a shirt, and underwear will fill most rack trunks to capacity, especially if it's already partly filled with tolls and tubes and locks and such. I like having the extra capacity of the pannier because it lets me prepare better for changing weather conditions, or carry home my delivery from Amazon, or bring a thermos.

RichC

Hi there
I am a topeak fan, I started using the topeak products three years ago. They work and work well, I have topeak rack mule racks on my touring and commuter bikes, a topeak rack mule low rider rack on the front of my touring bike, and a topeak utility rack on my vacation/dirty road bike. I also have a topeak seat post rack that I use on a mountain bike for long rides. I use the topeak system because of the track rail mounting system for the trunk bag. The bag just slides into place and hooks on the front of the rack, no velcro straps required. The bag fits all of the racks and goes on easily, you can just slide it off and take it with you. I use the rack mule racks on my touring and commuter bikes because they are the only rack I've found that will allow you to easily mount paniers and a trunk bag , no hassling with velcro straps and the bags can't fall off the rack. The trunk bag is large, expandable and has exterior pockets and a water bottle pocket in the back along with a light mount, It is made out of 1000 d. cordura and is very rugged. For commuting in the north east I carry work shirt, pants, socks, underwear, belt, wallet, lunch, rain suit, jacket, warm gloves, shoe covers, hat, clear and sun glasses, tools, spokes, chain lube, rubber gloves to use when making repairs, 5 tire tubes, spare tire (folding), 1 dozen bages for the morning break, and a tire pressure gauge. As for panniers, I found the performance epic bags to be well made and fairly waterproof, they a large enough for most loads, have held up well for years and the attachment system works well.
Good luck with your commuting, it's a great way to travel.

mrfix,

thanks. Which are the actual Topeak models you use? Earlier in the thread a reader posted a link to the mule rack, but in the trunk bag section on Topeak's website I can't see which model trunk bag would slide on as you describe. Which model Topeak trunk bag do you use?

thanks,

----> SilverStreak

Can someone describe major differences between Topeak mule rack and Topeak Explorer rack located here:

http://www.topeak.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/Store/explorerrack.html?L+scstore+fqfq4304ffd477d4+1020698370

Is the Explorer a replacement for the Mule? The link earlier in this thread takes one to the Mule rack, but I don't see the Mule listed as a regular product on the main page of the Topeak Rack section.

Thanks,

----> SliverStreak

The explorer rack is a more compact rack, I use one on one of my bikes, you can carry either a trunk bag or panniers, but not both if you use the bag with the slide rail system. The mule rack on the other hand, has an additional set of rails set outside the bed rails for pannier installation along with the trunk bag. The trunk bag I use is the largest one called the delux, its the only expandable one with outside pockets, usually sells for $69.99 but it's well worth it, if you ever had a bag full of goodies fall off the rack you would know what I mean.

The main difference between Topeak and Blackburn/clones is that Blackburn have fully triangulated struts. If you look from the rear, the rearmost structs are angled inwards. This makes the rack much more stable in terms of side-to-side sway, and is no gimmick.

Mr Fix, did I read right, you carry 5 spare inner tubes!!
For a commute, most people carry one and a few spare patches, and a tyre boot at the most, rather than a spare tyre. Its fair practice to keep some spares at work, but no need to carry all that. A tyre pressure guage is another thing that isnt strictly neccessary. I just get enough air in to get me home (ie as much as I can with a mini pump) then fill it up properly at home with a floor pump. One thing which is worth carrying is a spare brake and gear cable.

mrfix and MichaelW,

Looks like each of you has a brand preference. My final questions, if I may:

1. Re: Blackburn being more stable than Topeak Mule, how much of a difference does this make with a trunk bag sitting on the rack? My commute is combination smooth roads/cracked sidewalks, plus I need to consider future touring.

2. I like the Topeak Mule a lot for the quick installation of the Topeak trunk bag. That's a big plus for me. However, if it's less stable than the Blackburn, I begin to wonder. For those who use Blackburns, which brand trunk bags do you use and how easy/difficult is it to mount the bag on the Blackburn? Does it stay put?

3. Finally, Topeak rep says the Mule is no longer for sale. Is it find-able at online bike shops?

Thanks for all the information.

----> SliverStreak

I know, I know, I carry way too much, But, I am totally self sufficient, I never call anyone. I am also the flat tire king on the north east, the roads here are full of junk. The load builds character, Those I ride with call me flat bed Pete. However, they never laugh when we use my parts to fix there bike.
You will only need what you don't have.

Triangulation only makes a difference with heavy touring or shopping loads. For a daily commute the Topeak is more than strong and stiff enough, but if you load up and try to climb a steep hill, you may notice the difference.

I don't know if you've made up you're mind, but Jaand makes a good heavy duty touring rack that's longer and wider. When I was searching for info last year I found sites that sold good panniers specifically for commuting, and a site that sold backpacks that were also panniers. Someone also sold a rack that was specifically designed for its rack trunk to slip onto and also held a u-lock. Maybe that's the one you all are already talking about. Search the internet for "panniers" or "baskets"--I found more than I imagined existed.

Clay