Touring - ortlieb rack pack + front roller classic panniers on the rear rack?

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.
letibell
01-15-13, 11:36 AM
is it a good configuration for a short trip ( 4/ 5 days) ?
or are the front panniers too small?
I have the front panniers and I use them for my daily commuting on my rear rack.
I'm evaluating to buy a medium rack pack to add storing capability.
I don't like ortlieb back roller panniers shape. they seem too big in my opinion.
has somebody of you this configuration?
is it working for short bike trips?
fietsbob
01-15-13, 11:59 AM
Big is only a problem if the addage " a load expands to fill the volume available" applies to your packing list.
Front roller and the rack pack also share the same center buckle to fit , say, a rack pack medium or small crossways.
the trick is leaving things out of the load..
you could use the Back Rollers and keep the load down to Only have stuff in them.
and leave the rack top Empty..
Western Flyer
01-15-13, 12:24 PM
Maybe better to start small being it is what you have. My packing list changes very little from a weeklong tour to a month or more duration. My wife uses Front Roller Classics on the rear with the add on rear pockets (http://www.thetouringstore.com/ORTLIEB/Ort%20Accessories/ORT%20ACCESSORIES%20PAGE.htm), a small trunk bag and a handlebar bag. The Front Rollers won’t put you in the ultra-light category, but weight and bulk will be major points of concern. I tour with cut down Rear Packer Plus panniers with no trunk bag, but I do use a small lunch cooler up front under my small handlebar bag.
If everything fits, everything fits. There are people who tour with no panniers at all. And there are ways to carry a fair amount more without adding more or larger panniers.
Figure out what you need to bring. Figure out if it fits. If not, figure out if you'd rather find a way to carry more or to make the trip work with less. Either is usually an option.
I don't like ortlieb back roller panniers shape. they seem too big in my opinion.
has somebody of you this configuration?
is it working for short bike trips
My wife rode across the U.S. with a set of Ortlieb Packer Plus (front) on the rear rack with the mid sized Rack pack. I think you could do a 4-5 day trip OK, but if you plan on camping, the Classic Backroller would give you more flexibility. I carry the tent, stove, tools and cup/bowls and food; so she only has her clothes, sleeping bag and Thermarest. If you are camping the smaller bags might not have enough space. She now uses the full sized Packer Pus on the rear with a medium Rackpack, and carries the net book, and most of the maps.
Packer Plus front panniers
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy112/Doug64_photos/Bike%20Trips/donna_astoria.jpg
Packer Plus rear panniers
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy112/Doug64_photos/Bike%20Trips/Donnaintherain.jpg
I use the Back Roller Classics, and they don't seem all that large.
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy112/Doug64_photos/Europe%202011/IMG_4282-1-2.jpg
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.1.12 Copyright © 2013 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.