Help me decide which pannier to get
10-03-05, 11:29 AM
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Help me decide which pannier to get
Hi all!
I am preparing to begin commuting to work later this month (15 mile RT). I am just waiting until it cools off a little bit more here in South Florida before I start.
Right now I am in the process of preparing my equipment (bike, clothing, etc.). So far, everything has been pretty straightforward when deciding what to get. However, I seem to by stymied (sp?) by the pannier decision. I can't figure out what I really need. I have seached this forum for ideas, and it has helped me a lot, but I can't seem to narrow my decision down to one bag. Let me explain my situation and maybe the collective wisdom of this forum can help me decide:
I work in an office with a small amount of people (12 or so). The company I work for has offices all over the state of Florida. Approximately once a week, I have to go to one of those other offices. When I go to the other offices, I need to bring my laptop computer. Otherwise, it sits on my desk at my office.
There are no showers available at my office, so I will be bringing a set of clothes to change into with me each day. I will stock my desk with deoderant, etc. to clean up with. I also will be bringing a lunch with me, since there are not any lunch places close enough to get to without a car.
So far, all of this is pretty typical, but here is where I have difficulty deciding. I know in advance when I will be traveling to one of the other offices (although sometimes it is only one day in advance). When I leave the office to head home at the end of the day before, I will need to carry my laptop with me, so I have it the next day when I drive to another office.
The problem comes from the fact that not only do I have to carry the laptop home with me at the end of the day, but then I need something to take the laptop on the road with me the next day. I am hesitant to take my pannier to one of the other offices with me, since it will also have things like rain gear and spares in it. I know from experience, that if you are constantly removing things from a bag, the one time you need something is the time you forgot to put something back.
I have thought about taking my normal laptop bag home, and then just transfer the laptop into that when I am on the road. That way I don't have to unpack and re-pack a pannier everytime.
I have looked at the Arkel Briefcase and Bug, and they both seem like they would work. I don't see myself carrying these around much. I will need to carry whatever I use to the bathroom to change each day, so I would like a handle of some sort on it. I also worry about the back side of these bags getting dirty when the weather gets wet, and then having to carry it everywhere.
And then I think, maybe I should look at other bags Arkel, and others, carry that might meet my needs better. Arkel seems to generally get good reviews, but they are expensive, which makes me want to pick the correct bag first.
So to summarize this long post, I need a bag that lets me carry my everyday stuff, plus raingear etc., plus occasionally the laptop. I need to be able to grab it off the rack and take it into the bathroom so I can change. It needs to be big enough to hold everything I am going to carry, but not too big. It also should have pockets to stuff keys, etc. into.
Thanks for your help.
I am preparing to begin commuting to work later this month (15 mile RT). I am just waiting until it cools off a little bit more here in South Florida before I start.
Right now I am in the process of preparing my equipment (bike, clothing, etc.). So far, everything has been pretty straightforward when deciding what to get. However, I seem to by stymied (sp?) by the pannier decision. I can't figure out what I really need. I have seached this forum for ideas, and it has helped me a lot, but I can't seem to narrow my decision down to one bag. Let me explain my situation and maybe the collective wisdom of this forum can help me decide:
I work in an office with a small amount of people (12 or so). The company I work for has offices all over the state of Florida. Approximately once a week, I have to go to one of those other offices. When I go to the other offices, I need to bring my laptop computer. Otherwise, it sits on my desk at my office.
There are no showers available at my office, so I will be bringing a set of clothes to change into with me each day. I will stock my desk with deoderant, etc. to clean up with. I also will be bringing a lunch with me, since there are not any lunch places close enough to get to without a car.
So far, all of this is pretty typical, but here is where I have difficulty deciding. I know in advance when I will be traveling to one of the other offices (although sometimes it is only one day in advance). When I leave the office to head home at the end of the day before, I will need to carry my laptop with me, so I have it the next day when I drive to another office.
The problem comes from the fact that not only do I have to carry the laptop home with me at the end of the day, but then I need something to take the laptop on the road with me the next day. I am hesitant to take my pannier to one of the other offices with me, since it will also have things like rain gear and spares in it. I know from experience, that if you are constantly removing things from a bag, the one time you need something is the time you forgot to put something back.
I have thought about taking my normal laptop bag home, and then just transfer the laptop into that when I am on the road. That way I don't have to unpack and re-pack a pannier everytime.
I have looked at the Arkel Briefcase and Bug, and they both seem like they would work. I don't see myself carrying these around much. I will need to carry whatever I use to the bathroom to change each day, so I would like a handle of some sort on it. I also worry about the back side of these bags getting dirty when the weather gets wet, and then having to carry it everywhere.
And then I think, maybe I should look at other bags Arkel, and others, carry that might meet my needs better. Arkel seems to generally get good reviews, but they are expensive, which makes me want to pick the correct bag first.
So to summarize this long post, I need a bag that lets me carry my everyday stuff, plus raingear etc., plus occasionally the laptop. I need to be able to grab it off the rack and take it into the bathroom so I can change. It needs to be big enough to hold everything I am going to carry, but not too big. It also should have pockets to stuff keys, etc. into.
Thanks for your help.
10-03-05, 11:32 AM
#2
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Trek Interchange bags are not bad.
Not near the quality level/rainprotection of the arkels, but if used with the matching rack, they install and uninstal in a second.
Not near the quality level/rainprotection of the arkels, but if used with the matching rack, they install and uninstal in a second.
10-03-05, 11:37 AM
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I just got the arkel utility basket. I love it. Some people warned me that its big, but I don't think so at all. I can easily fill it up on a day where I need to bring some extra things to work. The bug is the same volume as the utility basket, so it should be pretty roomy, buts its a lot more expensive. The utility basket is very reasonably priced for what you get. All I know is that I have used two cheapo panniers in the past, and don't recommend it. The headaches aren't worth it. Is Arkel the best? Thats up for debate, but spend the money on something high quality and durable. You won't be sorry.
10-03-05, 01:02 PM
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The Utility Basket should work well for you. It is a simple bag which is what makes it less expensive than the other Arkel panniers. The new model has a top flap which should make it virtually water proof without the rain cover. A rain cover will keep it cleaner but the back will still get dirty. I don't see much help for that except perhaps leaving it on the bike and putting your toiletries in a second bag that fits down inside. The Utility Basket will be able to hold everything you mentioned and can expand upward to hold even more if neccessary. I use mine for groceries and it holds about the same volume as 1 1/2 - 2 paper grocery sacks and has no problem with any amount of weight I have put in it. I could probably haul a bag of mortar if I really wanted to.
Craig
Craig
